IBRAHIM RAMALAN, who was in Kaduna writes on the recently concluded convention of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA)
For writers across the country, Kaduna State, the City of Crocodiles, was the destination where the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) held its 2015 National Convention.
The event which began on 12th to 15th November, 2015 was an annual writer’s pilgrimage that relinquishes tribal, regional, religious and political barriers in the writers and was attendant by not only the members of the association but also many literary enthusiasts.
It was indeed an intellectual feast in which participating writers, authors, critics, scholars and patrons drawn from all the state chapters of the association in the country, partook to brainstorm so as to provide a new flexibility in support of total commitment to literature awareness in the country.
Prof. Harry Garuba of the University of Cape Town, South Africa, who was the keynote speaker, spoke extensively on the theme: ‘The Local and Global Textures of New Nigerian Writing’.
Prof. Garuba critically looked into some of the new developments in contemporary literature as well as issues that boarder literature and indigenous language.
While speaking at the Convention the Senator representing Kaduna Central, Senator Shehu Sani, reiterated his commitment in pushing the Bill for the Arts Endowments Fund, so that he leaves legacies for the Arts by the time he moves forward.
He also promised to work with whoever emerges as the ANA president, to host the next convention in Abuja, next year.
The convention proceeded to its main thrust, which was the election of new executives that will man the affairs of the association for the coming years.
At this point, Prof. Jerry Agada and Senator Wale Okediran were the Jegas of the day as they were assigned with the responsibility of overseeing the election process and announcing the result. This was done seamlessly as the process was adjudged free and fair.
Denja Abdullahi, former Vice President of the association, who keenly contested the election with BM Dzukogi, was declared winner.
The new President of the writers’ body, Denja Abdullahi, who expressed happiness over his election, also assured that ANA under his watch would maintain the body’s age long role as the conscience of the nation, “ever protective of our quest for an egalitarian society where every citizen is a stakeholder in the progress and advancement of the nation.
“Writers, to me and to many who belong to my Association have a lot to offer in contributing to the development of this country from the educational and cultural perspectives and much more.
We will partner with government without sacrificing our independent spirit as writers and creative people.
“In ANA’s history, we do not lack programmes for schools nor the competence to carry them out. What we need now is more support to bring forth innovative programmes that will further the objectives of creativity and linguistic and literary competence in our students”, the president promised.
On the achievement of the past administration to which he was the Vice President, Denja said: “The key success of the Remi Raji administration has been the securing of the ANA land through the dogged and seasoned litigation of our legal adviser, Ahmed Maiwada Esq. When the Mamman Vatsa Writer’s Village is finished, it will provide a steady stream of income for the association and subsequent EXCOs will be able to make longer term plans. This is the bequest of the Remi Raji administration to our congress that has remained behind us every step of the way. It is our tribute of stewardship for the trust and the burden placed on our shoulders.”
To the out-gone President of the Association, Prof. Remi Raji, who oversaw the smooth transition, ANA under him had attained greater hight and believed that Denja would consolidate on these achievements.
While pointing out some of his achievement, Prof. Remi said: “Some of the recent achievements are the Nigerian Writers Series books, which has seen ten new books published by the Association’s NWS publishers imprint in collaboration with major Nigerian publishers. There is also the ANA/Yusuf Alli reading campaign which has distributed N9,000,000 to state chapters in the form of grants over the last three years as well as the teen authorship prize sponsored by the former first lady of Niger State who saw the need for nurturing budding talent.
