ANA ABUJA FLAGS OFF ITS MONTHLY READING IN STYLE

Two months after the Dr. Emman Usman Shehu was voted out as the chairman of Abuja Chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors in favour of Dr. Seyi Adigun and his lieutenants, the chapter on Thursday 26^th of June at the NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja finally resumes its monthly reading, and did so in grand style after six moth of waiting.

The flag off the monthly reading and the chapter’s read campaign project was performed by the Honourable Minister of State for Education and National Vice President of the Association, Dr. Jerry Agada. “I am sure you are aware that I am the Chairman of the National Action Committee on Read Campaign. This makes me the most appropriate person to perform the function of flagging off this chapter’s reading session and their read project today and I shall do so with all pleasure. Improving the culture of reading is the responsibility of all of us and we must live up to that responsibility” he stated and went on to read an essay on the plight of teachers in Nigeria, from his collection of essays titled ‘Rage and Tears’ which according to him is quite prophetic because at the time, he was not a Minister. “Teachers deserve the best; I use to be a teacher so I know how it feels so we are doing all we can to ensure that the situation at hand is amicably resolved” he added.

In his remark as the special guests of honor at the event, Professor ‘Dibu Ojerinde, who read Christopher Okigbo’s ‘Ibeto’ from the West African Verse collection suggested that the read campaign should be taken to the rural area. He advised that whatever the association is doing, it should not restrict itself to the city center but to the rural areas. The Chief Executive of JAMB who was also the pioneer Registrar of NECO however commended some universities whom he claimed have contributed immensely to improving the reading culture by insisting that anyone who want to study law must pass literature. “Other courses should do the same. Literature should be made compulsory for courses like philosophy, sociology, mass communication and anthropology amongst others, as is done in other universities around the world” he concluded.

There were two authors on the rostrum for the month in person of Ahmed Maiwada, a legal practitioner, literary critic and poet who read from his new collection of poem titled FOSSILS, while Professor Tunde Adeniran read from his own collection, Labyrinthine Ways. The two guest writers of the month had the audience respond to some of the poetry, especially as relates to the society. Readings from both books by students of Eco international School, kubwa, Alkasim Abdulkadir, Benjamin Ubiri and the rendition of Let The Tears Flow by Chris Otaigbe added colour to the event.

The event, which had in attendance Dr. Wale Okediran as the chairman, and such personalities like Dr. Paul Dike of the National Art Gallery, Yeye George from USIS, former, Director of the FCT Education Resource Centre, Dr. Lizzy Ben-Iheanacho and Ken Ike Okere of the Abuja Literary, Professor Dibu Ojerinde and the Minister, Dr. Jerry Agada, was used to propose a toast to Mr. Funsho Adeyelu, the GM of NICON Luxury and host of the reading whose birthday falls on the same day as the reading. Gifts were presented to him by the chapter.

Chairman of the chapter, Dr. Oluseyi Adigun, a medical practitioner and poet in his welcome address earlier on had re-emphasized his administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of members of the chapter by providing them the opportunity to improve their writing to enable the make quality contribution to the development of literature. “We are set light up the literary community in Abuja by bringing to you in contact with some of the best writers and books within and outside the conclave of the federal capital territory on monthly basis. ANA Abuja is a model chapter and we shall continue to blaze the trail,” he added. The chairman who did not hide his admiration for the student of Eco International School, Kubwa, challenged the student to ensure that they not only read, read and read other people’s works but to start thinking of embracing the art of writing themselves. “I look forward to when you will come here and read your own poetry or short story” said the chairman and promise that the ANA Abuja school project which was abandoned by the last executive will be picked up again to give the younger ones the opportunity of benefiting from the activities of the association.

In his closing remark before moving on to the birthday cocktail planned for the association by the GM of the hotel, Dr. Wale Okediran expresses his happiness in seeing the Abuja chapter back on his feet once more after a long spell of inactivity occasioned by some internal crisis. He also commended the management of the hotel for their willingness to host the writer’s community. “Our strength lies in virile and active chapters. The National Executives are scattered across the length and breadth of Nigeria, making it difficult for us to hold meetings and reading like the chapters. We are administrators, it’s the chapters that do the job and we’ll always be there to support them” he told the audience.

The former member of the House of Representatives who is serving his second term as President after serving as both treasurer and general secretary in the past reiterated advised the chapter not to rest on its oars as a lot of people, which include the younger generations looked up today. “You need to look inward for opportunities such as these. I said the same thing to the Kogi State chapter when they complain of lack of funds after we inaugurate them in Lokoja this morning. There are many more organizations out there that we can meet and establish partnership with to fund your activities” he admonished.