ANA Calls for Human-Centered Reforms from the Government

The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) has asked the federal government to make its economic reforms more human-focused. They warned that many Nigerians are facing tough times with rising hardship and falling living standards.

ANA’s National President, Usman Akanbi, spoke during his opening address at the association’s 45th International Convention. This event took place on 30 October at the Mamman Jiya Vatsa Writers’ Village in Mpape, Abuja.

Mr Akanbi recognized the government’s bold structural reforms and efforts to improve infrastructure. But he said the success of these reforms should be seen through the lens of how they impact citizens' lives.

“Today, many Nigerians are facing an acute economic crunch and a nose-diving standard of living,” he stated.

“Reforms, however well-intentioned, must not be perceived as punishment.”

The ANA president stressed that the government needs to focus on policies that rebuild public trust. He said young Nigerians need reasons to believe in a better future.

“No nation can grow when its young people have lost hope,” he noted. “And without hope, no reform can succeed.”

Mr Akanbi referenced Thomas Jefferson's belief that a government’s duty is to pursue citizens' happiness. He insisted that public welfare should be at the heart of policymaking.

He also called on the federal government to do more about insecurity. He pointed out that writers and other Nigerians traveling by road are at risk of kidnapping, armed robbery, and other dangers.

Mr Akanbi described the journey to Abuja through various back roads as tough and unsafe. He mentioned collapsed bridges and bad road conditions as major issues.

He argued that while plans for coastal and border roads may have long-term benefits, roads linking farms, villages, markets, and towns need more attention.

“The ordinary Nigerian feels that the hinterland roads the roads that connect farms to markets, villages to towns, and our state chapters to the centre should have been given far greater consideration and priority,” he explained.

“A nation is fed and held together by its hinterland.”

Mr Akanbi also advised politicians and their supporters to avoid inflammatory actions as the 2027 general elections approach. He urged political actors to be calm and not turn elections into violence.

“We must ensure that the 2027 elections are conducted in an environment devoid of rancour, bitterness and ill will,” he said. “Our politics must not become a war.”

He emphasized that building a functional country needs cooperation between citizens and public officials.

“Nation-building is a collective task. Government cannot do it alone, and citizens cannot thrive without responsible government,” he added.

The convention theme was “Literature, Security and the Place of Nigeria in the World.”

Mr Akanbi explained that insecurity affects not just lives and jobs but also creativity and learning.

He called insecurity “the greatest censor of the Nigerian imagination.” He noted that creativity cannot grow where farmers cannot reach their farms, traders fear travel, and children cannot safely go to school.

Mr Akanbi said Nigerian writers also have a duty to share the country's story, especially when international views often focus on insecurity and fear.

He urged authors to take back that narrative through works that show Nigeria's challenges but also its possibilities.

Reflecting on the association’s past, Mr Akanbi reminded everyone that ANA was founded in 1981 under the leadership of novelist Chinua Achebe. The aim was to defend freedom of expression, promote literary excellence, and unite through writing.

He said ANA has since set up literary prizes, publications, and annual conventions while supporting generations of Nigerian writers.

Still, he noted that ANA has faced serious challenges, including internal divisions after its 2019 convention in Enugu.

This crisis divided the association, led to legal battles, and threatened its future as a professional body.

Mr Akanbi praised ANA’s trustees, elders, fellows, and state chapters for helping the organization rise above the disputes.

“You held the line. You are the true heroes of this renaissance,” he told them.

The ANA president said the association will focus on institutional growth, writer empowerment, and better engagement with the government.

He said ANA plans to finish and fully use the Mamman Jiya Vatsa Writers’ Village as an international creative space and refuge for writers.

The association also aims to provide workshops and publishing help for both new and established authors while reviving literary clubs in schools.

Mr Akanbi mentioned that ANA wants a more active role in national awareness, cultural diplomacy, and the creative economy.

He thanked the federal government for giving the land for the writers’ village back in 1986. He also recognized the Nigerian Copyright Commission for helping authors benefit from the reproduction of their works.

The ANA president committed to defending writers’ interests while also engaging in discussions about Nigeria’s growth, security, and image in the world.