AWAAL GATA and Umar Yogiza report on the National Convention held last week in Ilorin, Kwara state, by one of the factions of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA).
Despite the fact that COVID-19, EndSARS and recession affected the normality of things and life in Nigeria in 2020, the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) made its 39th International Convention one of the most memorable in its history.
The convention took place at the African People’s Hall at Mustapha Akanbi Foundation (MAF) in Ilorin, Kwara state, from Thursday, December 3 to Sunday December 6, 2020.
The theme of the convention was, “In Search of a Better World: Literature as Catalyst for National Development”.
ANA, which is said to be the largest literary body in Africa and the third largest in the world, did not allow the usual glamours of its annual conventions to wane in Ilorin, despite the challenges, as the convention was packed with dozens of writers, scholars, mentees and literary enthusiasts.
On the first day of the convention, there was a welcome cocktail and a “festival of life” moderated by Dr. Maik Otserga, after which ANA factional President, Dr Camilus Ukah delivered a short speech to welcome everyone and intimate them with what to expect at the convention. Perfomance poets later resoundingly entetained the packed hall before the festival was brought to an end late into the night.
The following day, after a “biscuit and tea” breakfast, everyone headed to MAF for the opening ceremony. It started with the introduction of dignitaries who included scholars from across Nigeria and overseas.
The government of Kwara state government was represented by the state’s Commissioner for Communication, Mrs. Harriet Afolabi Oshatimehin, who was also the chairperson of the convention.
In his openning address, factional ANA President, Ukah, said the theme of the convention couldn’t come at a better time than now, considering the challenges that Nigeria has been facing as a nation.
He said it was the responsibilities of writers to address the “dwelling socio-economic problems that have plagued the nation, and literature could be the only profound solution.”
He said, “literature occupies a cardinal position in the advancement of the human cause,” therefore it should be well supported, promoted and not relegated to the background.
The Keynote Speaker, Prof Raheem Adebayo Lawal who is the immediate past Deputy Vice-Chancellor of University of Ilorin, tackled the convention’s theme going back to history lane to dissect the state of Nigerian literature before and after Achebe and Soyinka’s era.
He explained that literature in Nigeria has achieved a lot in fostering unity, development, eradication of poverty of mind and soul and deradicalization of violence in the country.
The next activity of the day, after a book exhibition, was a panel discussions themed: “JP Clark: The Resonance of Writer’s Songs”, which featured Prof Olu Obafemi, Prof Femi Osofisan, Prof Sunny Ododo, Dr. Wale Okediran, Prof Remi Raji, Prof Akachi Ezeigbo, Prof Sam Ukala, and Prof Mabel Evwiehoma.
While some of the panelists were physically present, others were there via Zoom. The intriguing discussions were moderated by an award-winning poet, Dr. Obari Gomba of University of Portharcourt.
The second panel was themed, “Writers and their Writings: The Imperial for Institutional Corroborations”. It featured four physical panelists and two visual panelists. The panelist ncluded a former President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Mallam Denja Abdullahi and a former Director-General of Nigerian Copyright Commission, Mr John Asien.
Abdullahi said ANA needed to look for other ways to promote itself even though the media has a role to play, adding that there could be cooperation with government authorities without jeopardizing the integrity of ANA and what the association truly stands for.
The DG, on his part, called for stricter enforcement of the relevant copyright laws as from 2021 to ensure that pirates are pushed out of business.
The Executive Secretary of Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, Prof Ismail Junaidu who reprsented by the organisation’s spokesperson, stressed that ANA should could start its anti-piracy campaign by checking the qualities of books supplied to educational institutions.
The third day was for AGM/Business Meeting. It began with the convergence of participants at MAF, from where buses took them to University of Ilorin, which some first comers jocularly described as almost the size of The Gambia. It was an excursion-like trip, because the buses moved slowly to allow their occupants a glimpse of what Ilorin was made of as a city. The journey should not have lasted beyond 30 minutes but it stretched beyond an hour.
The AGM/Business Meeting started smoothly. Only financially-cleared ANA members were allowed into the hall, but an international scholar from Cameroon was allowed. He was at the convention to write a comprehensive report, because writers in his country are planning to model their association after ANA.
The executive council presented its reports to the congress, followed by the reports of ANA Land Committee, Peace Committee, and State Chapters.
Then, the issue of where the 2021 convention would be held came to the fore. They could not reach a truce, but there was a commitment that only a well-prepared state would be announced later.
After the AGM/Business Meeting, there was another interesting panel discussions with the theme, “Literature of Potency and Power: Beyond Aesthetics and Narratives, how can Nigerian Writing become Lotent Tool for Mental Change and Blueprint for Innovation.”
By 8pm, everyone gathered at MAF’s water-view front for the breathtaking closing and awards dinner. A short welcome address by factional ANA president was followed by a remark by the Chairman of the Occasion, Prof Femi Osofisan, after which ANA Fellowship Awards were conferred on Prof Mary Ifeoma Nwoye , Prof Chinedum Uzoma Nwajiuba and Prof Mallam Al-Bashak.
The last part was the announcement of the winners of 2020 ANA prizes by Prof Olu Obafemi. ANA Prize for Poetry was jointly won by James Eze and Abiodun Bello. Terna Abu won ANA Prize for Prose, Olubumnmi Familoni won ANA Prize for Children Literature and Clementina Kezie won ANA Prize for Drama.
This year saw the introduction of a prize for secondary schools, named after the late award-winning poet, Ikeogu Oke. The winner of the prize was “I See the Future”, by Chris Gonoh.
