The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Association of Nigerian Authors

  • ‘ANA plot of land in Abuja intact’

    In this encounter with Edozie Udeze, Mallam Denja Abdullahi, the President of Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) clears the air on the developmental stage of the Association’s plot of land in Abuja

    What is state of ANA plot of land in Abuja now?

    It is about 40 percent completed and work is still on-going with a completion date of May 2019 envisaged baring all unforeseen circumstances. Construction work actually started in August 2017 after the foundation laying ceremony around May 2017.The land is in a very challenging topography and the developer and his sub-contractors are doing their best. There is a land committee set up by the instrument of the congress of the Association overseeing the development. This committee was put in place in January 2016 and they have been closely monitoring the work of the developer on the land and intervening in construction related matters arising from the land. The level of development achieved on the land now is due to the painstaking work of the committee and the supervision of the ANA National Executive Council.

    There is this rumour that past leadership of the association refused to develop the place. How true is this?

    There is no truth to that rumour. The land was given in 1985 by General Mamman Vatsa and he was arrested about a week after for a coup and killed afterwards. There was nothing anyone could have done in those early period and through out the military era which ended in 1999. Remember after Vatsa was killed by the IBB Junta,Ken Saro Wiwa was later killed by the Abacha Junta, so what could ANA do on that land located in Abuja where the Juntas held sway? This was a writers ‘body then in the trenches against the military. At the return to democracy during the Abubakar Gimba’s era as president of ANA, the Association visited OBJ and put forward the issue of the land and OBJ made a mockery of the request put to him by saying ANA should consider itself lucky to have such a large plot of 60.9 hectares in Abuja when he as President had none. Abubakar Gimba’s exco managed to secure the legal titles to the land during their tenure. It was during the Olu Obafemi as President tenure of which i was part of that an attempt was made to begin development by advertising for bids and entering into a development agreement with Home Securities Ltd which could not begin development due to its lack of capacity and partly due to the discovery that the land had been revoked without the Association being aware of it. Pressure was mounted by ANA on the FCT authorities and the land was restored but with some section excised for other usage by government. Still at that the issue of re-certification of all land in the FCT came up in 2003 and the developer hung on that and did nothing on the land. That was the situation on the ground until the Wale Okediran exco came on board in 2005. In 2007 that exco got the mandate from the congress to terminate the agreement with Home Securities and he took the Association to court for breach of contract. The case was in court from 2007-2012 throughout the tenure of the Jerry Agada led exco into the Remi Raji-led exco during whose time a favourable court judgement was secured for ANA. Even during the Jerry Agada exco between 2009-2011 the Goodluck Jonathan regime cultivated ANA when he started his Bring Back the Book Campaign as part of the strategies to win the 2011 election.ANA put forward the issue of securing government assistance to develop the land as a bargain and the government agreed to give a grant of $250 million dollars. A letter was written by ANA to that effect and duly submitted but after the election was won, no one heard about the matter again. On coming in and after the court case was won in 2012 the Remi Raji exco went on to engage the present developer who actually moved into the site and began the laying of infrastructure, secured an approved building plan from the FCT, developed engineering and structural designs, fought off vicious land grabbers who have encroached on the land and even duped people of millions of naira on it and began clearing, cutting and sand filling of the site. That went on throughout the tenure of the Remi Raji executive until i came on board in 2016. The logical thing therefore for my exco to do was to insist that real development must commence and that is what is going on now as we speak. The story i have narrated is the true story about that land. I can see no unwillingness on the part of any past executive to develop the land. Each past leadership tackled what it met on ground.

    What is the role of the current ANA executives to ensure the land is made into meaningful use?

    Development has commenced and we are determined to see it through to completion so that the facilities can become usable to generate funds for the Association. On the land presently we have burgeoning structures that will later translate into a conference centre, library, shopping malls, offices, auditorium, writers’ residency chalets, 50- one bedroom en-suite apartments for rent and all other structures. The national secretariat of the Association has been moved since March this year from the National Theatre in Lagos to a completed red-brick structure on the land that now houses it. The land is already being meaningfully used to run the affairs of the Association and to oversee whatever is going on there as it affects constructions and developments.

    If finally developed what are the facilities we expect to see there?

    The facilities will be as i mentioned earlier but there is still a lot of space for more facilities to be added in the future phase of development.

    How are  you raising the funds for the projects and the facilities?

    The development agreement that ANA has  presently entered into with KMVL, the major developer has built into it the project funding arrangement and even the management of the fully -built facilities later on.

    ..Is it really true that the original plot has been altered or tampered with?

    The government that gave the land in the first place which was at 60.9 hectares cut it into about 57 hectares and when the present developer took possession in 2012 and went to the Abuja land authorities to verify documents and papers discovered that the size of the land has been further reduced to 36.9 hectares.

    If so why and by who and for what purpose?

    Government owns all land and they determine the use of land at any point in time. This is a land that has been undeveloped for many years in a prime area in Abuja. The excised parts have been allocated for other uses by government over the years. We have a Presidential police barracks on some part of the original land, roads corridors, green areas, allocations to other allotees etc. We in ANA have no control over that. Our own task is to ensure we develop what we have a title to now.

     

  • ANA partners Google, others, for colloquium in honour of Aderinokun

    With the mind of examining and proffering solutions to problems and prospects of the writing profession, the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Lagos Chapter, will be hold its first annual colloquium in honour of its late patron, Tayo Aderinokun, who was former Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank.

    The event, which will to hold prior to ANA 37th International Convention from October 25 to 28,will hold on Wednesday, October24 at the Presken Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, by 2.30pm.

    According to the group, Aderinokun was philantopist, who was a passionate lover and ardent financier of creative arts and literary groups, such as ANA.

    With theme as: Monetizing & Globalizing the Writing Craft, the chapter’s chairman, Yemi Adebiyi stated that the colloquium, which is also expected to be a critical review of creative writing and the publishing industry in Nigeria will feature “many scholars and representatives of corporations, such as Ms. Felicia Otolorin of Google, Nigeria, Dr. Patrick Enaholo of PAU and Okechukwu Ofili who is the Chief Executive Officer of OkadaBooks”.

    He said: “They will also be exploring the benefits and profitability of digital publishing to writers rather than the usual pape-book which makes the industry and practitioners be proned to all sort of abuses and exploitation particularly, by pirates. Other speakers at the event are Messrs Seun Williams, a Lagos-based legal practitioner, Dr. Sola Olorunyomi from the University of Ibadan, Chukwuemeka Godswill of Boldscholar Research Limited and Ugo Okoye of iC Concept, a digital book marketing firm.

    “The ANA, Lagos’s first colloquium in honour of late Aderinokun which still awaits the endorsement and support of any sort from the management of GTB and Aderinokun’s family is to be jointly organised, by Mr. Akin Adeoya-led Marketing Mix Limited with the support of other corporate organisations and media organisations.”

    The group said corporate organisations have thrown their weight behind ANA for the colloquium and international convention, including Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG), Google, Nigerian Breweries (NBL), Google, DIGITALREALITY, Pan African University (PAU), the 1960 Hotels, Toyota Motors, Honeywell Nigeria Plc., Nigeria Bottling Company (NBC) and OkadaBooks, Kolanut Company, owners of kolanut application for simplified membership management and a social media campaign outfit, ASIRI MAGAZINE as well as Opportunitytosee Limited.

    Adeoya, who chairs the local organizing committee of 2018 ANA convention added that: “The colloquium and convention hosted by Lagos chapter have both been endorsed by the Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NACCI) is to, will examine the possibilities of maximising book marketing and economic fortune of writers, not only in Lagos State but, in Nigeria as a whole.

    “Our media partners in collaboration with ANA include The Guardian, The Nation, The Punch, Vanguard, Independent, National Television Authority (NTA), Inspiration FM, Lagos Traffic Radio, Channels Television, Lagos Television, among others.”

  • ‘Why we chose mega city, mega narratives for writers’ convention’

    Akin Adeoya is a writer, a poet and more so, an entrepreneur, a marketer and business man. He is the chairman of the Local Organsing Committee of the forthcoming international convention of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) to be hosted by Lagos State. In this encounter with Edozie Udeze he explains what the theme mega city, mega narratives will explore, why Ikeja is the locality chosen as venue and lots more. Excerpts:

    hy were you chosen as the chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the 2018 Association of Nigerian Authors International Convention which is being hosted by Lagos State?

    Okay, I think this has to do with my relationship with the Association of Nigerian Authors at the beginning.  When I came out of Ife (Obafemi Awolowo University), I came to Lagos.  Then around 1991, I started attending ANA meetings and programmes.  It, was then at Eric Moore Street, Surulere, Lagos where the meetings were always held.  It was like a second home to us then; it was like an abode, a place of respite for literary refreshment for many of us in Lagos.  Readings and literary matters took place there religiously.  But beyond that, Tayo Ademirokun was like a mentor to all of us then.

    So, I was very closely engaged with ANA at that point.  I was also involved in ANA affairs that at a point I became a member of the executives.  We did different patrons nights.  At that time I was more active as a poet.  I wrote poems.  The debut patrons’ night was handled by me and Akeem Lasisi at Jazzhole, Ikoyi, when Alex Akinyele and others attended.  It was a glorious occasion, very inspiring moment.  Many of the people who were active at that time are either professors now or have gone abroad where they are doing well as well.  The likes of Nduka Otiono, Ogaga Ifowodo, Toyin Adewale and many others like that were members then.  But the important thing is that there was a ferment; a literary ferment, discussions were deeply intellectual, despite the challenges of living in Lagos.  We were also provided the opportunity to advance our careers.  Eventually some moved to marketing, some to advertising, public relations.  A lot moved to journalism, you know.  Later I became cut-off by the challenges of life in Lagos.  But at that time we realized that one profession where there were more producers than consumers was poetry.  Man, it struck me in the wrong way:  Are we sure we are not in a dying profession?  And are we sure, we will survive the day?  Later I got more involved in business and paid less attention to creative writing and to ANA meetings.  Don’t forget that many of those ANA members eloped.  I still consider myself may be more patriotic (laughs).  I was determined to stick in here, to survive one way or the other.  Man, it has not been easy.  But then ANA went on; life goes on, soldier go, soldier come, barracks remains.  That is the way it has been.  There have been new regimes, new leaders, new members and ANA goes on and on, whether I was there or not.  But I have tried to provide symbolic relationship all these years.  Many years later, I think the issue of ANA came up again.  Then when they came up to me, I asked the chairman of Lagos ANA, why did you people come to me, even though I very much appreciate the honour?  Well, we know you are a business man, you have done a lot on events and promotions and public relations also.  But the association would like you to put your skills in place to help have a bountiful ANA convention.  It is also an opportunity for me to find my way back to the writers’ community.  Well, I clapped to that and said, I will do my best.  Well, that is the story and how I was chosen as the LOC chairman.

    Part of the fears why it took Lagos longer time to get the hosting right for ANA convention since 1995 is that of traffic and congestions on the roads.  Now it has been restricted to Ikeja.  How has that been finally resolved to avoid these hiccups?

    People who often make arguments about traffic problems in Lagos, I would say do not understand the geography of Lagos.  We live in Lagos, I live in Anthony Village; I have not stepped out of Anthony for a long time.  I can do all my businesses in Anthony Village.  Even for one year I can do so except if I have a social programme or other matters to attend to.  So we are very accommodating in Lagos.  That will never be an issue.  Like you said, we took that decision to remain at Ikeja. We looked at different parts of Lagos, but the tourist dimension to it would have been to have it at Epe.  We realized that having a hotel that would accommodate up to 500 people in Epe or Badagry would be an issue, a big challenge.  Secondly over there you have a few events places and venues.  A lot of people who came into Lagos, stopped at Ojota, will find it difficult to move to Epe or Badagry from there.  Then they will really find it hard when they encounter traffic.  It was then we decided to work on Ikeja, do everything we need to do in Ikeja.  We are not going to stay in one venue.  We will make it a colourful convention, the most colouful convention by ANA.  It will really be Eko for show.  We will be operating from about four hotels.  From Airport hotel, Eagles park to Jabita hotel where we will do a few things too.  This is to accommodate as many people as possible at affordable rates.  People will be able to walk at any time to any of the venues we are going to use.  It shows that people will not have problem locating any of the venues.  People will easily cross, if they want to switch venues.  They will cluster around.  In terms of logistics, we are not going to have any serious challenge.  We will have an excursion on Saturday morning where we will have breakfast at the beach.  Of course that will be early on Saturday morning and we do not foresee traffic stopping us.

    Fela’s house at Gbemisola Street, Ikeja.  That will not be a problem.  We will also take people to the new African shrine where his son Femi, now performs.  It is going to be a fun filled convention.

    Mega city, mega narratives.  How does this fit into the plans you have for the convention?

    Well, if you had asked me this question two or three weeks ago, maybe I would have answered it differently.  But my understanding and contemplation of that question has been very well enriched by the chairman of the patrons night a few weeks ago.  His grasp of that theme really captures it all.  It is a deep insight into the distraction of the city of Lagos.  It is the work of writers and the challenges of looking at the filthy nature of Lagos.  How should our works as writers reflect on the true nature of Lagos to help reduce the filthy aspects of the city?  It will not be abstract.  It is for writers to go down in the tradition of journalists to look at Lagos as it is.  The reality of the explosion of population, the issue of traffic you’ve been talking about, the tough challenges of waste disposal, which if not properly managed now may lead to epidemics, with so many aspects of life in Lagos.  Writers have to engage them all in their writings.  This is part of mega city, mega narratives.  Those realities can work and even become more relevant.  They are not only negatives; there are lots of positives in the narratives; in the mega city stories.  They should share the very realities of Lagos – sights and scenes and symbols of the city and all its tendencies have to reflect in the stories.  These stories cannot be replicated on their own anywhere else in the world; for this is Lagos.  It is something that can provide enough quality materials, enough quality content for writers doing fiction and non-fiction works.  Really, the most important point, I think, we made at that outing is that writers should focus on the realities of today.  We also expect Professor Karen King Aribisala in her keynote address to throw more light on this topic.  Writers should use the opportunity of their exposure to Lagos to write, to criticize, to document.  It is their responsibility to do so, to help the people and the government of Lagos.

    How are stakeholders and sponsors responding to your efforts so far to have a sound convention?

    There have been a lot of enthusiasm and excitement by stakeholders and sponsors.  But not too many of these have yielded concrete results and assurances.  But we are happy to have got some corporate support from some organizations including Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), we have also got commitment from the Nigerian Breweries (PLC), and from some unexpected quarters, some of them The Digital Realities.  This is a big printing press in Yaba, Lagos who has offered to print all our materials.  There are also quite a few others.  We want to thank all these people, but the most important thing is that we expect a whole support from the host state.  Traditionally, it is the host state that usually picks up the bill, because everybody knows that writers, and authors are not necessarily rich peopleand convention costs a lot of money.  We have approached the Lagos State government and they have assured us that they will support us.  We are hoping to hear from them as soon as possible.

    What are the gains for Lagos State from this convention?

    The gains of the hosting?  Oh, huge.  Yes huge!  First and foremost, this is an international convention.  Writers, both Nigerians and non-Nigerians will be coming in.  Properly harnessed, properly financed and properly organized, these are the potentials to put Lagos on the map of literary world.  Come to think of it, this is the association that produced people like Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, you can’t have it better.  It is now left for us to use it to draw the world here.  Someone asked me, if I give you 10 million naira, how will you use it?  How does it benefit me?  And I said fine, I will explain it to you.  Of course, this is a small company, an online application company.  I said look, you are a small and unknown company, you desire to be known by millions of people you service.  It will take you over twenty years to be so known.  But do you know how many people who know Soyinka?  To get the credibility that Chinua Achebe has, do you know how many years, it will take you?  These are the owners and founders of ANA.  And our image and reputation, are also sourced from their own credibility.  And so if someone comes and brings in the money, we can help him to develop and claim an association with Achebe and Wole Soyinka.  You can imagine when GLO wanted to advertise in Lagos, who did they look for as an icon?  It was Wole Soyinka.  So who is that individual, who is that orgnisation, who is that state government, who is that federal government, who is that country that will not be proud to associate itself with those kinds of names?  We use those to launder  the image. To create, to build the business of the person, provided the person is doing a credible business, however.  It is the best thing that can happen to a state.  It is the best thing that can happen to an organsation supporting the convention.  It is the best thing that has happened to me being the chairman of the local organizing committee of this convention.  But we all need to know, we all need to realize that an opportunity may be sitting on the table if you do not look well.  If you are hungry and food is placed on the table and if you do not pick the spoon and begin to scoop it into your mouth, you will remain hungry.  The opportunity is there for all of us to grab; to take advantage of this convention to hit the literary world.

  • Lagos ready to host writers

    With the 37th Annual International Convention of the Association of Nigerian Authors(ANA) not far in sight, the President of the Association, Mallam Denja Abdullahi  led a three-man team of ANA  national  EXCO members including the Assistant General Secretary, Maik Ortserga, and the PRO South, Wole Adedoyin to a very crucial meeting with the Lagos chapter of ANA at Eagles’ Park Hotel Ikeja. The two day marathon meeting which ended on Sunday 27th August,2018 solidified plans for the delivery of a mega-convention in the megacity of Lagos from the 25-28 October,2018 under the theme: Literature, Megacities and Mega-narratives. The Keynote Speaker at the opening ceremony is Prof Karen King-Aribisala of the University of Lagos.Many important dignitaries are already penciled to grace the opening ceremony such as the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu and Igwe Obosi, Chidubem Iweka.

    The meeting had in attendance the LOC Chairman, Mr. Akin Adeoya, an advert and brand expert and an entrepreneur who is also a renowned writer; Chairman of ANA Lagos ,Yemi Adebiyi and other members of ANA Lagos and the LOC. The meeting took time to go over the various plans towards the hosting of the convention whose activities will be mainly based in the Ikeja area of Lagos. The meeting carefully unveiled the details of the chapters’ level of preparedness involving the welcome cocktail, grand opening ceremony, the convention drama, AGM, accommodation for delegates  and special guests, publicity, security, books and photos exhibition, excursion and breakfast at the Lagos beachside, transport and logistics, grand awards dinner and so forth. Already, the LOC has paid advocacy visits to the Oba of Lagos as well as other prominent personalities in the state. The unique things about the Lagos Chapter’s preparation towards the hosting of the convention are the two focused activities to be hosted before the convention. The activities are The Patrons’ Night to hold on 9th of September,2018 at the Freedom Parks in  Lagos and the colloquium on digital publishing scheduled for the 24-25 October,2018 in Honour of Tayo Aderinokun, the late MD of GT Bank, who was a patron of the chapter while alive.

    Earlier on  at the meeting, the President Abdullahi had thanked the LOC chairman for accepting to serve in that capacity. He went ahead to stress the need to cut down cost in all levels of preparation in order to deliver a decent and memorable convention without being overburdened by debts and unnecessary hitches. He explained the involvement of the National EXCO in the organization and the expectations of the members who will be coming to attend the convention in their numbers from all parts of the country

    Specifics of the programme of events which was carefully scrutinized will be unveiled in due course and a decision was taken on the downward review of the convention fees so that members could attend in good numbers.There was inspection of venues and facilities for the convention after the end of the two-day meeting. On the whole, the meeting was hugely successful as it left no one in doubt that ANA Lagos is set to deliver a mega convention.

  • Writers decry state of the nation

    “When an individual no longer feels a sense of responsibility to his society, the content of democracy is emptied.” Martin Luther King Jr.

    The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) has called on political leaders to tread softly in order not to scuttle democracy in the society. In a statement signed by its president Denja Abdullahi, it said:

    “as the 2019 general elections beckons, the media has recently been inundated with news of Nigerian politicians switching lines, disconnecting and connecting new political cables and raising new convertors to ignite their political luminosities. The panic sown by politicians rationalizing their conducts, yelling so loudly about biases meted out on them has led many to wonder whether the leadership class in Nigeria will ever get it right.  The big question, however, remains where do all these leave the people? This question is very apt because one does not need a crystal ball to see that the recent gale of   defections and shenanigans coupled with the brazen display of impunity by security services are being done within the narrow confines of individualistic concerns instead of the broader concerns of the people.

    The bad news in all these is that these political inadequacies are stretching our democracy to a breaking point. It is sad that politics in this country is still not in the interest of the people several years after the country’s return to democracy. Now, the politicians have squandered the credit they won in the  hey days of this administration. Instead of reforming Nigeria, they now chose to fight over power, blocking each other’s personal ambitions at the expense of the common good. Corruption and impunity are still rife and institutions are still dysfunctional. The current defections are not driven by fundamental ideological consideration. Thus the practice of politics by our leaders has fallen short of the standards of democratic governance.

    As the umbrella body of writers in this country, It is not just important that we point out the unprogressive nature of these defections and shenanigans by politicians, we feel bold to remind the actors in these new direction of events in the country to be wary of the anger of the people which has been inflated to a bursting point. To borrow Chris Okigbo’s words, “…Let them remember thunder when they share the meat,” They should remember that   they are accountable to the masses and that the day of account will soon come in 2019 when they will realize how impossible it is to say no to the thunderous will of the people.A word is more than enough for the wise and for those who will listen and act true to the thrust given to them by the masses.

     

  • Remembering ‘prolific author’ Abubakar Gimba

    Fond memories of renowned novelist and former national president of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), the late Abubakar Gimba, were once again revived at a public event.

    It was at the maiden Abubakar Gimba Memorial Lecture, organised by the Faculty of Languages and Communication Studies, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai (IBBUL), Niger State.

    The event was part of the institution’s activities aimed at immortalising the late Niger-State born writer.

    It was held at the main campus auditorium.

    Eminent guests on the occasion, paid tributes to the late Gimba, who authored “Trail of Sacrifice (1985)”, “Witnesses to Tears (1987)”, “Innocent Victims (1988)”, “Sunset for a Mandarin (1992)”, and “Sacred Apples (1994)”.

    Guest Lecturer Prof Ahmad Babajo of the Department of English and Drama, Kaduna State University (KASU), described the former ANA president as a gifted writer and one of Nigeria’s finest authors.

    He said: “Although, Abubakar Gimba has since transmitted to the great beyond, his sterling contributions to Nigeria’s literary firmament and humanity, would forever be cherished, as his classic novels and other writings are still among the most widely read in Nigeria. They have also served as cornerstone of researches, within and beyond the country.”

    Prof. Babajo spoke on the theme: “An Oasis in the Desert: Abubakar Gimba and the Tradition of the Nigerian Novel”, describing the late author as a worthy pride of Northern Nigeria.

    He pointed out that the late Gimba’s works had immensely contributed in advocating equitable distribution of financial resources, even infrastructural development across the geo-political zones, and intellectual empowerment of the citizenry.

    “His works demonstrate his nationalistic and patriotic concerns, by bringing to the fore questions of national integration, aimed at addressing social fragmentation through tackling issues, such as unemployment, gender inequality, human rights abuse and political hegemony, among others.

    “Writer Gimba was equally resolute in advocating accountable, incorruptible, visionary and purposeful leadership, as well as a holistic value reorientation among the youth”, said Babajo.

    The Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof Muhammad Nasir Maiturare, extolled the virtues of the late novelist, adding that despite Gimba’s accomplishments, he remained unassuming, patriotic and modest.

    “It is on record that he, alone, had on the global database of literary giants, 22 works in 62 publications and 425 library holdings of WorldCat member libraries, worldwide,” the VC disclosed.

    He added that amid myriads of socio-political upheavals, ideological conflicts and ethno-religious bloodbaths, Nigerians, in late Gimba’s works, are exhorted to be accommodating.

    “It is irrefutable that he was a phenomenal writer, whose books illuminated the consequences of the social maladies prevalent in our societies. It is gratifying that he remarkably championed the cause of building an egalitarian society, with a pan-Nigeria mindset,” he said.

    Earlier, Prof. Apegba Keep, host dean, highlighted the contributions of the late ANA helmsman to the development of the literary circuit, stressing that repulsive acts of maladministration, social injustice, corruption, moral decadence and impunity were explicitly condemned in his writings.

    He added that the memorial lecture was being organised to celebrate the ‘extraordinary achievements’ of the late Gimba, and also inspire the younger generation of writers and upcoming authors.

    Highpoints of the event were drama presentations and reading of poems by the English Language Department students.

  • ANA commend Buhari on June 12, Abiola

    The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Lagos Chapter has commended the posthumously national honours conferred Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola (MKO), that late human rights activist, Chief Ganiu Okikiola Fawehinmi (SAN) and Babagana Kingibe.

    While noting that the annulment of the June 12 Presidential election, won by Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola (MKO) under the then Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 1993, which was adjudged the freest in the history of Nigeria, was of great impediment to national unity and peace within the polity, it described the move of President Muhammed Buhari in resuscitating of the issues of June 12 and efforts to right the wrongs of the era as a step in the right direction.

    “The announcement of June 12 as the new democracy day as against May 29 is courageous and symbolic of empathy with an average Nigerian who have lost faith in the nation’s leadership particularly, at the centre, as well as in our electoral system since the annulment of the June 12 election in 1993 by IBB and the eventual murder of the symbol of the epoch-making electoral exercise.

    “We recall, with nostalgia, the philanthropic gestures and display of love for education and the arts, and we regret the absence of Chief Abiola, especially as the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Lagos Chapter, prepares to host an international convention, after over 30 years, in October.

    “We can imagine the kind of support ANA, Lagos, could have received from the late chief, Concord Group of Newspaper and Concord Airline, among his inheritances which were scuttled and destroyed by the military government of General Sanni Abacha, apart from the dear Kudirat Abiola which was equally wasted in the struggle to recover the mandate from the military.

    Read Also: The Epetedo declaration by MKO Abiola

    The group, in a statement in a release signed by the Chairman, Publicity Sub-Committee, ANA 2018 International Convention, Feyi-Abiodun Samson Oyeniyi, also called for the Investigation of the mysterious murder of late Dele Giwa, a renowned journalist and Funsho Williams, while recalling the courage displayed by Prof Humphrey Nwosu and Prof Atairu Jega during the 1993 and 2015 elections.

    “Furthermore, we urge the federal government to remember to honour, in whichever befitting ways, several others, who though, were part of the fights to install this presently evolving democracy, who may not be as prominent as Chief M.K.O Abiola, Gani Fawehinmi, Prof Wole Soyinka, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Femi Falana, among others, but whose efforts cannot be discarded as they were ingredients for the realisation of a done dream for a democratic nation,” it stated.

  • Writers preach grassroots campaigns for literary growth

    More efforts are being made by the Association of Nigerian Authors to spread the gospel of grassroots literacy in Nigeria. At a two-day workshop in Ilorin, Kwara State, penultimate week, attention was specifically placed on the role of Yusuf Ali (SAN) yearly grants to ANA for this purpose and more. Edozie Udeze reports.

    It has become crystal clear that the current leadership of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that literature is taken to the remotest places in the Nigerian society.  Penultimate week at Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, members of ANA from across the states gathered together to rub minds on the issues that would help to prosper literary awareness.  The theme of the two-day workshop was capacity building on innovations in contemporary literary awareness campaigns in Nigeria.  It was held at the Knowledge Platform, Ilorin, where selected state council chairmen of ANA took time out to discuss topical themes around the Yusuf Ali (SAN) yearly grants to the association and what more to do to utilize the money well for the good of all.

    On hand to deliver the lectures on three diverse themes were Dr. Wale Okediran, Izuchukwu Okeke and Funmi Ilori.  Okediran’s topic titled managing and financing literary projects and programmes for optimum results:  The practical realities, drew attention on actions writers should embark upon to ensure that they write well and also make money from their works.  Okediran, a former president of the Association was clear when he said, “this theme seeks to strengthen the ability of an organization or agency to achieve a desired outcome.  Therefore capacity building in this area can be defined as supporting an organization to build and maintain the skills, infrastructure and resources to achieve its mission”

    Having stated this clearly, Okediran commended Yusuf Ali for his regular sponsorship of ANA programmes and projects, a gesture that has made it possible for ANA to fulfill most of its cardinal objectives.  He reminded the literary eggheads that the primary aims of ANA were to promote literature in both the indigenous and English languages and then see how to ensure that members’ welfare is constantly improved.  When this is properly done, it is good also to make efforts to discover new writers and try to celebrate international literary events whenever they do occur.  We are equally obliged to celebrate and eulogize and recognize literary icons in Nigeria”, Okediran noted, urging members to be more proactive.

    In essence, prudent financial management can help to achieve these goals.  But where does the money come from when ANA is not a financial organization?  Okediran queried.  “Yes, we need to engage in income-based rather than budget-based spending”, he warned.  By this, he meant that both as a body and as individuals, it is necessary to retain positive cash flow balance.  However, when a deficit does occur, there should be accumulated surpluses sufficient to cover the current year‘s deficit.  What ANA is expected to do is to look into areas where it can establish operating reserves to finance growth and shortfalls.  In the thinking of Okediran, a physician turned writer who has also delved into politics, it is proper for a writer to write.  It is also financially wise for him to prepare ways to earn a living from his works.

    The lecture which drew loud applause from writers specifically centred on various issues to keep the sector not only active, but equally help to make ANA responsive and responsible.  Okediran therefore posed; “There should be monthly readings by the state chapters of the association.  Yes, there should be good avenues to keep writers busy and purpose oriented.  In addition, writers should be closer to the older and experienced writers as sources of encouragement.  Taking that further, the body agreed that good publicity is cogent in this regard.  And so when anthologies are done, it will afford local members the opportunity to get published.

    He also hinted on the exigencies of residency programmes, which he said often help writers to finish works they’ve  kept for so long or even get new ones started.  In any event, it is when a writer has the freedom and exclusiveness that he needs that he can be more productive.  He postulated thus: “this is a good innovation to support works of upcoming writers and the established ones.  Yes, writers residency is an enabling environment for writers to complete their ongoing works in an atmosphere of serene tranquility and quietness needed for the craft”.  Although this concept is still new in Nigeria, Okediran has started his own Ebedi residency programme which has seen both local and foreign writers utilizing the facilities to empower themselves more.  For this reason and more, he challenged more Nigerians to turn their abandoned homes in the society to writers to encourage them to produce more literary materials for the growth of the society.  He insisted that residencies for writers here in Nigeria is both necessary and expedient. “This is the time to get it going”, he explained.

    On the whole, the ANA executives were told to look out for well-placed Nigerians who can always be of financial assistance  to ANA.  “In doing so, you can approach corporate bodies with bias for literature.  There are also individuals who can help.  And more than that, once money is involved, those who handle it should be prudent, should be able to keep an open and clean record to avoid doubts and mistrusts by members. Money meant for projects ought to be well-utilized”, he admonished.

    On his own part Izuchukwu Okeke, a South Korean-based Nigerian scholar, and a member of ANA, in his topic titled digital and literary culture in Nigeria: surmounting the challenge of disruption and enhancing the reach of the story, reminded writers that this is a digital era; time for writers to brace up.  It is time to catch up with the trends of the moment to enrich writings in the global economy.  But he also quickly cautioned, based on his global exposure and contacts. “it is not all sectors that have digital love story to tell.  While many aspects of the global economy have beautiful stories with the global innovation, the story with the creative industry is different.  But we can use this means to write, market and publish our works.  For now, we do not all seem to understand the full import of this digital economy.  In well-developed worlds it is working; it is helping the creative industry and so on.  It is therefore our turn to key in now to grow and prosper”.  Okeke, a doctoral degree scholar in African literature in Pukyong National University, Busan, South Korea, pointed out. For him writers should use every available function to slot in their programmes to create more awareness thereby improving the sale of books.  In the end, more books would be sold and authors would make money.

    “This is what happens in South Korea where books and writers are well celebrated by the society; where there are social grants to enhance literacy”, Okeke surmised.

    In their responses, both the national president, Denja Abdullahi and the state chairmen commended Okediran and Okeke for the expository issues they espoused.  Abdullahi himself, a celebrated poet said, “this is an auspicious occasion.  We have learnt more and we are grateful to Yusuf Ali for his kind gestures in the past seven years.  His gesture has helped to stabilize ANA.  It has given us renewed hope and consciousness to move to the next level.  In his closing remarks, vice president Camy Ukah said, it was clear that members had learnt so much to go home to implement a lot to make ANA more prosperous and evenly known.

    In the end, states were told to go and do more to continue to endear ANA to the people.  ANA was founded in 1981 by Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, J.P. Clark and others to serve as an intelligentia group for writers in Nigeria.  And so the yearly Yusuf Ali N3 million grants have helped to attain this goal.  That was why the workshop became necessary and topical for more literary growth.

     

  • ‘This literary campaign must go round’

    In this encounter with Edozie Udeze, Mallam Denja Abdullahi, the President of Association of Nigerian Authors throws more light on the grants that have helped to extend the frontiers of Yusuf Ali literary campaigns to the grassroots

    How has this grant endured?

    The ANA/Yusuf Ali literary awareness campaign has endured because the funding has been constant and comes at a predictable time every year. That enables us to plan ahead each year and gives us room to innovate and create a sustainable pattern across the country. The literary philanthropy of Yusuf Ali met a robust structure of ANA on ground which covers the whole of Nigeria. It is therefore possible to create impact at the same time with the project across the country. The project has also introduced healthy competition among our chapters across the country as they overreach themselves to do better each year. The monitoring process that we have introduced along the line has also contributed to the project sustainability.

    What year did it start?

    The ANA/ Yusuf Ali literary awareness campaign actually started in 2012 when I was Vice President of ANA. There was nothing as sustainable as that in the history of ANA  except for our annual convention which we are often not too sure of each year as we fish around for funds to host it unlike the ANA/ Yusuf Ali literary awareness campaign with sure funding. The campaign has impacted positively in the area of mentoring the young and school going populace by encouraging them to read and write. We cover nothing less than five thousand students in 100 schools across the country each year in the course of executing the campaign . At the beginning the focus was on secondary schools for some years, then we had focused  workshop for universities students and we later moved to focusing on tertiary institutions, then into the  publication of children titles which we have used to drive another by-project called A-Book-A-Child nationwide project. From all these activities including what we are using the fund for this year( capacity building workshop on innovations in contemporary literary awareness campaign and media awareness) you could see that the ANA/ Yusuf Ali literary awareness campaign has been very impactful nationwide.

    How did you arrive at the projects to embark upon with the money?

    The brainstorming to get new things to do with the grant each year ad-infinitum is what we are gathering to do in the capacity building workshop. For ANA chapter chairmen we will be having in Ilorin later this April 2018.Mind you, we do not just receive the grant from Yusuf Ali and go to sleep. Our chapters do provide matching grant to whatever they receive as sub-grant from the Yusuf Ali main grant. Yusuf Ali gives us N3million each year which is not small at all considering the regular brick wall you meet whenever you try to raise funds from governments and other corporate bodies. By the time you add or cost what our chapters raise to do their bits with the seed sub-grant received, the total money spent each year may translate to about N10 million naira or more. But without the initial  grant from Yusuf Ali, the build up would not have been possible.

    So the grants have prospered the association?

    From the success of the Yusuf Ali grant to ANA, we have seen how helpful regular grant can go a long way to stabilize an association like ANA and make it very functional and accountable.  And that is why we are all clamouring for the institution of an endowment fund for the arts in Nigeria. The Western world is  wizened already on the importance of  regular and sustained funding for the arts by governments, individuals and public and private institutions. Governments in the third world countries like Nigeria go about as if they do not owe the arts anything. The  arts, literature and culture of a country  will eventually go  extinct if the  government of a particular country thinks they do not need special attention and dedicated intervention. Come to think of it, some of the best features of our cultural heritage and creativity are being kept alive by foreign grants and foreign funding facilitated by  those who know the importance of heritage sustainability. I always say the arts always have a way of making indelible the contributions of those who support it. Our use of the Yusuf Ali grant over the years has shown that you can do a lot in the arts with a gift sincerely given and the reward to the giver will definitely be more than whatever is given.Many Yusuf Alis are not there today because people are afraid of poverty and they are ignorant of where they can leave their indelible memories for generations unborn. Most people with money in Nigeria hoard it for  their immediate families or fritter it away on mundane things that will turn to dust within a generation following their demise.The kind of Yusuf Ali is rare in our clime as not many  persons are  as  astute and intelligent like him to know that life is ephemeral and that what endures are the selfless pursuits you engage in. The corporate bodies are not different, they are forever in search of profit without thinking of responsibility to their communities. They commit huge funds to beauty pageants and Ajasco  dance shows on the streets but avoid the theatre, film, literature and the likes because of their short-sighted thinking that nothing will be gained in return.

  • The yearly grant that spurs ANA

    In the past seven years, a legal luminary, Yusuf Ali (SAN), has been giving yearly grants to the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) for literacy campaign in Nigeria.  Edozie Udeze in this report assesses the progress made so far by states that have benefited from the grants.

    In the past seven years or so, the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) has been receiving financial grants for the promotion of literature and literacy in Nigeria.  The annual N3million grants by Yusuf Ali SAN, has in the past years been of great assistance for literature mostly in schools across the nation.  Before this grant was introduced by Ali, the state of the promotion of literature in the society seemed to be in the doldrums.   Ali’s idea in the first place, is to ensure that this money is properly disbursed to state chapters of ANA that are in dire need of financial help to extend the frontiers of literacy to schools, mostly among the youths who have indeed lost touch with their literary values.

    Since ANA is vested with the responsibility of promoting the reading culture in Nigeria, its national leadership immediately devised means to ensure that the grants are properly utilized.  This was why states were told to forward formats and programmes that would encourage more people to gain from the grants.  So from state to state proposals were sent to the national offices of ANA.  But there are few states that have not benefited from these grants.

    They have not, not just because the money has not been evenly distributed but because they have not shown sufficient concern to benefit from the grants.

    However, for this laudable ideal to sufficiently fulfill its national vision, it is advisable for more states to key into this.  Nonetheless, for those that have applied for the grants, the results have been quite tremendous.  The literacy awareness campaign by Ali is catching on; it is a delight for helping the children not get addicted to watching televisions most of the time.  Now, with more literary materials at the disposal of school children, it has become much easier to revitalize the ideals of reading by creating more awareness.

    Even though the grants to the states have been minimal, it is clear to see what nice and beautiful programmes they have been able to execute with the money.  According to some of the state chairmen of ANA spoken to in the process of this report, much has been achieved so far. From Benue State, came the report that the state has benefited tremendously from this project.   According to Charles Iornumbe the chairman of ANA in the state, “Benue has received up to three (3) years out of the seven years history of the grants.  We got in 2016, we also marched it with the financial support we solicited for from the state government and other bodies as well as individuals.  Thereafter, we launched the awareness  campaign at the Akawe Torkula College of Advanced and Professional Studies, Makurdi.  This was so because our focus that year was basically on tertiary institutions”.

    The state went on to inculcate more programmes to deepen the ideals of the project.  “We took the campaign to the nook and cranny of Benue. Schools visited were college of Education, Oju, College of Education, Gboko, College of Education, Katsina-Ala and Benue State University , Makurdi.  In some places, we read literary books and then presented same as gifts to students who could answer our questions correctly”.

    Equally last year, the grant was given to states in form of books.  The national offices of ANA this time decided to use the grant to produce more books for schools.   These literature books were then distributed to schools for their local needs.  Writers were asked to come up with various write-ups on children.  These were later collated and termed the A-Book-A Children Project.  Then by May 2017 the handlers of the Nigerian Writers Series were mandated to ensure that books were produced for immediate use and distribution. States were given books for distribution based on their needs with the level of commitment as a benchmark.  The A-Book-A Child’s Project took off soon after with the public presentation happening in different forms in different states.

    “Yes”, Iornumbe enthused, “our judicious application of the Yusuff Ali grants has made Benue people have more confidence in ANA.  Today, Yusuf Ali is a household name in the state.  Owing to this fact, we have garnered more numbers.  So far we have gathered over forty new members and Benue ANA is the better for it.  We pray that more Nigerians take a cue from what Ali has been doing so that literacy in the larger society will prosper more”, he said.

    From Bayelsa, came the report that more young writers have been discovered and noted in the state due to the prospects of these grants.  Its chairperson, Mrs Bina Nengi Ilagha said, “last year’s Yusuf Ali ANA competition was specifically targeted  at tertiary institutions.  Yes Bayelsa State proposal for the grant was successful.  We were one of the 16 states that got the grant for 2016″.

    Nengi, who sent in a comprehensive report on the issue, said further, “the essence of our proposal was simply for contestants to read Chinua Achebe’s 1966 novel – A Man of The People.  Then they were asked to write a final chapter 14 beyond the 13 chapters of the original book.  An essay was given to students of higher institutions in the state based on this topic.  Then a one day seminar was organized to prepare them for the competition”.

    Of course, all the higher institutions in the state were involved.  In the end those who won were amply rewarded with gifts and commendations.  It is interesting to note that the Bayelsa model produced one of the most amazing discoveries of the project.  Apart from organizing the competitions in phases for easy implementations, a lot of publicity was given it to ensure that more students were offered the opportunity to participate.  “Yes some members of staff of ANA were on radio programmes to talk about it”, Nengi revealed.

    From then on, those who were involved took it upon themselves to generate more awareness in order to make it more engrossing.  When the first stage of the competition was done, five names were shortlisted out of which 3 were eventually chosen.  The level of knowledge and intelligence displayed by these students was amazing.  This showed that if given the enabling environment and wherewithal the youths can go places.  Not only that, some books were given to participants and the level of enthusiasm they displayed was a demonstration of renewed hope for the future.

    So also was the zeal shown in Lagos, the Centre of Excellence.  In the words of Yemi Adebiyi, the state chairman of ANA, “over the years, the annual grant by Yusuf Ali to ANA to institutionalize literacy campaign and encourage the reading habits of Nigerians has been one of the major annual events embarked upon by ANA.  It is one event that has been executed in similar fashion in all the ANA branches nationwide.  Indeed Lagos has been a regular beneficiary due to its laudable projects and for the fact that more Nigerians reside in the state.  In fact, in 2015 Lagos ANA got its first grant of N150,000 with which it did some projects.

    As a departure from what others did, they used the money to purchase books written by ANA members for distribution to schools.   Also, it was used to organize seminars and workshops for schools in the mainland areas of the state. “Yes”,  Adebiyi admitted, “some of the secondary schools are in the Bariga areas of Lagos. In 2016, we used the money to reach out to tertiary institutions who were invited for a literary competition.  This was held at the University of Lagos.  It was a month programme during which a book, Pass On The Baton, was used as a platform”,

    Thereafter, the programme moved to the CRMMD Public Library in Idimu, Lagos.  Then more books were shared out to the delight of beneficiaries.  Adebiyi is really excited that so far, the state has shown tremendous leap in this regard.  To him, the climax is the A-Book-A child campaigns embarked upon by ANA. “Oh, in Lagos, a school in Surulere that has nursery and primary was selected for the distribution of the books.  Of course, Denja Abdullahi has done well in this regard”, he disclosed.

    The Kogi chapter of the association has also been one of the greatest beneficiaries of this campaign.  Its chairman Dr. Kennedy  Obohwenu described the projects as more encouraging for the literary growth of the younger ones.  He said, “Kogi ANA has over the years shown strong commitment to the promotion of Nigerian literature in line with the laid down principles guiding the operation of ANA at all levels.  Just last year, we executed a comprehensive literary contest for all secondary schools in the state.  These were in 21 local government areas of the state.  The epoch-making event lasted for 6 months.  This was done based on our grants from the ANA national for the Yusuf Ali literacy campaigns”, he volunteered.

    In all, it is clear that some states have shown reasonable commitment.  It is left for ANA to further seek ways to ensure that more states key into this for the promotion of the reading culture in Nigeria so that more wealthy individuals can come in to help literature go places.  There are other states that have also shown interest in this programme and have done much to prosper literacy in their states.