UGWUANYI, FAYEMI TO GRACE 2019 ANA
INT’L CONFAB IN ENUGU
By VICTOR NZE
Preparations have reached top gear
in the Coal City as Enugu is now set to host the 38th International Convention
of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), slated for October 31 through to
November 3 in major venues across the ancient destination.
Themed; ”Literature, Nationalism and
the Poetics of Integration,” the international convention of the Nigerian
authors is also tagged, ‘ANA Homecoming 2019,’ as the first-ever worldwide
gathering of the body of writers happened in the University town of Nsukka
(then in Enugu State) way back in 1981 when the association was formally
established by the Patriarch of Modern African Literature, the late Prof.
Chinua Achebe and others.
While State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi
Ugwuanyi is expected to formally declare open the convention on Friday,
November 3, as Chief Host in a ceremony billed for the International Conference
Centre, Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Independence Layout,
Enugu, the Ekiti State Governor, Dr John Kayode Fayemi, tops a list of
dignitaries to be honoured as patrons of the association.
Addressing a press conference
on its readiness to host the event, Chairman of ANA Enugu State Chapter, Zulu Ofoelue,
last Monday, disclosed that the four-day programme of events would see the
formal induction of three new Fellows, namely; Prof Zaynab Alkali, Prof J.O.J
Nwachukwu-Agbada and Prof Remi Raji, all distinguished writers and scholars and
members of the association.
This is also as he revealed that the
Special Guest at the Convention is Professor Ernest Emenyonu, a Trustee of ANA
and Editor, African Literature Today, who is coming all the way from the
United States to attend the convention.
“As at today (Monday) over 400 of
Nigeria’s best and foremost creative writers, literary critics,
journalists, members of the academia and other stakeholders have
registered to attend the convention in Enugu State.
“The Keynote Speaker for the 2019
International Convention is Professor E. E. Sule of the IBB University,
Lapai in Niger State.
“Before the International Convention
proper, there will be the Enugu State convention, tagged; ‘Edemede 2019.’ It
would feature literary activities, performances and seminars holding at the
Coal City University, Abakaliki Road, Emene Enugu on the 29th of October and
the Godfrey Okoye University on the 30th of October.
“It is expected that by hosting this
international convention as well as the Enugu State convention, the state should
be in the limelight of national discourse in literary creativity and criticism,
promotion of indigenous culture, tourism as well as peace and good governance.
“Consequent upon the quantum of
delegates already registered and expected, ANA expects over 600 critical
reviews and creativity on issues of growth the arts, literature, tourism, good
governance as it patterns to Enugu State within the first month after the
convention and subsequent publication thereafter,” enthused Ofoelue.
According to Ofoelue, the 2019
convention would also impact positively on the quality of education in the
state from basic to tertiary level, just as he added that commercial activities
in Enugu State would be boosted by the inflow of tourists from all parts of the
world.
“It would also be an opportunity for
participants and visitors to enjoy the unique modern infrastructure and the
peaceful and conducive environment provided by the dynamic government of
Governor Ugwuanyi.
It would be recalled that in June
2019, Enugu State Chapter of ANA was granted the hosting right following a
competitive bidding process with the Edo State Chapter.
Consequent upon that, members of the
National Executive Council of ANA including the President, Mallam Denja
Abdullahi and the Vice-President, Camillus Uka, visited Enugu to
inaugurate the Local Organising Committee(LOC) headed by Hon. Ndubuisi Ene.
Only recently in September, a team
from the National Executive Council was in Enugu to assess the level of
preparations by the state chapter towards hosting a befitting convention in
which new officers will also be elected to man the affairs of the Association
at the National level as the Abdullahi-led executive council will bow out of
office.
The team comprising; the Vice
President, Camillus Ukah, Ernest Onuoha, ex-officio and Maik Ortserga, Asst.
General Secretary, were at the Independence Layout, the proposed central venue
of the convention to meet with members of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC)
to confirm venues and recommended hotels for delegates and guests’
accommodations.
The four-day programme of activities
is expected to kick-off from Thursday, October 31; Friday for Grand Opening
Ceremony, through to Saturday’s AGM/Business Meeting, as well as
Closing/Literary/ Prizes/Awards Dinner.
