Northern Nigeria Writers' Summit makes first outing (report)

The Northern Nigeria Writers? Summit instituted by the Northern chapters of the Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, has made its first outing. And what a grand outing it was! Not only was it well attended, the activities marking the event were so well organized that participants were left with indelible memories.
Organized by the Niger State chapter of ANA on behalf of other chapters of the association in the North and generously supported by the Niger State Government, the event took place in Minna, Niger State capital, between Sunday 4th, and Wednesday 7th, 2008, under the theme, Sustaining Creative Writing in Northern Nigeria. Highlight of the event included arrival cocktail, opening ceremony, plenary sessions, drama performance and award/dinner night.
The arrival day was quite reminiscent of the spirit of camaraderie that usually characterises the first day of the annual international convention of ANA. Delegates, arriving from various parts of the country, were visibly excited at meeting their literary colleagues. Some members were still arriving and checking into their respective rooms in Shiroro Hotel when the cocktail began at 7.30 at the IBB University Guest House. Besides eating and drinking, the occasion featured poetry performance and cultural dance by teen authors from secondary schools within Minna. There was also a bit of speech making.
In his speech, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Muhammed Kuta Yahaya, who was the Special Guest of Honour, heartily welcomed guests and delegates to the event. He said even though Governor Mu?azu Babangida Aliyu was out of the country on official engagement, he had put in place, through the state?s chapter of ANA, all the necessary arrangement that would ensure a successful summit. The SSG wished participants a happy deliberation on the way forward for the Northern Nigerian literature.
The second day, Monday 5th, featured the opening ceremony, plenary sessions and performance of a play, The Royal Chamber, by Yahaya S. Dangana. The opening ceremony, which was held at Gidan Matasa, began at about 10am with a welcome address by the Chief Summit Adviser, Alhaji Abubakar Gimba. While welcoming delegates, Gimba explained the objective of the summit, saying it is aimed at projecting the Northern writing within the context of Nigerian literature. A Northern writer, he said, is that writer who shares the dreams and aspirations of the North in his or her writings, and not necessarily a writer who is a Northerner by birth.
The chairman of the occasion, Professor Munzali Jibril, former Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission, reiterated the point, adding that the North needs to be projected to the world so that it would be recognized like the other parts of the country in terms of literature. He stressed the need to promote indigenous languages through literature as that is the only way to keep the languages alive. To sustain creative writing in the North, he further observed, governments and individuals must help to establish writers? villages where writers could write without distractions, institute writing competitions to challenge and encourage writers, and set up sympathetic publishing outfits to help in publishing the works of young writers.
In his own speech, the President of ANA, Dr. Wale Okediran, debunked the notion that the emergence of the Northern Writers? Summit would lead to the emergence of other regional writers? bodies that might result in the disintegration of ANA. He said rather than having an adverse effect on ANA, the summit would strengthen the association just as the other recently established writers? organizations like the Abuja Poetry Society and Women Writers Association have complemented ANA in enlivening the literary scene through various activities.
The president disclosed that ANA will celebrate the life and works of notable authors of Northern extraction in 2009. He also affirmed that the association will inaugurate Arewa Children Literary Series to publish manuscripts in the genre of children?s literature authored by Northern writers.
ANA Vice President, Dr. Jerry Agada, who is the Minister of State for Education, commended the Niger State chapter for taking the first step in the quest for literary development in the North and the country at large.
In his goodwill message, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, expressed the hope that the summit would enhance the cultural perspective of the region and boost its literacy. Kingibe, who was represented by the Secretary to the Niger State Government, urged the participants to deliberate not only on literature but the country?s fledging democracy and its consequences for a greater Nigeria.
Speaking on behalf of the governor, the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Musa Ibeto, said the Niger State government is keen on supporting writers because education is one of its priorities. He, therefore, called on participants to brainstorm on how the falling standard of education and the poor reading culture could be tackled.
He then formerly presented Pyramid, an anthology of poetry by Northern Nigeria writers, making a donation of one million Naira on behalf of the state government. Thereafter, donations in cash and pledges poured in from individuals and organizations to the tune of millions of Naira.
Papers on the theme and sub-themes of the summit were later presented at the plenary sessions. And much later in the evening, participants trooped to the UK Bello Theatre, where Dangana?s award winning play provided an atmosphere of relaxation.
The play, directed by the seasoned theatre practitioner, Artistic Director of the famous Jos Repertory Theatre, Mr. Patrick Jude Oteh, is about power, betrayal and love. It is a strong statement on the use and abuse of power and the resultant effects on the oppressed and even the oppressor. The story line and the innovative additions by the director made the play an energetic dance drama that held the audience spellbound.
Plenary sessions and award/dinner night were the main activities of the third day of the event, Tuesday, 6th, at Gidan Matasa. In all, over a dozen papers were presented at the plenary sessions. Prominent among the paper presenters were Professor Saleh Abdu of the Department of English and French, Bayero University Kano, Professor Zaynab Alkali, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Professor Olu Obafemi of the Department of English, University of Ilorin and Professor Tanimu Abubakar, Department of English, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
In his paper titled "Filling up the Northern Nigerian Space in Literature: What Role for the Literary Critic", Professor Abdu observed that critics and writers have the responsibility of filling up most of the space. He said the critic must articulate the achievement of the writer and give it a deserving high status while the writer, on his part, must harness the assessments of the critic in order to produce works worthy of serious study, deep insight, relevant theme and fresh style.
Professor Obafemi?s paper, "Sustaining and Nurturing Creative Writing in Northern Nigeria", is a highlight of the Northern literary scene and a catalogue of recommendations on how the literary problems in the region could be solved. One of his suggestions is that the Northern state governments should invest in the literature of the region by granting generous subsidies to literary institutions and writers in their domains.
In the same vein, Professor Alkali, in her paper titled "Sustaining Creative Writing in Northern Nigeria", called on governments at all levels to initiate policies that would bring down the cost of books, as the high cost of books is partly responsible for the poor reading culture. She also called on ANA to intervene in the relationship between authors and publishers in order to curb "the excesses of some greedy publishers".
The issues raised by the papers were discussed among the participants.
Later in the evening participants reconvened at the Gidan Matasa for the dinner/award night. Chaired by Professor Jerry Gana, former Minister of Information and National Orientation, the occasion had in attendance more personalities than even the opening ceremony.
The chairman set the tone for the awards ceremony with a brief speech in which he stressed the importance of literature and writers. According to him, the writer is central to the preservation of history, culture and generation of ideas and value systems. He said no society could progress without writers, adding that "it is important to pay glowing tribute to those writers and supporters of literature who have contributed to the progress of the society".
Glowing tribute was indeed paid to deserving writers at the occasion, as awards were conferred on even those that have passed on. The awards were in three categories ? Honorary Award for Promotion of Literature in the North, Arewa Award for Literary Excellence and Post Humous Award. Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu?azu Babangida Aliyu and Alhaji Aliyu Usman Shehu Shagari, former President of Nigeria, were among the seven personalities that received the honorary awards. The awards for literary excellence were giving to fourteen prominent Northern writers, including Abubakar Gimba, Zaynab Alkali, Helon Habila, Labo Yari and Ibrahim Sheme. Recipients of the post humous award were seven; Nana Usman Fodio, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Sa?adu Zungur, Abubakar Imam, Mamman Jiya Vatsa, Cyprian Ekwensi and Muhammed Sule.
The awards were presented by the Secretary to the Niger State Government, Dr. Yahaya, and Professor Gana.
Just like the welcome cocktail, the award night, which was held in an open space by the Gidan Matasa Hall, was almost disrupted by a sudden rainstorm. It was forced to a hurried conclusion. Citations on the recipients were hurriedly read; in fact, some were not read at all, due to the stormy approach of the rain. Closing prayers and vote of thanks were offered in a rush. The serving of the dinner also soon became chaotic, as people virtually snatched their food and hurried into the hall. Nonetheless, it was quite a fulfilling occasion for both the awardees and the participants.
Indeed, the entire event was such a fulfilling experience that as participants reluctantly bade farewell to the literary city of Minna on Wednesday morning, they longed for a repeat of the experience in the second edition of the summit in Kano, 2010.
"I can?t wait to attend the Kano edition," said one of the delegates from the Kaduna State chapter of ANA, Mr. Steve Adinoyi.

(c) Reported by SUMAILA UMAISHA; published in the New Nigerian edition of 10/5/08

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