By ANA Media Team
Tuesday, 11 August 2026, ANA National Secretariat received the Kubwa Zone NYSC Mass Literacy Community Development Service (CDS) Group, comprising 120 corps members, on a tour of the Association’s facilities. The group was led by its CDS Coordinator, Mrs Oluwakemi Akogun.
On behalf of the President – Dr Usman Oladipo Akanbi, and members of the National Executive Council, the corps members were received by the ANA Consultant – Dr Kabura Zakama, alongside Mrs Cynthia Ntun, Ms Ngozi Alutulu-Ebulum and other members of staff of the National Secretariat.
The visit was an insightful and educative experience for the corps members. Dr Zakama welcomed the group and gave them a detailed introduction to the Association, its objectives, activities and contributions to the development and promotion of literature in Nigeria. He also shared valuable lessons from his personal life experiences to encourage the corps members to work hard, remain focused, develop their talents and strive for greater achievements in life.
The corps members were enlightened on the various activities and programmes of ANA and were encouraged to participate in her events, workshops, conferences, readings and other creative initiatives. Some members of the group who were already published creative writers expressed interest in joining the Association and were guided accordingly.
In a notable gesture of encouragement, Dr Zakama offered to take responsibility for the publication of creative works written by any of the corps members, as a way of motivating them to develop their talents and become more involved in creative writing. The offer was warmly received by the group and further inspired the young writers to take their literary pursuits seriously.
The corps members were subsequently taken on a tour of the facilities within the Writers’ Village. The tour included the ANA/Femi Osofisan Secretariat – Conference Room, ANA Institute for Creative Writing and Film – Lecture Room and Seminar Room, ANA/Yusu Ali Library and Research Centre, The Chinua Achebe International Conference Centre, ANA Hotel and Apartments, ANA/Ken Saro-Wiwa International Writers’ Residency, as well as other spaces within the Secretariat. They were introduced to the functions and activities associated with these facilities and encouraged to make positive use of the opportunities available to writers, researchers and creatives.
At the end of the visit, Mrs Akogun expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the Association for granting the group the opportunity to visit the Writers’ Village. She commended ANA for the warm reception, enlightenment and exposure provided to the corps members. She also expressed her admiration for the impressive development and maintenance of the Writers’ Village and extended her special commendation and congratulations to the current administration, led by Dr Akanbi, for the remarkable development taking place at the Writers’ Village.
The corps members equally expressed their appreciation for the experience, noting that the visit had broadened their understanding of ANA and exposed them to valuable opportunities in literature and creative writing. They promised to participate in ANA’s events and activities and to return to the Writers’ Village to positively utilise its facilities.
The Association provided refreshments and hospitality for the visiting corps members, who departed the Writers’ Village with excitement and appreciation for the memorable experience. Overall, the visit was a successful and mutually beneficial engagement, providing ANA with an opportunity to introduce young Nigerians to its literary activities and facilities while encouraging them to discover, develop and utilise their creative talents. It further demonstrated ANA’s commitment to nurturing emerging writers and promoting the growth of literature and creative expression among young Nigerians.
