The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) will this Friday hold the grand opening ceremony of its 45th International Convention and Conference at the Mamman Vatsa Writers’ Village, Maitama Extension, Mpape, Abuja.
The four-day convention, which began yesterday, will bring together writers, poets, academics, literary scholars and cultural practitioners to discuss issues affecting Nigeria and the wider world.
The convention, themed “Literature, National Security, and the Place of Nigeria in the World,” seeks to explore the relationship between literature, national consciousness, peace, security and Nigeria’s international image.
According to a statement issued by ANA Acting General Secretary, Wole Adedoyin, the opening ceremony, scheduled for 10:30 a.m., will be chaired by renowned folklorist, historian, author and public administrator, Dr. Bukar Usman, while Professor Mahfouz Adedimeji will deliver the keynote address.
ANA President, Dr. Usman Oladipo Akanbi, will serve as the chief host.
The programme will feature formal addresses, the keynote presentation and a panel discussion on the role of literature in promoting national unity, encouraging responsible citizenship, addressing insecurity and projecting Nigeria positively before the international community.
The statement added that the ANA president would receive invited dignitaries and guests between 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., during which selected projects would also be commissioned as part of efforts to strengthen the Association’s institutional infrastructure and literary development initiatives.
Following the opening ceremony, participants will have a lunch break and networking session from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Another major highlight of the day will be Book Show 1: Twelve Authors/Twelve Chapters Speak, scheduled for 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The session will provide a platform for 12 authors and 12 ANA chapters to showcase their literary works, share creative experiences and interact with fellow writers and readers.
The initiative is expected to promote literary visibility, encourage reading culture and strengthen ties between the Association’s national leadership and its state chapters.
Participants will subsequently engage in networking and informal interactions from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., before rounding off the day’s activities with a theatrical performance scheduled for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The convention play is expected to highlight the importance of drama and performance in Nigeria’s literary and cultural heritage.
The Association said the annual convention reflects its commitment to providing a national platform for writers to engage with contemporary issues, celebrate literary achievements, promote intellectual exchange and contribute to national development.
Activities will continue on Saturday, October 31, with further literary engagements, the Association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), additional book presentations and networking sessions.
The convention will also feature an Awards and Dinner Night, while participants are expected to depart on Sunday, November 1, 2026.
ANA invites members of the association, literary organisations, cultural institutions, scholars, students, media practitioners and members of the public to participate in the convention.
PROFESSOR MAHFOUZ ADEBOLA ADEDIMEJI, THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Professor Mahfouz Adebola Adedimeji is a distinguished Nigerian scholar, Professor of Pragmatics and Applied English Linguistics, public intellectual and accomplished university administrator whose contributions to scholarship, higher education, communication studies, peacebuilding and national development have earned him recognition within and beyond Nigeria. He currently serves as the Vice-Chancellor of the African School of Economics (ASE), Nigeria.
Before his present appointment, he served as the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of Ahman Pategi University, where he played a significant role in laying the academic, administrative and institutional foundations of the university.
Professor Adedimeji obtained his Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in English from the University of Ilorin, where he also built a substantial part of his academic career.
Through years of dedicated teaching, research and academic service, he rose through the academic ranks to become a Professor in October 2019. His educational background also includes early studies in Arabic and Islamic Studies at Markaz Shabaabil Islam, Iwo, and Markaz Ta’aleemil Araby, Agege. This multidisciplinary foundation has contributed to the breadth of his intellectual interests, particularly in language, culture, religion, society and human communication.
An alumnus of the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship Programme, Professor Adedimeji served as a cultural ambassador at Governors State University, Illinois, United States of America. He has also benefited from international academic exposure and professional development at renowned institutions, including the University of Notre Dame. These experiences have broadened his intellectual outlook and strengthened his commitment to international academic collaboration, cross-cultural understanding and the advancement of higher education.
Beyond his scholarly engagements, Professor Adedimeji has distinguished himself through academic administration and institutional leadership.
At the University of Ilorin, he served as Head of the Corporate Affairs Directorate from 2008 to 2012 and Director of the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies from 2013 to 2017. He has also been associated with the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), contributing to conversations and initiatives centred on interfaith dialogue, peaceful coexistence and national unity. His appointment as the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of Ahman Pategi University in February 2021 marked another significant milestone in his administrative career. He currently brings his wealth of academic and leadership experience to the African School of Economics.
His research interests cover pragmatics, pragma-sociolinguistics, applied English linguistics, communication studies and peace linguistics. He has published numerous scholarly articles in peer-reviewed journals and contributed to intellectual debates on language, society, education, religion and national development. His publications include Five Alive and Fifty-Five Other Poems, an anthology; The Word or the Sword?; The Webs of Shaitan; and Right Writing, Wrong Writing.
These works reflect his versatility as a scholar, writer and critical thinker, demonstrating his ability to engage with issues beyond the conventional boundaries of academic research.
Professor Adedimeji is also a respected public speaker, commentator and public affairs analyst whose contributions to public discourse address education, governance, communication, social development and national cohesion.
He is a strong advocate of lifelong learning, intellectual discipline, educational advancement and institutional reform. His engagements consistently highlight the importance of education as an instrument of personal development, social transformation and national progress.
As the Keynote Speaker at the 45th International Convention of the Association of Nigerian Authors, Professor Mahfouz Adebola Adedimeji brings to the gathering a wealth of experience spanning academic scholarship, literary engagement, institutional leadership and public intellectual discourse.
His career reflects the important connection between knowledge, creativity, leadership and service to society. His participation is expected to enrich the convention’s intellectual conversations and provide valuable perspectives on the role of scholarship, literature and education in shaping society and advancing national development.
