Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has approved “substantial funds” for the hosting of the 36th annual Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) convention.
The national president of ANA, Mallam Denja Abdullahi made this known while heading a five-member delegation of the association that went to Makurdi, Benue State to assess facilities ahead of this year’s Annual International Convention scheduled for October 26 to 29, 2017.
Members of the delegation included Legal Adviser, Isaac Ogezi, the Secretary Dr. Ofonime Iyang, Treasurer Mr, Ikhechi Owabie and the Public Relations Officer South, Mr. Olatunbosun Taofeek.
The delegation was received at the ANA State Secretariat by members of the LOC for the convention. Chairman of the LOC, Professor Idris Amali and the Vice, Professor Jerry Agada, along with the Secretary, Dr.Raymond Anumve, Otse Otokpa, Dr.Tartule Tijah, Abo Abgochenu, the State Chairman of ANA, Mr.Charles Iornumbe and Mrs. Dorcas Otalu among many others, were present at the Secretariat.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and ICT, Mr.Tahav Agerzua was also at the Secretariat to welcome the National Officials of ANA where he reaffirmed Governor Ortom’s commitment to the writer’s body, urging members to continue to develop the knowledge base of the state as the world could partly survive through ideas.
Abdullahi, while thanking the Benue State Government for approving funds to support the association host a successful convention, expressed hope that the funds would be released early to enable the Local Organising Committee (LOC) put everything in place before the event.
“It is one thing to approve funds, it is another to ensure their early release. We have had situations whereby funds are released a day to our convention, which adversely affected planning. But with the commitment shown by your State Governor, we are optimistic that he will release the funds on time so that the best convention ever would take place in Benue,” he said.
The national president also advised ANA members against late registration, pointing out that those in the habit of attending conventions and registering on the spot would be doing so this year at their own peril.
Facilities toured by the delegation included hotels identified, the JS Tarka Foundation where the arrival cocktail and convention Play is expected to hold on the first and second days of the convention respectively. Also, the Auditorium of the College of Health Science, Benue State University, Makurdi to access the venue for the convention’s grand opening ceremony.
The tour was rounded off with a visit to the Royal Choice Inn, the proposed venue for registration of delegates to the convention where the 1000 capacity Hall proposed for the dinner and award night was also assessed.
ANA held its last convention in Abuja in 2016.
