Authors recreate Air for national development
The 39th international convention of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) which held in Ilorin, Kwara State, during penultimate week, also provided authors, young and old, the chance to recreate an atmosphere for federal discourse on literature, national growth, creativity, and more. Edozie Udeze was at the convention
THE function of a writer in a society that’s ready to tow the line of growth can never be disputed. Surprisingly, the convention came against all odds. Nobody ever believed whatsoever that Nigerian authors could withstand the massive economic hardship and other societal hazards occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic to arrange such a massive and most successful convention.
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But that’s the spirit of writers-resilient, dogged, resolute, irrepressible, undaunted, even if every expectation of success looms and seems utopian, the writer tries to proceed. And so the same soul performed in Ilorin as the various places scattered in different areas of the city wore the toga of ANA. The banner it clearly: In quest of a greater world; the role of the author. Even if the hope of tomorrow does not seem to be in the offing, the author finds a way to allow it to be attainable, realizable, surmountable.
On the banner were images of those long time ANA patriarchs and matriarchs who’ve given their all to ensure constant progress for Nigerian literature. They included Professors Akachi Adimora — Ezeigbo, Femi Osofisan, Olu Obafemi, Sunny Ododo, Remi Raji, Raheem A. Lawal, and more. As delegates arrived from various parts of Nigeria into the place at the Peoples Hall of Mustapha Akanbi Foundation, GRA, Ilorin, written on their faces were broad smiles of a brighter ANA, a more combined body.
Some delegates came late because of bad roads, long distances, name it. This never discouraged them because of the literary problems of a nation at a crossroad predominated. The executive led by Camillus Ukah squared around the event. Accommodation hiccups never turned into a problem. Ilorin has quite enough hotels to select from and writers quickly settled ahead of this evening of festivals to unwind and place their minds for the literary discussions forthwith.
The opening service was grand. The bigwigs were there, keen to set the ball rolling. The hall quickly came alive as audio oozed out in torrents of joy. From the Nigerian Copyright Commission arrived its D.G. John Aisien and Dr. Wale Okediran a former president of ANA, but today the executive secretary of Pan African Writers headquartered in Accra, Ghana.
Chairman of Kwara ANA Mallam Ade praised the congress for its capacity to collect at short notice. What we’re experiencing in the world now is enough to stop the convention, nevertheless, we stated no. We, therefore, commend ourselves for this rare accomplishment, this gold success. This is remarkable and we thank God for it. Literature has to reside; Nigerian authors must proceed even as we exceeded all chances to be here”.
As he talked, people sat to the covid-19 states with face masks. Social distancing was duly observed. At the entrance have been plain water to wash hands, sufficient sanitizers along with the checking of fever. She said”ANA has a part to play to enhance the condition of the market through literature. Reading culture is nose-diving within our society. Now, it’s the function of ANA to offer new methods of hope, approaches to lead us from the forests. For all of us, we know that a reader is a pioneer. If it’s possible to catch up with what’s going on in our society through your functions, our society is the better for it”.
They need to learn how to read, the way to lead. This will help for the enormous social growth of Kwara State. There’s plenty to learn from good books. That is precisely why we will always support ANA” she explained.
Okediran came with packages of goodwill against Ghana. He was full of enthusiasm the annual convention finally held. He said”I’m pleased to be here. I commend the state government for its advocacy to use literature to raise society. The following year, ANA will probably be 40 years, a fantastic minute to increase the bets of literature beyond these shores. We need to expand our frontiers to the Pan African Writers Association whose members were grateful to have Nigeria since the biggest concentration of authors in Africa.
“The covid-19 requirements are observed and I am happy about this. This is a serious pandemic although we are a bit lucky here in Africa. It is good also that despite that ANA is thriving. After the surface of the world opens I will invite members of ANA to Accra to groove with Pan African authors over there. This is why they sent you a goodwill message to show their solidarity with Nigerian writers”. Okediran who has assumed this portfolio as a complete time job was all to smile to see African American literature increase to its crescendo.
John Aisien of NCC was glad to be in the middle of writers, although he arrived with a sterner message for ANA. “We will continue to collaborate with ANA on copyright issues. The following year, I will lobby for copyright issues for Nigerian writers. But we need collaboration in the publisher’s institution to be able to achieve this. Nigerian writers also have to create use of the Nigeria Copyright Commission to conquer piracy and restore the dignity of writers”.
He clarified the real gist of the fight to safeguard authors’ rights and loyalties. “In the 40 years anniversary next year, we expect to intensify this level of advocacy to raise the fortunes of ANA. Really ANA was one of the bodies that asked that NCC be established and we’ll continue to respect that”.
Sunny Ododo, the G.M of all National Theatre, Lagos, believed it was like a minute of home coming for him. “ANA has given me the essential stage to know who I am now as a writer. It was the first significant tool that helped me to hone my writing profession. I was when the vice-president. I also have won ANA literary prizes in the past. It was here in Ilorin I became a part 32 decades ago”.
Olu Obafemi in his speech tracked the way in 1995 if Ken Saro-wiwa was killed and no one had been bold enough to host ANA. “We chose the boldness and hosted on ANA”, he recalled. “Today we don’t require crisis in ANA. Most bodies do not survive a catastrophe when it starts. Literature is the voice of the people.
President of ANA, Camillus Ukah in his welcome speech, noted that”creative literature is also an important tool for national growth. Yesas always, creativity and its intellectual capital are essential to development. This assertion derives from the fact that evolution, of any sort, starts from the mind…”
Nonetheless, he had been thankful to country’s chapters for the honor done ANA by their existence. “We are thankful to our elders, resource persons, et al, to be here today with this 39th convention…”
ANA didn’t neglect to announce winners of various categories of prizes. James Eze, press secretary to the Anambra State governor, won the trophy for poetry with his group Dispossessed. Other classes were a play, prose, kids’ literature.
Over twenty states chapters were in attendance which established that ANA is on the go.
