ANA NIGER HOSTS 16TH EDITION OF ASCAFS

Minna, the Niger State capital may not be the literary capital of Nigeria, as some members of that chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors has laid claim to over the years, but it has done enough to be recognized as the literary capital of the north. In addition, ANA Niger obviously remained the most organized and consistent of all the 31 chapters of the association across the nation.

The 16^th edition of the annual schools carnival of arts and festival of songs organized under the auspices of the Niger State chapter of Association was recently held. In the last 15 years, apart from the annual national convention of the association organized by the national body in conjunction with the host chapter, ANA Niger’s ASCAFS remains the only consistent chapter activities.

There is more to ANA Niger

Chairman of the chapter, Alhaji Baba Akote enumerates the achievements of the carnival over the last half a decade “there is no doubt that this jamboree, like blood is in the veins of ANA Niger such that wherever it goes, it earns a mention. We are proud of this special event that many of its products are today proud authors, administrators and politicians” he narrated excitedly, adding that the popularity of ASCAFS is not limited to Niger state and Nigeria alone.  “In recognition of ASCAFS, Professor Henry Rowels of the Department of English, University of Virginia had attended the event as the Guest of Honour in its fourth edition in 1998. Similarly the Foundation Valpairaso in Spain had also invited one of our members and a product of ASCAFS, in person of Alkasim Abdulkadir to a three weeks residency programme in 2004.” He concluded.

What the Guests Said

Former national President of ANA, Mallam Abubakar Gimba, the Chief Host and Chairman of ASCAFS admonishes the students to learn to respect their teachers and see them as their source of inspiration for wisdom and success. “I don’t count the number of years; I just look forward to the next edition. It is absolutely satisfying. I love to see students who are committed to their education and future. However, my message to remain the same, read to improve yourself. You don’t all have to be writers but you can all become great only by reading because it is from it you get wisdom.”

Immediate past National President, Honourable Dr. Wale Okediran, speaking on-behalf of his successor, Dr. Jerry Agada who was ‘unavoidably absent’ at the Minna event, commended the chapter’s ingenuity “ANA Niger is a trail blazer. The only chapter that has a bus, series of anthologies, a writers’ village and this laudable project, to their credit. The anxiety is always how to continue but I can see you have not only conquered that by sustaining this programme for sixteen years, you also constantly has the support of the government” he commented. “It is rare to see government officials coming to grace an occasion like this. What this simply shows is the government of Niger state’s vision for the children of the state” he added.

Marveled by the brilliance displayed by the students and their innovative ingenuity in the crafts category of the annual carnival, Honourable Ahmed Musa Ibito, the Deputy Chief servant of the state commended the chapter for making the state proud and investing in the future of the children of the state. “We are aware of the objectives of what you are doing, that is why we have always supported you because, just as we cannot do it all alone, you cannot also do it alone but together, we can do it. What I have seen here today, the cleaning robot by and winnowing machine by GSS Minna and other craft works are absolutely mind-blowing. We must take advantage of the Ministry of Youth Development and Strategies.” He admonished.

GSS Minna Wins Again

For the umpteenth time, Government Secondary School, Minna emerges the overall winner of the sixteenth edition of ASCAFS after some brilliant performances in the painting (3^rd), cultural display (2^nd), Songs (2^nd), Short Story (1^st), Quiz (1^st), Crafts (1^st), Photography (1^st) and Drama (1^st). This also includes winning for the Best Female Teacher award. Of the 16^th edition of the annual carnival, GSS Minna had won a record ten. According to Promise Nwariri who won the photography category for the capital school. “ASCAFS is our birthright, if I am allowed to say that. GSS Minna is a very unique school. We have everything we require to excel. We are not happy not to have won the first prize in the last two editions but now we are back and back for good.  We are a worthy champion.” She responded excitedly.

The other winners are Hill Top Model School, Minna as the first runner-up (2^nd position) and Army day Secondary School, Minna as second runners-up (3^rd position).

The Protest

What could have passed for a peaceful, informative and entertaining event was blemished by an unnecessary protest by the Army Day Secondary School who felt cheated by the organizers of the event and chanted protest songs. John Kaga who had earlier won the Best Actor award in the Drama category in which the Army school came second, led the protest hauling insults on the organizers and the guests. “If this is the way you guys want to do this programme, we are going to boycott it. Give us what we deserved. Why should GSS Minna win every time.” He complained, and then led a ‘We No Go Gree O, We No Go Gree’ protest song.

 

 

Modibbo Hosts The Write Squad

Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Aliyu Modibbo Umar (Phd), in further demonstration of his love for literature and the art will on Tuesday 2nd March, 2010 play host The Write Squad (a handful of students from FCT schools), and other members of the literati in Abuja to an interactive session tagged MY BOOK & I.

It would be remembered that the Minister, during his tenure as the FCT Minister help restored the Association of Nigerian Authors’ 56 Hectares of land in Mpape (allocated to the association in 1986 by the late Maman J. Vatsa), when he wrote-off the N22 million tenement fee slammed on the land, with promises that his administration will help in the development of the property. During the same period, he renamed the Abuja Council for Arts and Culture in honour of one of Nigeria’ Iconic novelist, Late Cyprian Ekwensi and was on the verge of setting up a Library of Nigerian Books, which would have been the largest collection of Nigerian Authors in collaboration with one of Nigeria’s top Banks, when he was removed from office.

 

The Gombe state born teacher and politician who also collaborated with the Association of Nigerian Authors in the celebration of Things Fall Apart at Fifty by sponsoring a celebration in Abuja which included the invitation of a Chinua Achebe Bard Fellow and author of Waiting for an Angel, Helon Habila from the United State as the Guest Writer at the event, sees hosting this literary session as a necessary contribution back to the society that anyone should emulate. “I have always been passionate about literature and art and so I see this as a great opportunity to demonstrate my love for literature and especially to contribute to youth, education and national development” he said in his letter of acceptance to host the reading.

 

The monthly interactive session, tagged My Book & I is an initiative of The Write Squad, a school based literary club launched in Abuja in October 2009 by Arojah Concepts to encourage literary reading among school children.

 

According to Jerry Adesewo, the founder and coordinator of the group, the The Write Squad, through this critical literary reading session will mould a generation of readers, critical thinkers and writers which will in turn help us create a literate society and a resounding standard of education. “The issue of host is an attempt to use the Host/Read Ambassador, who will mostly be a reputable Nigerian or Nigerian residents from any field of endeavour to mentor the participants. In this case, the former Minister of FCT” he explained adding that The Write Squad will provide relaxed, unpressured atmosphere to read, interact, write and share works and serve as a sounding board and support network for a growing community of young writers and literary critics.

 

MY BOOK & I will help young Nigerians discover writing through critical literary reading and other literary exercises and workshop through its monthly reading session and a quarterly writing workshop and Author mentorship programme that will provide members and participants of the club opportunity to interact with creative writers on a monthly basis.

 

This maiden session will feature twenty-four students and six teachers (4 students and 1 teacher from each school) in a reading and interactive session with Barrister Ahmed Maiwada and his new book, MUSDOKI. Government Secondary Schools Kubwa, Wuse, and Tudunwada, Model Secondary School Maitama, Stella Maris College and Regina Pacis Girls Secondary Schools are the six schools to participate in this edition.

The March edition is expected to feature either Lola Shoneyin’s The Secret Lives of Baba Sade’s Wives, with Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, House Committee Chairman on Diaspora as the Host/Read Ambassador while Wale Okediran’s Tenants of the House is slated for April with Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello as the likely Host/Read Ambassador.