‘ANA Needs Active Leadership’

Re-elected Chairman of Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Lagos Chapter Mr. Olufemi Amos Onileagbon has said that the association needs active leadership to take it to greater heights. The convention that produced the new executive was held two Saturdays ago at the Faculty of Arts Boardroom, University of Lagos.

While speaking before the election Onileagbon urged candidates gunning for various positions to have the writers’ body’s interest at heart and ensure that their motive for vying was to serve. He listed the performance of his tenure to include the purchase of a public address system, publication of The Directory of Lagos ANA Literature and increased membership.

Thereafter, the outgoing executive was dissolved by General Secretary for ANA National, Mr. Mature Tanko Okoduwa. Onileagbon was re-elected as chairman, with Olu Okekanye as Vice Chairman, Yemi Adebiyi as Secretary, Ayo Vaughan Babatunde as Treasurer, Taiwo Mary as Financial Secretary and Omotala Adeyale as Publicity Secretary.

Okoduwa expressing delight at the result of the election and said, “I am happy about the result of the election because the re-elected chairman has the wealth of experience to carry ANA Lagos to the next level. The fact that Femi was re-elected shows that the house is satisfied with what he has done so far. He is always willing to accept his flaws and his ability to solicit for advice from past chairmen and other executives has portrayed him to us as a wise leader”.

However, Okoduwa identified some grey areas he urged the chairman to work on, as he added, “Lack of accountability and low impact rate on the younger writers are areas the new executives should work on”.

Founder of Creative Art and Social Development Centre Mrs. Olamide Onosanya also expressed happiness at the outcome of the election and the zeal shown by those elected, saying, “It is very good that ANA is still standing which tells well of their zeal for service because it is an association of freewill and could have died”.

Onosanya further urged them to double their efforts, “ANA Lagos is doing well but can do better especially in the areas of publicity, gathering support from all sectors of the economy and having a definite venue for their meetings and engagement. All members should come on board without being asked to and show their support for ANA”.

While expressing his expectation for the new executive, former Chairman of ANA Abuja Mr. Eriata Oribhabor advised the new executive members to show transparency in leadership. He noted, “My expectations for the incoming executive is for them to reposition the association to the level where it would be taken seriously. I believe with the promises of the chairman the association would move to greater heights”.

Before the meeting ended Onileagbon declared his vision and agenda for the association, “I didn’t work enough on the image and branding of ANA as an association. Imaging would be my number one priority now so that in situations that border on creativity and literature, ANA would be the first to be consulted”.

“Also, I would ensure all executives work together, if not, they would be reprimanded and asked to step down. We would all unite to move ANA Lagos to greater heights” he said.