ANA-Abia celebrates excellence, goes from strength to
strength
Excellence
is one virtue ANA-Abia and humanity at large hold dearly. Little wonder
ANA-Abia upholds it jealously. It was not all about poetry, drama and prose. It
was not all about literary criticism. It was not all about the usual monthly
reading or about ANA dues and members’ lukewarm attitude to the association’s
activities or about Teen Authorship Scheme. It was all about excellence!
It was a day buying and selling went on a
brief recess and a day industry went on holiday as all roads led to the exotic
Binez Hotel, Aba. Aba, the Enyimba city (city of elephants) witnessed something
extraordinary as all lovers of literature came together to celebrate themselves
as well as one another. To say that the hotel was shut for ANA was stating the
obvious.
The
120-capacity auditorium was filled with more than double the number either
standing or having nowhere to stand. Yet, the ecstasy and beauty of the evening
gave the standing dignitaries no room for complaints. Beautifully decorated in
ANA colours of green and white, it was as if the venue was for a state
function.
It was a
meeting of great minds as lecturers met their long-lost students; students met
their long-forgotten ‘wicked’ lecturers; and friends met friends and enemies
alike. From the east to the west and from the north to the south, the world
gathered for ANA-Abia. Overwhelmed by the gorgeously dressed and intimidating
crowd, a guest at the hotel and commissioner in Abia State who found it difficult
making his way into the hotel asked who the people were. When told, he
exclaimed, ‘Association of Nigerian what?’ ‘Authors, of course’, a member
exclaimed!
It was a
roll call of who’s who when the guests were introduced. From Professors
Nwahunanya to Aliche, from DrUshie to Drs. Akpuda, Nweke, Ohuocha and Igbokwe.
From Rev Fr.ObinnaUmekwe to other ordained men of God. From Chief Magistrate
Grace Ukeje to other legal luminaries such as Sir TAN Nwamara. The media was
not left out as the popular Boni Onogwu and Ann Oguegbe were on hand to grace
the occasion and other personalities too numerous mention. Nollywood stole the
show as Chief ChinwetaluAgu, one of the caterpillars and bulldozers of the
Nigerian film industry stepped into the venue. He was literally mobbed by the crowd as
everybody present wanted to either take a photo shot with him or have
handshakes with him. In his speech he praised ANA and pledged a closer
partnership between Nollywood and ANA. Guests were entertained by numerous
dance groups from various schools.
Sir
AlwellOnukaogu, a past Rector of Abia State Polytechnic, in whose honour the
event was held, praised the organizers of the epoch-making ceremony as he
confessed to being overwhelmed by the tumultuous crowd and the caliber of men
and women that graced the occasion even at short notices. He as well as others
who knew not much about ANA did not believe that Aba could
be brought to a standstill by ANA.
As for
entertainment, it was a miracle how food meant for 120 people who feed over 400
people. Who says that members of ANA-Abia are not workers of miracle?
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