The Association of Nigeria Author (ANA), Kwara Chapter on Sunday declared Dr. Usman Oladipo Akanbi as their preferred presidential candidate for the next election of the Association come October, 2023 at the body’s Annual International Convention in Abuja.
The Chairman of ANA in the State Mr. Babayemi Opeyemi, made the official declaration at the year’s Stakeholders’ Meeting held at Mustapha Akanbi Foundation’s (MAF) Knowledge Platform, Agbadam Link road, Water-view area in Ilorin, the State Capital.
Mr Opeyemi charged members to come together in order for the Chapter to actualise its aim, while also urging them to take the Association more seriously.
He said the Kwara chapter is known as a resurrection chapter of the national body and thus are consolidating on the efforts of ANA Kwara towards the national.
“We are on the verge of moving from the former stage to a higher level and we can’t do it alone as stakeholders, and as executives. We need all the members to come together. We have to be on the same page to achieve our aims.” the Chapter’s Chairman concluded.
Also speaking with journalists shortly after the meeting, the Presidential candidate of the Association, Dr. Usman Oladipo Akanbi who is a prolific writer, a lecturer cum Agricultural Economist and founder of Imodoye Writers Residency, promised to consolidate on the achievements of the past ANA leaderships with greater focus on the young and upcoming generations of writers and the betterment of the country.
“All I am going to do is to consolidate on the achievements and gains of the past that ANA had been able to do and with greater focus on the upcoming generations and younger writers.“We want to use ANA as a fulcrum to join the national discourse on how we can make Nigeria a better place for all.So, my greatest thing is to consolidate on the gains of ANA and to use it as a platform to achieve greater things for our country,” Dr Akabi declared.
Also speaking, the immediate Past Chairman of the Kwara Chapter of the Association, Mallam AbdulRahman Adebayo Aderinoye noted that the Association has made a lot of development by reviving the chapter and make it more vibrant, adding that Kwara chapter is one the Chapters to reckon with at the national level.
He said Dr Akabi has the requisite to lead the Association at the national level and expressed confidence that by October, ANA Kwara will clinch the presidential seat of the Association.
Mallam Aderinoye added, “As far as we are concerned, and as far as his (Dr Akanbi) credentials is concerned, from this Chapter, we can’t have a better candidate from this Chapter and even at the national level.”
On his part, the winner of 2021 ANA Poetry Prize and Runner Up for 2021 ANA Drama Prize, Dr. Rueben Kehinde Akano described Dr. Akanbi as a round peg in a round hole with every quality to lead the Association.
“ANA presidency is not just about writing. It is also about administration, exposure, enlightenment and coordinating the activities of the Association and taking it to greater heights.“Given Dr Akanbi’s wealth of experience; one of the elders we look forward to at the state and national levels for support and advice.Should somebody like Dr Akanbi come in as National President of ANA, it is going to be a new dawn as far as the Association is concerned”, the University Lecturer submitted.
