ANA COMMENDS KWARA GOVERNOR FOR ₦6,000,000 BOOST TO CREATIVE EDUCATION_ BY ANA MEDIA TEAM

The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) has commended the Kwara State Governor, His Excellency Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for the endowment of six million naira (₦6,000,000) in support of creative education, describing the gesture as a transformative boost to literary development and youth empowerment in the state.

Building on this ₦6,000,000 intervention, the Kwara State Chapter of ANA has announced a major capacity-building initiative for secondary school teachers, aimed at strengthening the teaching and performance of poetry across schools statewide.

The National President of ANA, Dr. Usman Oladipo Akanbi, praised the Governor’s laudable support, noting that the investment comes at a critical time when creative education is essential to nurturing well-rounded and expressive young minds.

He further commended the administration’s consistent commitment to advancing education in Kwara State, emphasizing that such support for literary initiatives reflects a broader vision for holistic learning and sustainable youth development.

The workshop, an initiative of ANA Kwara in collaboration with the Kwara State Government, is part of ongoing efforts to promote creative writing and performance poetry among students through structured, teacher-led engagement.

Scheduled to hold on April 4 at the Kwara State University Conference Centre, Ilorin, the workshop is themed “From Page to Stage: Teaching and Performing Poetry in the 21st Century,” and is organised in commemoration of World Poetry Day.

According to the ANA President, the training programme is designed to equip teachers with contemporary skills in poetry writing, spoken word, and performance, enabling them to effectively mentor students and nurture emerging literary talents across secondary schools.

Earlier, the Chairman of ANA Kwara, Dr. Mohammed El-Nasir Al-Amin, disclosed that invitations have been sent to secondary schools statewide, requesting the nomination of teacher-representatives for the workshop.

He emphasized that participation in the workshop is free for teachers, as it is fully funded through the Kwara State Government’s ₦6,000,000 educational support initiative, adding that transportation assistance will also be provided to ensure broad participation.

Dr. Al-Amin explained that the trained teachers will, in turn, prepare their students for a statewide Spoken Word and Performance Poetry Competition scheduled for May, thereby extending the impact of the initiative across the state.

The workshop will feature keynote and interactive sessions led by distinguished scholars and practitioners, including Prof. Aderemi Raji-Oyelade, alongside other notable academics and facilitators who will provide practical insights into modern poetry teaching and performance techniques.

Panel discussions and hands-on engagements will also form a core part of the programme, offering participants the opportunity to interact with experts in poetry, theatre, and spoken word, thereby enhancing their pedagogical approaches.

ANA reiterated its commitment to fostering literary creativity, critical thinking, and expressive confidence among students, while strengthening the role of teachers as catalysts in the development of the next generation of Nigerian writers and performers.

© ANA MEDIA TEAM