Communiqué Issued at the end of the 44th Annual Convention of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA)

 

COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE END OF THE 44TH ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIAN AUTHORS (ANA) HELD AT MAMMAN VATSA WRITERS’ VILLAGE, MPAPE, FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA, FROM THURSDAY 30TH OCTOBER, 2025 TO SUNDAY 2ND NOVEMBER, 2025

 

The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), the premier body of writers in Nigeria, held its 44th Annual Convention, themed “The Nigerian Writers and The Urgencies of the Nation-State,” at Mamman Vatsa Writers’ Village, Mpape, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja from Thursday 30th October, 2025 to Sunday 2nd November, 2025.

The event brought together writers, scholars, publishers, media professionals, and cultural advocates from Nigeria and beyond, to deliberate on issues affecting the Nigerian literary community, writers’ welfare, the state of the nation, and the evolving challenges posed by the digital revolution. Upon the Keynote address, panel discussion, remarks and extensive deliberations, the Association issued the following communiqué: 

ISSUES:

The Association of Nigerian Authors expresses deep concern over the prevailing insecurity in the country manifested in terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, insurgency, and communal conflicts and the continued impact of climate change that continue to undermine Nigeria’s peace, unity, mutual co-existence and development and the need to incorporate creative arts into national peace education programmes as a means to foster empathy, civic responsibility, and cultural dialogue.

The concern of members in respect of the widespread deterioration of road infrastructure across the federation, which has adversely affected economic productivity, safety, and equitable access to social services.

 The ailing education infrastructure and  dwindling reading culture and the  need for Government at all levels to understand that the bedrock of any developed and secured society rests on  quality education;  the Federal Government should as a matter of urgency address the grievances of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and improve the educational infrastructure not just in the tertiary institutions, but also at the primary and secondary schools level.

The precarious welfare of Nigerian writers and the need to establish a National Endowment Fund for Literature and the Arts to provide grants, fellowships, and residencies for writers in Nigeria.

The need to encourage and boost partnerships between ANA, government agencies, and private institutions to promote book festivals, literacy campaigns, and literary tourism as well as sustain the bar of advocacy for fair publishing contracts, transparent royalty systems to protect the Nigerian Writers.

The rising wave of opportunities and threats posed by advances in information and communication technology (ICT), especially the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital platforms and urgent need for collaboration , capacity building, and mentorship for writers.

The need to reaffirm ANA’s commitment to upholding the highest standards of ethics, integrity, and professionalism among its members.

RECOMMENDATIONS

On the subject of insecurity manifested in the form of terrorism, banditry and kidnapping, ANA calls on the national and sub-national governments to collaboratively intensify coordinated efforts to secure lives and properties through policies that promote justice, equity, and inclusion in line with the fundamental objective of direct principle of state policy.

Federal and State Government should prioritize the rehabilitation, routine maintenance, and strategic upgrading of critical roads with particular emphasis on high-traffic economic routes, agriculturally significant link roads, and underserved rural communities, especially the road leading to Writers' Village and Mpape community of Abuja.

ANA calls on the Nigerian Government at all levels, to prioritize education, which is the bedrock of any nation that seeks growth and security, by urgently addressing the grievances of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) through meaningful dialogues and beneficial resolutions and also  incorporate literary works into national peace education programmes, to foster empathy, civic responsibility, and cultural dialogue.

ANA calls on the government through the Ministry of Culture ,Tourism, and Creative Economy, to improve the welfare of Nigerian creative writers by establishing a National Endowment Fund for Literature and the Arts; to provide grants, fellowships, and residencies for writers in Nigeria.

ANA is poised to sustain the bar of advocacy for fair publishing contracts, transparent royalty systems, and stronger copyright enforcement to protect the Nigerian Writers and to seek partnerships between ANA, government agencies, and private institutions, to promote book festivals, literacy campaigns, and literary tourism.

Writers should embrace ICT responsibly by acquiring digital literacy skills and exploring new media for storytelling and literary dissemination without compromising authenticity. ANA condemns all forms of plagiarism, intellectual dishonesty, and unprofessional conduct within the literary community in Nigeria and beyond. And further affirms the sustenance of training programmes on digital publishing, online safety, and AI ethics to empower members for the modern creative economy.

It affirms the enforcement of the ANA Constitution and standing orders to further promote discipline, accountability, and transparency in all activities and shall strengthen mentoring programmes to nurture emerging writers and instill a culture of literary excellence in them.

ANA members/delegates express profound gratitude to the Dr. Usman Akanbi Oladipo-led National Executive Council, the convention planning committee, sponsors, government agencies, and individuals for their commitment and support towards the success of the 44th Annual Convention. And finally, we thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the restitution extended to the families of late Ken Saro-Wiwa and Maj-General Mamman Vatsa, acknowledging the gesture as a step towards healing. We further call for total exoneration of the fallen writers by Government. ANA applauded Professor Wole Soyinka, Nobel Laureate and literary icon, for honouring the Association he cofounded with his physical presence and sharing valuable insights with the writers at the Convention.

 

                                          Issued this 2nd Day of November, 2025.

                                                                     Signed: 

 

__________________________                                                   ___________________

Dr. Usman Oladipo Akanbi                                                                  Dr. Joan Oji

                President                                                                            General Secretary