The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) has praised the Governor of Kwara State, His Excellency Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for his ₦6,000,000 endowment in support of creative education. The association described the contribution as a transformative step toward advancing literary development and empowering young people across the state.
Building on this intervention, the Kwara State Chapter of ANA has unveiled a comprehensive capacity-building programme for secondary school teachers. The initiative is designed to enhance the teaching and performance of poetry in schools throughout the state.
ANA’s National President, Dr. Usman Oladipo Akanbi, commended the Governor’s timely and commendable gesture, emphasizing that such an investment is crucial at a time when creative education plays a vital role in shaping expressive, well-rounded young minds.
He also acknowledged the administration’s sustained commitment to educational development in Kwara State, noting that support for literary initiatives reflects a broader vision of holistic learning and long-term youth empowerment.
Organised by ANA Kwara in partnership with the Kwara State Government, the workshop forms part of ongoing efforts to promote creative writing and performance poetry among students through structured, teacher-led approaches.
The event is scheduled to take place on April 4 at the Kwara State University Conference Centre in Ilorin. Themed “From Page to Stage: Teaching and Performing Poetry in the 21st Century,” the workshop is also being held in commemoration of World Poetry Day.
According to the ANA President, the training programme aims to equip teachers with modern skills in poetry writing, spoken word, and performance techniques. This, he explained, will enable them to effectively mentor students and cultivate emerging literary talents in secondary schools.
Earlier, the Chairman of ANA Kwara, Dr. Mohammed El-Nasir Al-Amin, revealed that invitations had been extended to secondary schools across the state, requesting each to nominate teacher representatives for the workshop.
He stressed that participation is entirely free, as the programme is fully funded through the Kwara State Government’s ₦6,000,000 educational support initiative. He added that transportation support will also be provided to encourage widespread participation.
Dr. Al-Amin further explained that teachers trained during the workshop will go on to prepare their students for a statewide Spoken Word and Performance Poetry Competition scheduled for May, thereby extending the programme’s impact beyond the training itself.
The workshop will feature keynote addresses and interactive sessions led by respected scholars and practitioners, including Prof. Aderemi Raji-Oyelade, alongside other notable academics and facilitators. Participants will gain practical insights into contemporary methods of teaching and performing poetry.
In addition, panel discussions and hands-on sessions will provide opportunities for participants to engage directly with experts in poetry, theatre, and spoken word, ultimately enriching their teaching methods.
ANA reaffirmed its commitment to promoting literary creativity, critical thinking, and expressive confidence among students, while strengthening the role of teachers as key drivers in nurturing the next generation of Nigerian writers and performers.
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