Literature
Professor Umelo Ojinmah, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, speaks with Sumaila Umaisha on his ambition to lead the Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, saying he has prepapared a blueprint for the a renaissance in the association.
May we have your brief biography.
Professor Umelo Ojinmah: I?m a graduate of English and Literary Studies, Class of 1980, University of Calabar. I obtained my PhD in English and Comparative Literature from University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, in 1988. If you check Daily Times of Nigeria, BBC and VOA of December, 10 and 11, 1988, you will see the headline of ?A Nigerian makes fastest PhD in New Zealand?. I made the fastest PhD in a university that was more than 100 years old. I have lectured in Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa; Federal University of Technology, Owerri, and Nasarawa State University, Keffi, rising from the ranks to Professor of English and Literary Studies.
What is your assessment of the Nigerian literary scene?
Nigerian literary scene is vibrant but we need to energize it more by encouraging the established publishing companies to invest in younger authors. Today, they are more interested in publishing primary school books for high volume sales. We also need to encourage young authors through organising more creative writing ops and writers? fellowships.
What would you say are the major challenges being faced by the Nigerian writer?
One of the most pressing challenges is the creation of a writers? village and avenues of assisting budding writers until they can find their feet. Unlike Europe and America where writers make living from their works, it takes time for writers in Nigeria to get to the point of depending on their writing for daily living. We must make efforts to change the climate to enable talented writers take their writing seriously.
Are you vying for the presidency of the Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, in order to solve these problems?
Yes. But more importantly, to give purposeful leadership to ANA. ANA is made up of intellectuals and we should be at the forefront of proffering solutions to the myriad of problems confronting the Nigerian nation. The committee system has been effective in harnessing people to achieve much and I intend to involve more ANA members to solving these problems through establishing committees with specific mandates and targets.
There several other candidates also contesting; do you think you have a chance?
ANA members are discerning and I believe that if they are convinced that what I bring to the table will benefit ANA members more than the other contestants, they will. After all, we all clamour for good governance.
How prepared are you?
I have prepared a blue print for a renaissance in ANA. The rest is left for us collectively.
(c) Published in the New nigerian edition of 21st august, 2011.
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Literature
I have a blueprint for ANA renaissance - Professor Umelo Ojinmah
Professor Umelo Ojinmah, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, speaks with Sumaila Umaisha on his ambition to lead the Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, saying he has prepapared a blueprint for the a renaissance in the association.
May we have your brief biography.
Professor Umelo Ojinmah: I?m a graduate of English and Literary Studies, Class of 1980, University of Calabar. I obtained my PhD in English and Comparative Literature from University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, in 1988. If you check Daily Times of Nigeria, BBC and VOA of December, 10 and 11, 1988, you will see the headline of ?A Nigerian makes fastest PhD in New Zealand?. I made the fastest PhD in a university that was more than 100 years old. I have lectured in Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa; Federal University of Technology, Owerri, and Nasarawa State University, Keffi, rising from the ranks to Professor of English and Literary Studies.
What is your assessment of the Nigerian literary scene?
Nigerian literary scene is vibrant but we need to energize it more by encouraging the established publishing companies to invest in younger authors. Today, they are more interested in publishing primary school books for high volume sales. We also need to encourage young authors through organising more creative writing ops and writers? fellowships.
What would you say are the major challenges being faced by the Nigerian writer?
One of the most pressing challenges is the creation of a writers? village and avenues of assisting budding writers until they can find their feet. Unlike Europe and America where writers make living from their works, it takes time for writers in Nigeria to get to the point of depending on their writing for daily living. We must make efforts to change the climate to enable talented writers take their writing seriously.
Are you vying for the presidency of the Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, in order to solve these problems?
Yes. But more importantly, to give purposeful leadership to ANA. ANA is made up of intellectuals and we should be at the forefront of proffering solutions to the myriad of problems confronting the Nigerian nation. The committee system has been effective in harnessing people to achieve much and I intend to involve more ANA members to solving these problems through establishing committees with specific mandates and targets.
There several other candidates also contesting; do you think you have a chance?
ANA members are discerning and I believe that if they are convinced that what I bring to the table will benefit ANA members more than the other contestants, they will. After all, we all clamour for good governance.
How prepared are you?
I have prepared a blue print for a renaissance in ANA. The rest is left for us collectively.
(c) Published in the New nigerian edition of 21st august, 2011.
- Remi Raji Posed To Re-write Ana?s History
PROFESSOR ADEREMI RAJI-OYELADE a.k.a. Remi Raji is a well known name in the community of writers and academics, having authored a number of creative pieces and critical works in the areas of literary theory, African and African American Literatures,...
- The Umaisha Dialogues Goes To Press!
At last the first of the four volumes of my interviews with Nigerian authors, The Umaisha Dialogues, has gone to press! The volume, which features new Nigerian writers like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Remi Raji, Toni Kan, Jude Dibia, BM Dzukogi, Razinat...
- Umaisha Unleashes His Hoodlums On The Public
Hoodlums, a collection of short stories by Sumaila Isah Umaisha, an Associate Editor with the New Nigerian Newspapers, and Chairman of the Kaduna State Chapter of Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, was presented to the public in Abuja,...
- Zaynab Alkali Chats With Kasu Students
AS part of the regular interactive sessions for its students, the Department of English and Drama, Faculty of Arts, Kaduna State University, Kaduna, hosted Zaynab Alkali, last week. Zaynab is the first Northern Nigerian woman novelist in English language...
- Zaynab: 'i'm Writing My Own Personal Story' (interview)
ZAYNAB ALKALI, one of the most prominent women writers in Nigeria, and author of the famous novel, The Stillborn (1984), speaks to SUMAILA UMAISHA on her academic and literary career. ............................ NNW: Let?s begin with your movement...