The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Abuja chapter, has applauded the role women play in raising families and in building the nation.
Addressing participants in Abuja recently at an event to mark the 2021 International Women’s Day, with the theme ‘Women In Art, Literature And Leadership: Achieving An Equal Future In A COVID-19 World’, chairman of ANA Abuja, Halima Usman, noted that women have demonstrated that they are active stakeholders in national development.
According to Usman, women have made huge sacrifices as mothers, sisters and caregivers, especially at a time the global community is grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts.
“That is why as authors, it is important to honour these people, not because I am a woman but because they have sacrificed a lot to building their families, building themselves as career women, housewives or anything they have chosen to be,” she said.
At the event, which coincided with the 40th anniversary of the association founded in 1981 by late Prof. Chinua Achebe, Usman reiterated the commitment of the chapter to continue promoting literary knowledge at all levels of education within Abuja and environs.
In her remarks, a member of the House of Representatives and the African Chairperson, Commonwealth Women Parliament, Hon Dr Zainab Gimba, noted that literature shapes civilisation changes the political discourse and exposes injustice in the society.
A renowned writer and cultural administrator, Dr Lizi Ben-Iheanacho, observed that women in art are confronted with a series of challenges which she insisted has limited their ability in getting their voices heard through literature.
A veteran broadcaster, Moji Makanjuola, who was represented by the National President National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Ladi Bala, called for more writers critical in thinking to help in shaping the conversation and defining what the future of the country will be.
She expressed the readiness of the media to continue setting the agenda by ensuring that issues that border on the welfare and development of women will dominate the airwave and newspaper space.
Deserving women were also given an award of recognition at the event, including the first ANA Abuja chairman, Mrs. Gladys Russell, International Renowned Author, Prof. Zaynab Alkali and others.
