Association of Nigerian Authors Seeks Government Recognition in Kogi

The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Kogi State chapter, has paid a courtesy visit to the Office of the Head of Service (HOS) in Lokoja, highlighting 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. 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. “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,” he said.

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 a 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. However, when they call Kogi, our presence is barely felt. This is not because we lack writers, but because we lack government support. Our writers, such as Professor Femi, Professor Dojon, and Professor Idegu, are known across Nigeria. However, at home, the association is nearly forgotten,” he lamented.

With the next national convention scheduled for October 30, 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, promising the delegation that their request would be seriously considered. He described the visit as timely and necessary, assuring that the present administration values intellectual development and the promotion of creativity in all forms.

He vowed 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.