Fayemi encourages youth to adopt a reading culture.
To ensure the future of Nigeria’s rich literary tradition, Bisi Fayemi, author and wife of the former Ekiti governor, has urged the youth to embrace a reading culture that will foster the development of young, creative writers.
She made this appeal during an interview at the 2024 End-of-Year Dinner and Awards hosted by the Abuja chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) on Sunday in Abuja.
The event, titled “ANAtainment,” included the launch of the book Flights of Imagination, an ANA Abuja anthology of poems and short stories.
The gathering brought together both seasoned and emerging authors, as well as literary enthusiasts.
Fayemi noted that Nigeria has long been home to many prolific writers, and to ensure that more writers emerge, young people must adopt a reading culture.
She emphasized that the digital age has removed geographical barriers, making publications more accessible, and offering today’s youth the chance to read widely.
Fayemi said: “Young people may not have access to the kinds of publications, novels, and books that we had when we were growing up, because it is very difficult to get hands-on copies of books now.
“But there are still opportunities for young people to read out there; there are a lot of information and free publications online.
“If young people can spend hours online, doing one challenge or the other, doing one thing or the other on social media, they can as well spend that time accessing free publications online.
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“What we need to do is continue to encourage young people to use the opportunities and the tools that they have, we did not have those things when we were growing up.
“They have them now, so, the world is waiting for them to explore, they should not waste those opportunities.
“To be able to be a good writer, you have to be able to read widely, and I have said on different platforms that I started writing very early because my father motivated me.
“Our parents back then were always looking for ways to keep us engaged, because we didn’t have the kinds of gadgets and things that young people have today, like laptops and phones, and so on.
“So, every Tuesday and every Thursday, I had to write an essay for my father, and I believe that is where I developed a very keen passion for writing.”
Earlier, Chukwudi Eze, Chairman of ANA Abuja, stated that the association is committed to engaging young scholars through mentorship programs that encourage reading and writing.
He said the “ANAtainment” event served as an opportunity to honor those who had contributed to the success of the association’s programs throughout the year.
“This event embodied a pivotal juncture in our literary voyage, and as a chapter, we are thrilled to witness the convergence of creative minds and kindred spirits.
“Our resolve lies in nurturing literary aptitude as our monthly readings have evolved into a platform for budding writers to showcase their prose.
“In our mission to instill a passion for literature among the youth, we have birthed the ANA Abuja Young Readers Club in partnership with the Dabmak Great Foundation International School.
“By engaging with young scholars and immersing them in the joys of reading and writing, we seek to build a sturdy groundwork for the future of Nigerian literature.
“To ensure inclusivity and amplify a plethora of voices, the Abuja chapter has broadened its membership scope in alignment with the ANA constitution.
“We now extend a warm invitation even to secondary school students to become custodians of our prestigious association,” he said.
Also, Prof. Emeka Aniagolu, the keynote speaker, commended ANA Abuja for providing a platform that brings together writers to exchange ideas.
“On several occasions, I have had the distinct privilege of participating in the deliberations, poetry recitations, and other activities hosted by ANA Abuja, that breathe new and invigorating life into that literary organization.
“ANA Abuja, through the enlightened chairmanship of Architect Chukwudi Eze and his able EXCO, has come alive like never before, bringing innovation and dynamism,” he said.
The event included the unveiling of the ANA Abuja Anthology of Poems and Short Stories, Flights of Imagination. Certificates of Merit were also awarded to members and other stakeholders who have contributed to the growth and development of the writing craft.
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