As ANA, Nasarawa State, celebrates 40 years, Abdul Rahman charges members on patriotism
As ANA, Nasarawa State, celebrates 40 years, Abdul Rahman charges members on patriotism
|By Amarachi Okam
The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Lafia (FULafia), Professor Shehu Abdul Rahman, has called on writers to adequately promote rich Nigerian cultures to the outside world.
According to the vice-chancellor, Nigerians were blessed with cultures worthy of emulation by foreigners.
Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Idris Amali, the vice-chancellor spoke during the 40th celebrations of the Association of Nigeria Authors (ANA) of Nasarawa Chapter.
The event took place at the Adamu Adamu Lecture and Office Complex, Permanent Site Campus, FULafia.
The vice-chancellor advised students to learn more about their individual culture and develop their writing skills.
He said: “If you know about the riches of your beautiful culture and adequately master the skill of communication, one day you will be great writers like Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka and so on.”
The chairman of the event, Dr. Zainab Ahmed, in her speech, emphasised on the theme of the celebrations: “Creative Writing: The New Solid Mineral,” saying that the relationship between creative writing and solid mineral cannot be underestimated “because with adequate publicity of the availability of the mineral resources, through writings, our state can be economically richer.”
According to Ahmed, the solid minerals were begging for attention, stressing the “need for creative writers to provide the needed information.”
She pointed out the need to engage in creative writing, saying: “Our personal contribution to the development of our dear country can be made in many ways and creative writing is the window through which opportunities inherent in the Nigeria’s economy can be made known.”
Dr. Chika Onyashiwa, the Nasarawa State ANA Chairperson, in her welcome address said: “Today, we are gathered here to celebrate ANA’s 40 years of existence. We celebrate Nigeria and every Nigerian creative writer”.
Chika said that “writing is a gold mine with the capacity to sustain not only the individual writer but his immediate community and nation, for a writer is a righter.”
Professor Mallam Al-Bishak, in his paper titled: “Creative Writing: The New Solid Mineral,” pointed out that “just as the solid minerals have become the bedrock of Nasarawa State, creative writing has the potentials of grossing large incomes and fame or popularity to the state.”
He said that ANA, Nasarawa Chapter, has produced fine writers who have won national recognition or prizes in different literary genres.
The event also featured award/prize presentations to deserving individuals.
Professor Amali was decorated as the patron of ANA and Dr. Zainab Ahmed was decorated as the patroness ANA, Nasarawa State.
The event was attended members of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) Lafia, Doma Students Association National Body, staff and students of the Department of English, FULafia, students of Gorgeous High School, Ombi 2, Lafia, and Government Science School, Lafia.
