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| President Jonathan |
BY ADA DIKE
His
Excellency, President GoodluckEbele Jonathan, GCFR, has pledged to support members
of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), by building Hall of Fame in Abuja
and partner with the private sector towards boosting literary prizes in
Nigeria.
He stated
this on Friday, December 12, 2014, during 33rd international convention held in
the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Represented
by the Special Assistant to the President on Documentation, Molara Wood, in his
remarks, he pledged that: “In pursuit of a greater Nigeria therefore, the
creative genius of those who have contributed to where we are today must be
honoured and preserved. I am therefore directing the Ministry of Culture and
Tourism to establish in our nation’s capital, a National Hall of Fame, in
honour of those, who out of their creative genius, had contributed to the
growth and development of our country, and the advancement of human
civilisation.
I have also directed the Minister of Culture to work with ANA
leadership to see how government can partner with the private sector to give
added fillip to your ANA Literary Prizes to further enhance their prestige. The
prizes over the years have showcased budding talents who are now masters in
different literary fields. You have to sustain that enviable tradition.
Mr.
President went memory lane and recalled that “it has been 33 years since
the master story teller Chinua Achebe called fellow writers to Nsukka to float
an association to promote and protect the interest of creative writers in
Nigeria and here you are waxing stronger.
“It is therefore a great pleasure to be here today at the opening
ceremony of the 33rd International Annual Convention of the
Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), which is holding at this great seat of
learning; The University of Ibadan, an institution whose very history is
intertwined with the highest endeavours in the mind of our noble nation,
Nigeria.
“I greet the great and the good in the world of Nigerian letters, the
men and women of courage and boundless imagination who have committed their
talents to the refashioning and reimagining of a new Nigeria.”
He extended his greetings to all Nigerian creative writers for their
contributions to Nigeria’s civilization over the years through their various
expressions.
“You have promoted our culture, nurtured our values and energized the knowledge
industry in a very remarkable way. I felt it was important for me to be among
you for this 33rd annual because there will never be another ANA
convention quite like this one, taking place in the very year of Nigeria’s
centenary. This, ladies and gentlemen, is history in the making, and I am happy
to be a witness.
“Let me congratulate the organisers, the ANA National Exco, on the
successful convening of this convention, surely one of the major milestones in
our year-long celebrations of our centenary. Special commendation goes to the
amiable Professor Remi Raji, National President of the Association of Nigerian
Authors and one of the finest poets Nigeria has produced, for his leadership of
ANA at this critical time in our history.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I note that the theme of this year’s convention
is: ‘Literatures, Languages and Diversities: How Has Nigeria Fared in the Last
Hundred Years?’ Indeed, there has
never been a better time to ask the question and to take stock on the journey
so far. I commend the rich programme of events, including a play, book chats
and even a city tour.”
He showed appreciation them, especially, the ANA President for his
remarks at the Presidential Dinner for the Creative Industry, held in Lagos
recently. “It was heartening at that occasion to hear the ANA President
articulate the mission of the Association since its founding in 1981 as one
involving “productive creativity for national integration, engagement and
development.” I have always felt a
particular closeness to the literary community, as indispensable partners in
our quest to build a better society. Our writers have written the country’s
name in lights all over the world. Some of the best-known Nigerians are
writers; and they have won every international award going, including the Caine
Prize for African Writing, the Orange Prize for Women’s Fiction and the most
coveted, the Nobel Prize for Literature – won in 1986 by Professor Wole
Soyinka.
“The late Professor Chinua Achebe, winner of the prestigious
International Booker, gifted the world a book that will last for all time, when
he published Things Fall Apart in 1958. It has been translated into over 50
languages, and is regularly voted one of the greatest novels ever written. It
was in recognition of Professor Achebe’s monumental contribution to world
literature that I was physically present at the literary giant’s funeral in his
birthplace of Ogidi, Anambra State, last year.
“It was also necessary to identify with the Nigerian literary community,
which had suffered a great loss. As a demonstration of our commitment to
Achebe’s indestructible legacy, we also supported the International Colloquium
on Arrow of God at 50 earlier this year.
“Ladies and gentlemen, just days ago, the Nigerian National Order of
Merit Award, the highest and the most prestigious honour this nation bestows,
went to no less a persona than Professor Niyi Osundare, the great poet, scholar
and survivor of Hurricane Katrina, who continues to paint his country’s name in
gold.
The admission of Prof. Osundare as the 71st member of the
body of the Nigerian National Order of Merit Laureates, demonstrates that as a
nation, we promote and celebrate excellence.
“We value you, our writers. You elevate our thinking and worldview, you
liven up our days with your creative imaginings, and you provide succour and
catharsis in difficult times, such as the one our country is going through at
this period. I salute the creative spirit that has propelled our writers to
excel in the midst of their peers worldwide,” he added.
He stressed that: “Writers serve as our conscience and raise critical
questions which promote good governance and accountability, paving the way to a
just and equitable society. Many episodes of our history including the civil war
have been examined in your works; you give us a perspective on the past while
helping to map a way to the future.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I am always awed by talent, and it abounds in
our writers, as evident in your literary productions. It is important to read
the works of our writers; I have sought to place reading at the forefront of
national consciousness with initiatives such as Bring Back The Book. I therefore call on our writers to join with
us and help find ways to take this citizens framework to the next level.
We assure you all that I have noted the views of Nigerian writers as
articulated by the ANA President at the Creative Industry Dinner, especially
with regard to the need for greater support to the book industry, as well as
the building of structures and institutions in the entire creative industry. I
welcome a conversation on this as soon as our schedule can be harmonised.
“My Administration shall give due consideration to all ideas that can
advance our civilisation. We will continue to support you and partner with you
in this important dialogue on the role of creativity in our nationhood. It is
indeed my hope that this convention will be the spark for a fruitful
conversation on how we can work together to move our country forward. Distinguished
ladies and gentlemen, thank you for the work you do for our country. Thank you
for inviting me. I wish you a most successful convention.”
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