The Lagos State chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) in its recent meeting raised a lot of issues about the state of Nigerian Literature. The main focus of the agenda was centred on the reason most Nigerian Institutions of higher learning do not seem to show deserving interest in the works of younger Nigerian writers.

They decided whether to write to Nigerian teachers formally to draw their attention to this development or to meet them at an official level to sort the issue out.

The Lagos ANA monthly meeting popular for its usual practice to discover and admit new members and to also read old and new works and banter generally on plausible new ways to move the association forward took a new course this time.

The theme of the day shifted to accommodate the growth and development and treatment of works of younger Nigerian writers by teachers of literature.

A former chairman of Lagos ANA and a teacher by profession, Daga Tola was bothered that the Nigerian state does not love the arts.

Tola said, ‘This is time for a literary revolution. The education system is in deep crisis. There is no consistent policy to promote education in Nigeria.’

The revolutionary writer pointed out that what the nation needs now is the total overhaul of all aspects of the society, he explained, ‘How can you say you have a sound educational system when the materials with which to teach are not there? There are no modern tools. And to make it worse, it is the same old poets and novelists that our people still teach. What sense does this make? We need therefore to restructure the system; we need to make those in charge refocus their attention on the modalities of how they teach and what they teach.’

Tanko Okoduwa, a poet and a former publicity secretary of ANA (national), chipped in, ‘Oh, yes, let attention shift to these new writers, especially poets.’

Okoduwa argued that poetry is about the only genre of literature that survives in a rough terrain where a lot of writers groan.

He reiterated, ‘This can be expressed in any language, form, and style, as it pleases the writer. Whether the language of expression is simple or hard, it is the structure of poetry and the message it conveys that distinguishes it from the rest. Indeed, poetry has so far created an enormously positive impression on literature. It has immensely contributed to the promotion of language, culture and education generally.’

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