ANA ABUJA HOSTS NDUKA OTIONO

The immediate past Secretary-General of the association of Nigerian author, Nduka Otiono, will on Thursday 2nd of July 2009 be Guest of the Association of Nigeria Authors (Abuja Chapter) 's much sort after Special Guest Reading session.

Nduka Otiono, writer, scholar, and journalist, is Izaak Walton Killam Scholar in the Department of English and Film Studies, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, and Fellow, William Joiner Centre for War and Social Consequences, University of Massachusetts Boston, USA. Born in Kano city, Nigeria, he holds a Master's degree in English from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, where he has been an Associate Lecturer in the Department of English. He was for four years the General Secretary, the writers’ guild of Nigeria called the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA). A cultural activist, he has served as founding member, Advisory Board of the Nigeria Prize for Literature; Chairman, Publicity Committee of the Nigeria International Book Fair; member, National Committee on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. A fellow of the British Council Cambridge Seminar, Otiono has also been a grantee of the US Department of State’s International Visitor programme, the French Embassy in Nigeria, and Goethe Institut also in Nigeria. His first book, The Night Hides with a Knife, jointly won the maiden ANA/Spectrum Prize for fiction, while his second, Voices in the Rainbow (Poems), was runner up for the ANA/Cadbury Poetry Prize in 1997. The third, We-Men: An Anthology of Men Writing on Women, which he co-edited with E.C. Osondu, a Writing Fellow at Syracuse University, USA, was hailed by The News magazine as “subject of the greatest controversy in Nigerian literature.” Otiono is also co-editor of Camouflage: Best of Contemporary Writing from Nigeria (Short stories) (2006).

A widely travelled intellectual, Otiono has been an Associate Researcher for the Chinua Achebe Foundation, and was founding Editor of The Post Express Literary Supplement (PELS), which won Lit­erary Column of the Year 1997 and the first ANA Merit Award in 1998. Before consulting as Literary Editor for NewAge, Otiono was on the Editorial Board of THISDAY newspapers.

Otiono’s second collection of poems, Love in a Time of Nightmares, was recently published in the US. He is currently co-editing two books on oral literature in Africa: Beyond Text: Issues in African Oral Literature and Diaspora Studies dedicated to Isidore Okpewho at 70, and Azania Speaks: Spoken Word and Visions of Partnership in Postcolonial Africa.

Most recent awards include: Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Scholarship, the most prestigious graduate studies award at the University of Alberta, Canada.

Academic Distinctions

• Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Scholarship, April 2009
• William Rea Scholarship, Spring 2009
• Sarah Nettie Christie Research Award, May 2009
• Andrew Stewart Memorial Graduate Prize for Research, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (2008).
• University nominee, Trudeau Scholarship, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (2007).
• FS Chia Doctoral Scholarship, August 2006

The reading which will commence at 4pm will take place at the Shehu musa Yar'adua Centre library. Some notable literary characters who have appeared on the ANA Abuja Special Guest Reading Session include Kudo Eresia-Eke, Bello Musa Dankano, Odoh Diego Okenyodo, Professor Tunde Adeniran, Dr. Dull Johnson, Denja Abdullahi and Amatoritsero Ede amongst others.

TOURISM DEVELOPMENT, RE-BRANDING AND THE NIGERIAN JOURNALISTS

It was the other side of me, acting – which I most often see as the better side – that took me to the Reiz Continental Hotel in Abuja; venue of a one-day tourism communication workshop organized by the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, NIHOTOUR where I acted in a drama sketch which as a matter of sincerity betrays my conscience because it smirks of propaganda.

After the sketch, titled Beautiful Underbelly which did not take the audience much pain to connect with as they all chant ‘the Squeeze’, ‘the Squeeze’ long after the play had finished, I decided to stay back to participate in the workshop which was meant for tourism journalist of which I am one. I listened with rapt attention as speaker after speaker do justice to their respective topic of discussion and receive applause from the audience. Though none is comparable to the applause received by the drama sketch but they nonetheless deserved the applause all the same for a job well done.

Without prejudice to any of the egg-heads that delivered those well researched papers; it was obvious that the message, unanimously passed across by all four speakers is that Nigerian writers/journalists should learn to always write about the beautiful aspect of Nigeria rather than concentrating on the negative aspect which is capable of scaring international tourists and investors away from our country.

The question is; do we have to pretend that we are good when we are not? How much of lies do we need to tell in order to make our country a tourist destination? Aren’t we rather supposed to be asking ourselves what we are suppose to do that we are not doing or rather what we are doing that we ought to atop doing.

One of the paper presenters argued passionately and I do concur with him that the development of our tourism depends a great deal on what impression we create of our country through our writings. Not to forget that for this same reason, the Minister of Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akunyili, recently had a breakfast meeting with the Association of Nigerian Authors for this same reason – to appeal to them, as critical partners in the re-branding project to promote the better side of Nigeria with their craft and be a good ambassador of same – rather tan face their real issues.

The real issue, as I was able to sum up the courage to tell the gathering is for government to stop pretending and create the enabling environment for an improved standard of living for Nigerians and in Nigerian for the would be tourists and investors rather than calling a spade by a different name. To say nothing is working in our dear country may sound like overkill but it is the truth all the same. There are well known private tourism development initiatives that are not able to thrive because of the economic situation, epileptic nature of electricity supply, security issues and other factors too numerous to mention for fear of doing that which you are asked not to do – write Nigeria down.

No matter how we try. No matter what we do. Even if we commission some of the best among us to write about the Beautiful Underbellies of this country –which in the first place are yet to be full tapped into – it may never be enough to woo tourists and investor. What we need to do is to create the enabling environment rather than push the blame of not being able to live up to our biddings on the writers/journalists.

There is crime in South Africa. There is homicide in the US. Terrorism is the order of the day in India. Japan is prone to natural disaster. The list is inexhaustible. These problems are known to everyone the world over because they write about it but yet, it has not in anyway stop tourists from visiting those countries. So, why then should the fact that Nigerian writers/journalists write about the bad things happening in Nigeria be responsible for tourists’ failure to visit Nigeria.

Like the Yorubas will say Ohun to wa leyin ofa, o ju eje lo – which literally meant that ‘what is after six is beyond seven’. Our government should call a spade a spade and as a matter of urgency and with all sense of responsibility put their acts together and create the needed enabling environment and dividend of democracy. Without constant supply of electricity, adequate security and such other amenities, we cannot be talking about re-branding or tourism development.

JERRY ADESEWO

THE ART OF FRIENDSHIP

The bond of camaraderie between the Italians and Nigeria took a new turn this year as the Italian Embassy in Nigeria organized series of art competition to commemorate its 2009 National Day (June 2nd) in Abuja recently.

In addition to an annual Art Competition and Exhibition which had in the last three years ushered in the Italian week in Abuja, the Embassy in conjunction with Culture Renaissance, an Abuja based art organisation organized a national poetry competition with the theme: Nigeria-Italy: The Art of Friendship.

According to the Italian Ambassador, Dr. Massimo Baistrocchi, himself a published poet with four published collections to his credit, the poetry competition was conceived as an addition to the art competition to give opportunities to local poets to express themselves through their craft. “And I must tell you that it has been highly successful because we received entries from more than 80 poets across the nation. And we are making arrangement with one of our companies to sponsor the publication of all the entries into an anthology” he said.

Corroborating the Italian Ambassador, the Founder and Coordinator of Culture Renaissance, Ekene Atusiubah, himself an ward winning poet fondly referred to by the Italian Ambassador as the Nigerian Bard said before the presentation of prizes to the winners “Nigeria and Italy have a long history of friendship, since I got to know the art loving Ambassador, they have always enjoyed my poem and so together we felt there is need to promotion of local poets”

The cash prizes of N30,000; N20,000 and N10,000 for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd position out of the over a thousand entries received was won by Ebuenyi Ikenna Desmond (from Aba, Owerri-Imo State) with his poem Different But One, Anthony U. Chukwuka (from Abia State) with his poem True Love Strange Bird Fellows and Port Harcourt based Chitzi Ogbumgbada with the poem Our Symbiotic Complexity which without prejudice to the panel of judges Culture Renaissance and the Embassy, some member of the audience believed should have won the 1st prize rather than 3rd.

Chitzi, while speaking to the press later expresses his gratitude, in the first place for having the opportunity to participate in the project and of course being one of the winners – 1st or 3rd not withstanding - “that is always the situation with literary competition and especially with poetry. We see it differently. I appreciate those who think I should have taken the first position. I am happy to have participated and won something” he responded.

Two days earlier, on Monday 1st of June, at the opening ceremony of the Art Exhibition of the ten best entries received for the art competition which this time around was in collaboration with the National Gallery of Art who’s Director-General, Chief Joe Musa headed the team (Jury) comprising of renowned Art Connoisseurs: Mrs Ireti Kingibe, Mr. Abdullahi Muku, Mr. Ephraim Ekah and the Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Sherif Naguib that selected the winning artwork. Abiola Idowu, Oladimeji Olaniyan and Muyiwa Akinwolere received their prizes as 1st, 2nd and 3rd position respectively for their entries.

It was not just about poetry on the night as immediately after the presentation of prizes and rendition of the winning entries, guests were treated to a musical concert by the Nuovo Trio Parsifal with Barbara Castelli on Violin, Laura Pierazzuoli on Cello and Ana Paola Milea on the giant Piano. Though, from the looks on the faces of the Nigerians and Africans in the house, and a handful of the sea of European, Asian and Southern American diplomats and guests in the house, it was obvious that they could hardly decipher what the wordless musical rendition was all about, the award winning and widely travelled group delivered a beautiful rendition of some Italian classics – Trio in D Major (1860-1861) by Alexander Borodin, Trio Elegiaque n.1 in G minor (1892) by Sergei Rachmaninov and Las Cuatro Estaciones Portenas (1965-1970).

They play with such great temperament and fantasy that left the few in the house who appreciate the uniqueness and beauty of this classical music gasping for breath and stood rooted in standing ovation for more than three minutes for the group after their heartwarming performance.

The week-long activities tagged ‘A Taste of Italy’ which started in Lagos on Saturday May 30th a musical concert by Omo Bello will be wrapped up with an Italian film show on Friday 5th of June at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Abuja and a National Day reception at the Italian General Consulate in Lagos on Saturday 6th.

Jerry Adesewo

APO SIX KILLINGS: CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS CANVASSES FOR END TO EXTRA JUDICIAL KILLINGS

Access to Justice, in coalition with other Civil Society Organizations, among who are the Legal Research Initiatives, Constitutional Rights Project, CLEEN Foundation, Legal Defense and Assistance Project among others, on Monday 8th June, marked the 4th year anniversary of the Apo Six Killings in Abuja.

In his address to newsmen at the Bolton White Hotels in Abuja, Mr. Joseph Otteh, the Executive Director of Access to Justice on behalf of the Coalition demanded that the Federal Government should as a matter of urgency hastens up efforts to reform the Nigerian Police Force and take immediate steps to end the reign of impunity within the force by ensuring accountability for every abusive action, including every instance of extrajudicial killings as well as prosecute policemen who have killed without justification.

“President Yar’Adua should in making the next appointment into the office of the Inspector General of Police, appoint someone strongly committed to the reform of the Nigerian Police and is ready to provide leadership for the needed changes in which the present IGP has proved to be a total failure.” He added.

The coalition also called on the National Assembly to pass key reform bills like the Police Bill, Freedom of Information Bill and other justice sector reform bills, as well as domesticate the United Nations Convention on Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment.

Speaking on behalf of CLEEN Foundation, Mrs. Kemi Okenyodo advocated for proper oversight function on the Nigerian Police. “Officers responsible for oversight functions on the Nigerian Police who failed in their duties should be prosecuted” Those responsible for oversight functions on the Police include the National Assembly Committees on the Police, Human Rights and Justice.

The question and answer session of the briefing provided more than enough for the Force PRO, ACP Emmanuel Ojukwu more than enough to chew. Responding, he pleaded for more understanding from the public. “We are partners with the civil society on the way forward for the Nigerian Police. We are already working on our mode of arrest and the use of torture as a means of investigation” He said adding that what the police require is a gradual dis-sensitisation and not bashing from all corners.

The coalition however, directed that the Police find all their men and officers involved in the Apo Six Killings, especial the DPO of Garki Police Station, Othman Abdusallam who are alleged to have fled from justice, and also Corporal Benjamin Oyedi who was implicated in the death of Dr. Awosika, and hand them over for prosecution.
Felled by the bullets of men and officers of the Nigerian Police Force in June 2005, friends and families of the Apo Six, some of whom were present at the memorial briefing are still waiting patiently for a justice they may never live to witness.

“Ifeanyi was the bread winner of the family. I now carry that responsibility on my frail shoulder. It’s not been easy” Elvis Raphael Uzodinma lamented, adding that “No amount of compensation can make up for my bother’s life. What we demanded for in court was N100,000.000 compensation, the naming of a street in honour of the Apo Six as a reminder and deterrent for future occurrence and prosecution of all the officers responsible for their death. At the end the day what we got was N3million. As far as I am concerned, that is not compensation but a burial rite. I still look forward to the government to do more in terms of compensating the family. They need to do more if truly they take seriously the welfare of their citizens” he explained.

Ekene Isaac’s nephew, Mrs. Pauline Uzochukwu fought back tears as she explained that while her sister (Ekene Isaac’ mother) four years later still suffer silently the loss of her only son and breadwinner of the family, the Divisional Police Officer, Oathman Danjuma Abdusallam still walks the street a free man. “He used his power and position to order my nephew’s killing. He was dubiously granted bail and till now we are yet to get justice. There is a deliberate ploy to unjustly sweep the case under the carpet. That is why they are delaying justice. They want to deny us justice” She cried.


Jerry Adesewo