MR. PAUL OGAH EMERGES BENUE ANA CHAIRMAN

MR. PAUL OGAH EMERGES BENUE ANA CHAIRMAN

The Congress of the Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA Benue State Chapter, Wednesday passed a unanimous vote of confidence on the Caretaker Committee of the Association led by Mr Paul Ugah and endorsed that it becomes the subtantive Executive Committee. This followed a motion moved to that effect by Mr About Agbochenu and seconded by Chief Mrs Rhoda Tor-Agbidye at the Congress which held at the Benue State Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ House, Makurdi. Presided over by former ANA National President, Professor Jerry Agada, the Congress which featured reading of poems acknowledged the quality of leadership provided by the Caretaker Committee and resolved not to change a performing team.

In a remark, Professor Agada thanked members for their demonstration of maturity and unity of purpose and urged them to sustain the spirit for greater bonding within  the body of writers in the state. The national Ex- Officio member, Doctor Charles Iornumbe expressed happiness with the spirit of unity exhibited by members and pledged his sustained support for the greater progress of ANA in Benue State. Others who spoke including the National Secretary, Maik Ortserga, National legal Adviser Barr Benjamin Torlafia, Doctor Tartule Tijah, Ogaba Ede and Igba Ogbole all called for sustenance of the brotherly spirit and commitment to churning out more literary works.               

Other members of the EXCO are Regina Achie-Nege —Vice Chairman, Abraham Shie —General Secretary, Hope Idani

—Treasurer, Onwanyi Ulegede —Legal Adviser, Margaret Onyike —Financial Secretary , Stephanie Abuhdiyer —Assistant General Secretary, Queen Obekpa —Director of Wefare, Michael Amedu —Publicity Secretary , Terseer Sam Baki —Ex-Officio 1, and Dennis Eka Ex-Officio 2.                  

In his acceptance speech, Mr Ugah thanked the Congress for finding them Worthy to serve in the substantive status and promised not to betray the conference reposed in them by Benue State highest intellectual minds.

ANA members during the Congress

ANA General Secretary and National Legal Adviser during the Congress

ANA Benue newly elected Vice Chair

ANA members during the Congress

ANA raises alarm over yet another fraudulent move by a deviant group

 

ANA RAISES ALARM OVER YET ANOTHER FRAUDULENT MOVE BY A DEVIANT GROUP

 

The attention of the National Secretariat of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) has been drawn to a misleading and abstruse statement being circulated on social media platforms urging members of the Association at state level to fill a certain form from the post Covid-19 initiative subcommittee for submission to the National Council for Arts and Culture. The undated notification is signed by one Ahmed Maiwada, one of the recently expelled members of the association who is now parading himself as president of the Association. 

 

The fact that there is only ONE LEADERSHIP and ONE ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIAN AUTHORS under Camillus Chima Ukah whose leadership was elected at the Emergency General Meeting (EGM) of the Association on the 17th of July 2020 as stipulated in the ANA constitution need not be overstated. It was at this same EGM that Ahmed Maiwada and his group were expelled from the Association. Our National Executive Council has since been recognized by the Advisory Council and the Board of Trustees of the Association.  

 

The moral superiority of Camillus Ukah’s leadership has placed on it the inexorable responsibility to rise above individualistic concerns and work for the benefit of all, armed with all the instruments of office. Anyone who is acting in the name of ANA without the instruments of the association’s office is a fraudster and should be treated as such.

 

The national secretariat of the Association has, however, expressed its concern that Ahmed Maiwada, through the connivance of some persons has hijacked, from the National Council for Arts and Culture, a letter meant for the ANA President from the Federal Government post Covid-19 pandemic committee for the creative sector and he has been using same to deceive members of the Association.The National Executive Council of ANA has since written to the National Council for Arts and Culture on the fraudulent act and would continue to engage with the organization and higher bodies until the anomaly is addressed.

 

 It is regrettable that Maiwada has continued to exploit the gramophone minds (i.e the capacity of certain individuals to be hoodwinked and dominated by the mischievous rhetoric of a desperate man) of some ANA members. We, hereby, warn that state chapters should take heed lest they fall prey to the process of indoctrination aimed at constructing mass stupidity among great minds of the greatest writers’ body in Africa. We also warn that all government bodies, local and international donor agencies and other groups in the creative sector should beware of the impostor group led by Ahmed Maiwada and anyone who does business with them is doing so at their own risks.

 

ANA Members are by this intervention warned to be cautious of those illegitimately conferring positions on themselves in the name of the Association. The general public is once and again informed that the only National Executive Council (NEC) empowered by ANA congress and recognized by the Advisory Council and the Board of Trustees of the Association is the one led by Mr. Camillus Ukah which was inaugurated on the 18th of July, 2020 in Makurdi under the Chairmanship of Prof. Jerry Agada, a former President and currently a member of the National Advisory Council of the Association.

We believe in a peaceful and orderly Association that respects her founding fathers, and we are unruffled by the intrusions of a man who has vowed to destroy ANA.

Long Live ANA

May God bless our creative endeavours

 

Maik Ortserga

General Secretary

Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Rivers State chapter elects new Executive Committee

 

ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIAN AUTHORS (ANA) RIVERS STATE CHAPTER ELECTS NEW EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Rivers State Chapter has elected new officials to run the affairs of ANA Rivers for two years. The election took place during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of ANA Rivers which was held on Sunday, September 13, 2020, at the Chapter's Secretariat in Port Harcourt.

The election was conducted in strict compliance with all Covid-19 hygiene and safety protocols.

The exercise which took place peacefully, was spearheaded by a three-man Electoral Committee chaired by Mr. Anaele Ihuoma. Other members of the Electoral Committee were Elder Tengabinifigha Ogolo and Mrs. Joy Esuku, who served as Secretary. At the end of the exercise the following officials emerged:

1. Chief Adi Wali - Chairman
2. Mr. Humphrey Ogu - Vice Chairman
3. Engr. Albert Otto - General Secretary
4. Mr. Wellington Nwogu - Assistant General Secretary
5. Miss Anne Alalibo - Financial Secretary
6. Mr. Jonah Okpabi - Treasurer
7. Mr. Raphael Edookue - Publicity Secretary
8. Dr. Rita Inoma-Abbey - Legal Adviser
9. Mr. Uzo Nwamara - Ex-officio

The National President of the Association, Dr. Camilus Ukah, who monitored the exercise, expressed satisfaction with the good job done by the Anaele-led Committee. Describing ANA Rivers as his home, the current National President of ANA commended the members and contestants for the show of maturity during the exercise.

Citing a number of occasions, he acknowledged the cordial relationship that had existed between ANA Imo under his leadership and the late Captain Dr. Elechi Amadi with the entire ANA Rivers.

In his acceptance speech, the Chairman, Chief Adi Wali, who was elected for a two-year term, expressed gratitude to members of ANA Rivers for demonstrating confidence in him by giving him the opportunity to lead. He promised to run an inclusive administration and announced his donation of one plot of land to ANA Rivers.

Engr. Albert C. Otto,
Secretary,
ANA Rivers

A-Book-A-Child-A-Week Project: ANA National Partners with the Bayelsa State First Lady

  A-BOOK-A-CHILD-A-WEEK PROJECT: ANA NATIONAL PARTNERS WITH THE BAYELSA STATE FIRST LADY

The national leadership of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) has this week renewed its interest in the development of imaginative and creative abilities of the Nigerian Child. This renewal was made during the World Literacy Day celebration on 8^th September, 2020 when The President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Camillus Ukah led a delegation of some members of his executive and members of the ANA Bayelsa State and ANA Rivers State Branches on a courtesy call to the First lady of Bayelsa State, Her Excellency, Dr. Mrs. Gloria Ebibomo Douye Diri. The auspicious occasion presented a germane opportunity for the ANA President to present A-BOOK-A-CHILD-A-WEEK PROJECT, one of ANA’s frontline literary campaign projects, to the First Lady.

According to the President, the project “is designed to encourage every Nigerian school child to read at least one general interest and character-defining creative literature text every week. Drawing from the well established facts that reading makes a man, it is believed that a child whose mind is groomed with inspiring literature books cannot but grow into a cultured and productive adult.”

President Camillus Ukah also proposed that about one million books from one hundred Nigerian writers will be required for A-BOOK-A-CHILD-A-WEEK PROJECT and that the work is much and would require the support of well- meaning individuals and groups at all levels of the society.

The enthused First Lady, who is both an author and a Girl-child welfare advocate, quickly bought into the programme, stating that the character-defining aspect of literature is very vital in enriching the Girl-Child education and literacy. She further praised creative writers for the wealth of value their works bring to the society and pledged to partner with the Association in implementing A-BOOK-A-CHILD-A-WEEK PROJECT in her state.

Members of ANA delegation included, Vice President, Hajiya Farida Mohammed, Treasurer, Stella Touremi, Legal Adviser, Bentex Torlafia; Pioneer ANA Bayelsa Chairman Nengi Illagha, former ANA Bayelsa Chairman, Engr. Emmanuel Opigo, immediate past ANA Bayelsa Chairman, Bina Nengi Illagha, and Dr. Obari Gomba from ANA Rivers. 

 

Relationship between ANA/NUJ buttressed as ANA presents New EXCO

 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANA/NUJ BUTTRESSED AS ANA PRESENTS NEW EXCO

Since the formation of the Association of Nigerian Authors can(ANA) by Prof Chinua Achebe, Prof. Femi Osofisan and co in 1981, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) have continued to play prominent complementary roles in the activities and upliftment of each other.

This was contained in the speech of the newly elected ANA National President Mr. Camilus Ukah when the immediate past President of the Association, Comrade Denja Abdullahi led the National Leadership of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) to pay a courtesy call on the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, at the NUJ National Secretariat, Abuja.

Mr. Ukah who hails from Imo State appealed to the NUJ to continue in their good works of promoting civility amongst the people and upholding the conscience of the society.

He eulogized the pragmatic qualities of the former ANA President, while thanking the NUJ for the unflinching support enjoyed by ANA over the years and for being at the vanguard of propagating the Truth, Fairness and Justice in the society.

Meanwhile, in his remark, Comrade Denja Abdullahi said they were at the NUJ National Secretariat to present the duly elected new national President of ANA to the Leadership of the NUJ.
He stated that the NUJ and ANA are like Siamese twins, saying that the two bodies shared so many things in common and that there is need for closer ranks between the NUJ and ANA for more mutual collaborations in the affairs of things that concern them.

Mr Denja used the opportunity to express his gratitude to the NUJ for the big-brother role they played in critical times especially throughout his two-term tenures as the President of ANA, while appealing to the leadership of the NUJ to extend same hands of fellowship to his successor.

However, in his response, the NUJ President, Comrade Chris Isiguzo advised Dr Ukah led new Executives to be up and doing.

He encouraged him to do everything within his powers to carry everybody along, as well as endeavor to reach out.

According to him, the new executive should appeal to the conscience of the aggrieved members of the Association to return to where they all belong since the election is over, so as to move the Association forward, because "The more, the merrier", stressing that in unity, a lot can be achieved by the Association of Nigerian Authors.

The ANA Team was made up of the Association's former President Mr. Denja, the new Vice President Mrs. Farida Mohammed, Chief Eddy Onwuzulike a member of the board of trustees and others, while Mallam Shuaibu Usman Leman, the National Secretary of the NUJ was on hand to welcome the team.

Human Rights Promotion: NHRC Set to partner with Nigerian Authors

HUMAN RIGHTS PROMOTION: NHRC SET TO PARTNER WITH NIGERIAN AUTHORS

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has reiterated its commitment to partner with the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) and other organisations that have the capacity to assist the Commission in the promotion and protection of human rights in Nigeria.

Executive Secretary of the Commission, Tony Ojukwu Esq. who stated this in Abuja when the Executive members of ANA paid a courtesy visit to the Commission said that writers fall within the realm of human rights defenders because their works are very crucial in propagating human rights norms and practices all over the world.

According to Ojukwu, we are grateful for your plan to share perspectives with us because we have a common mandate to bring out the truth and protect the rights of the people. “Partnering with an organisation like ANA will provide a good opportunity to accomplish more works in human rights protection in the country”, he added.

The Chief Human Rights Officer in Nigeria also assured the visiting Writers that the Commission will ensure that their own rights are adequately protected in the course of their work which at times comes with some challenges especially when they condemn certain ills in the society.

The Human Rights Czar recalled that long years of military rule in Nigeria tended to influence the mindset of some Nigerians who now see certain denial of rights as a way of life, “but with what we are doing today and what Writers like you can assist us to do, we will continue to change the narratives to conform with human rights best practices”.

Earlier, the newly elected National President of ANA, Mr. Camillus Ukah said that they were in the Commission to seek partnership to enable them to further contribute their quota to human rights promotion and protection.

Ukah, a novelist took his time to chronicle the role of Writers in building a society pointing out that as Writers their ultimate target is to liberate the society and seek to improve human rights and humanitarian condition of the people which, he noted is the crux of the mandate of the Commission.

The ANA President also used the opportunity to urge the Commission to stand by the members of the Association, especially in trying times saying that some of their members suffer human rights violations in the course of their duties, part of which he noted could arise when Writers condemn certain ills in the society involving prominent persons.

He also used the opportunity to inform the Executive Secretary of ANA’s upcoming zoom conference in September this year which he promised to formally invite him to participate.

 

Pictures taken during ANA familiarization visit to Hon. Gentle Emelah, Hon Commissioner for Education, Bayelsa State

 

PICTURES TAKEN DURING THE FAMILIARIZATION VISIT TO HON. GENTLE EMELAH, HON COMMISSIONER FOR EDUCATION, BAYELSA STATE.