ANA structured to assist upcoming
authors –Denja Abdullahi
by Security
Monitor - 10/09/2017
Denja Abdullahi, the National
President of Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), has described the
association as a platform for upcoming authors to test their creativity and
also forge a mutually beneficial relationship with established authors.
Abdullahi stated this over the
weekend in an exclusive interview with SECURITY MONITOR’s Special
Correspondent, Rowland ‘Shuwa in Ilorin.
According to him, “The structure of
ANA itself is designed to assist upcoming authors as it is a platform for
upcoming authors to come test their creativity, forge relationship with
established authors and get the needed mentoring towards becoming assured in
their crafts. A lot of writers who later became popular and great cut their
teeth in ANA or were put up for showcase in ANA.
“Many upcoming authors were also
first published in ANA in anthologies, journals and reviews. Some were even
singly published by ANA. Beyond that ANA has existing mentoring scheme such as
Teen Authorship and the Young Writers Mentoring Schemes. ANA also does a lot of
literary agency works for upcoming authors.”
Abdullahi who faulted the popular
notion that Nigerians have apathy to reading explained that a lot of reading is
done by Nigerians both traditionally and online. He however queried the context
of the reading done.
He said, “A lot of reading is been
done by people traditionally and on-line with the advent of the digital age.
What we may query is the kind of reading being done. People read a lot of junks
online these days and the good old reading of books for leisure and general
awareness is what has gone down. But that can be improved upon if we migrate
good stuff to where people are reading and re-introduce the primacy of general
interest reading into our schools.”
The ANA president who is also a Director
of Performing Arts at the National Council for Arts and Culture, Abuja however
lauded for its impact and contributions to raising the level of consciousness
for books in the country.
According to him, “In its 36 years
of existence ANA has been the most consistent literary association in Nigeria
that has done a lot to develop Nigerian literature.ANA is a household name so
to say with its outreach programmes to schools and the larger society over the
years.
“Daily I receive calls from young
and old people trying to find out how to join the Association and benefit from
its programmes. Among our numerous programmes, we have been awarding literary
prizes all these years and we have not failed to organize a yearly convention
rotated across Nigeria and dwelling on germane literary issues of the day for
the past 36 years.”
Giving his scorecard for the past
two years, Abdullahi said his administration has strengthened communication
with the state chapters. “We have uploaded a lot of documents on our revamped
website for membership development. We have strengthened communications with
the chapters and we have given visibility to a lot of our chapters through the
traditional and social media.
“The ANA/Yusuf Ali nationwide
literary awareness project that has been on since the year 2012 has greatly
enhanced the visibility of our chapters as they regularly receives grants from
the project’s fund to carry out activities in their domains. We have also
encouraged democratization in the leadership of our chapters and they are
stronger than before.
“I have fulfilled my major campaign
promises. If you go back to look at my campaign document of 2015 called “The
Pragmatic Deliverables” vis a vis my scorecard for the near two years I have
been on the job, you will discover I have achieved with my team, not less than
70% of what I promised.
“Some people have even told me,
after reviewing our Scorecard which is already a public document on the social
media and on our website that we have done too much for just two years. I will
certainly be re-contesting for a final term of 2 years.”
On the forthcoming convention of the
association which will be taking place in Makurdi between October 26-29, 2017,
the president disclosed that some new features at the event will be the
flag off of the A-Book-A-Child campaign by the wife of the Imo State
Governor, Nkechi Nneoma Rochas Okorocha who is the Key Facilitator.
“There will also be the presentation
of a book arising out of the Arrow of God@50 Celebration which took place in
2014.There will also be award of fellowship to three distinguished members of
the Association, Prof Sam Ukala, Prof Akachi Ezeigbo and Prof Idris Amali. Of
course we will invest two new patrons of the Association in person of the host
Governor himself, Dr Samuel Ortom and a member of the House of Representatives,
Hon Jerry Alagbaoso.
“Beyond all these the Makurdi
Convention is being packaged to be culturally thrilling and hospitality will be
the best the State got to offer. We shall be showcasing new books and some
other new projects to be embarked on by the Association in 2018.”
No comments:
Post a Comment