ANA, Kwara State Government to Host Teachers' Workshop on Poetry Performance Tomorrow

ANA, KWARA STATE GOVERNMENT TO HOST TEACHERS’ WORKSHOP ON POETRY PERFORMANCE TOMORROW

By ANA Media Team

The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Kwara State Chapter, in partnership with the Kwara State Government, will tomorrow host a Teachers’ Sensitization Workshop on Poetry Performance aimed at strengthening creative expression among young people in secondary schools across the state. 

The programme is part of a broader literary initiative designed to promote performance poetry and spoken word culture among students.

The workshop, themed From Page to Stage: The Role of Poetry in Nurturing Creative Expression Among Young People, will take place on Saturday, April 4, 2026, at 10:00 AM at the KWASU Conference Centre, Zango Road, Ilorin. It is expected to bring together teachers, literary enthusiasts, and creative practitioners who will explore ways of transforming written poetry into engaging stage performances.

According to the Chairman of ANA Kwara State Chapter and convener of the programme, Mohammed El-Nasir Al-Amin, the workshop is designed to equip teachers with practical skills that will enable them to mentor students in poetry performance and spoken word artistry. He explained that the initiative seeks to encourage creativity, confidence, and self-expression among young people through the power of poetry. 

The event will be hosted by the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, who serves as the Chief Host. The partnership between ANA and the state government reflects a shared commitment to promoting education, arts, and youth development across Kwara State.

Also expected at the event is the National President of the Association of Nigerian Authors, Usman Oladipo Akanbi, who will attend as the Special Guest. His presence highlights the national body’s continued support for programmes that nurture literary creativity and expand opportunities for young writers and performers.

Two distinguished academics from Kwara State University will deliver keynote insights at the workshop. They include Isiaka Aliagan, Dean of the Faculty of ICT, and Saeedat Bolajoko Aliyu, Head of the Department of English.

Participants will also benefit from the expertise of experienced facilitators such as Oluwatosin Ibitoye, Lecturer and Musicologist in the Department of Performing Arts and Film Studies at Kwara State University; Olalekan Omowonuola, a stage director; and Joshua Bassey Asuquo, a spoken word poet known for inspiring young creatives through performance poetry.

The workshop will be moderated by Omayioza Agnes Yusuf, Programme Assistant at Sightsavers and National Central Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Student Authors, who will guide discussions and interactive sessions during the programme.

Organizers noted that the workshop will also serve as preparation for the forthcoming Performance Poetry and Spoken Word Competition for Kwara State secondary school students scheduled for May 2, 2026, at the Ilorin Innovation Hub, GRA, Ilorin. The competition will provide a platform for students to showcase their creative talents and stage performance skills.

The Association of Nigerian Authors, Kwara State Chapter, expressed optimism that the initiative will deepen the appreciation of poetry in schools and inspire a new generation of young writers and performers who can use literature as a powerful tool for creative expression and social engagement.