By Joy Salami
In a passionate bid to gain government recognition and support, the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Kogi State chapter, paid a courtesy visit to the Office of the Head of Service (HOS) in Lokoja, emphasizing the association’s role in promoting literary excellence and reviving the reading culture in the state.
Led by the chapter chairman, Mr. Y.J. Itopa, the delegation said their mission was to officially draw the attention of the Kogi State Government to the existence, relevance, and challenges of ANA in the state. Mr. Itopa highlighted that writers are the conscience of society and key stakeholders in development, lamenting the poor awareness and support the association receives compared to other professional bodies.
In his words, “ANA has a rich national history. Our founding was inspired by literary icons like Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka, who sought to challenge the derogatory view that society once held of writers, seeing them as idle and irrelevant. Achebe brought writers together to form ANA in 1981.”
While narrating the journey of the association in Kogi State, he disclosed that the state chapter came into existence only about 23 years ago, much later than others across the country. “We started in 2004, and despite the late start, we were proud to host the national convention that same year. Eminent writers came to Kogi and saw the beauty of our land,” he recounted.
He, however, expressed concern that since then, the association in Kogi has struggled due to lack of support, visibility, and funding. He explained that during national conventions, Kogi often lacks representation and recognition, which undermines the talents and intellectual assets that the state boasts of.
“Every time we go to the national convention, when they call other states, they stand tall. But when they call Kogi, our presence is barely felt. This is not because we don’t have writers, but because we lack government support. Our writers like Professor Femi, Professor Dojon, and Professor Idegu are known across Nigeria. Yet at home, the association is nearly forgotten,” he lamented.
With the next national convention scheduled for October 30th, Mr. Itopa appealed to the Head of Service to help facilitate recognition and logistical support from relevant government agencies.
Responding, Dr. Elijah Evinemi commended the association for its vision and consistency, assuring the delegation that their request would not be taken lightly. He described the visit as timely and necessary, affirming that the present administration values intellectual development and the promotion of creativity in all forms.
He pledged to immediately link ANA with the Ministries of Education and Information for official recognition and partnership, noting that every credible professional body deserves to be mainstreamed into the governance structure of the state. “This is not just about giving you office space, but about giving you recognition, which is far more important. Once that is done, other things will follow,” he added.
The Head of Service also suggested that ANA be given a five-minute speaking slot during the upcoming Civil Service Week to further sensitize government workers and civil servants about the role of the association. “Many civil servants don’t even know that ANA exists. You have a message, but we must help you get a voice. This platform will give you a chance to speak to a crowd and possibly recruit more members,” he advised.
Dr. Evinemi, whose wife is a member of ANA, emphasized that many writers in the civil service can be identified and mobilized once awareness is created. He encouraged the association to embrace modern tools, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), in their literary campaigns, while also urging them to champion efforts to revive the declining reading culture among the youth.
“The reading culture is dying. As writers, how are you addressing that? What are you doing to ensure your messages are reaching your audience? These are questions that matter,” he challenged the group.
He assured ANA that the state would look into how the association could be involved in policy conversations around education, literature, and youth development.
In his closing remarks, the ANA chairman appreciated the warm reception and the Head of Service’s commitment to their cause. He said the association is eager to revive its activities across the state and attract literary minds back home, using the October national convention as a launchpad for a new era of literary consciousness in Kogi.
ANA appealed for a state writers’ village and other infrastructural support that would allow Kogi to stand shoulder to shoulder with other vibrant literary communities in the country.
