Make African Literature an Independent Subject in Nigerian Schools – Nigerian Authors
Nigerian authors have urged the federal government to make African literature a separate and autonomous subject in both primary and secondary schools across the country.
Professor Ernest Emenyonu, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Association of Nigerian Authors, made the call on Thursday in Abuja at the Association’s 2022 fellowship induction.
He regretted that most Nigerian languages had died out in Nigerian homes, and he urged the government to make African literature mandatory in the school curriculum.
Emenyonu who lamented that authors finds it difficult to publish books in Nigerian languages, however, urged private sectors to collaborate with authors and fund the publication of books in indigenous Nigerian languages.
During induction, Camillus Ukah, President of the Association of Nigerian Authors, described the twenty-five new members as men and women of integrity and creative excellence to the author’s association in Nigeria.
Ukah stated that the new inductees are an inspiration to the younger generation, and he encouraged young people to be excited about the possibility of becoming great authors like Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, and the likes.
Speaking on behalf of the Twenty-five inductees, Lindsay Barret, appreciated the association for recognizing their contribution to the Nigerian author’s profession.
The cultural display performed by the University of Abuja theatre group and the Idoma cultural group to entertain the audience was one of the event’s highlights.
Academics, authors, and students from all around Nigeria attended the Association of Nigerian Authors’ (ANA) 41st Annual International Convention, which had the theme: Literature And National Consciousness: A Story As A Catalyst.
