ANA land up for sale

This is one of the decisions taken by the executive committee of the association at its inaugural meeting in Ibadan chaired by Prof. Remi Raji, the president of the association.

The decision was taken following the conclusion of a long drawn out litigation over ownership of the land between the association and Home Securities, a property development company.

An Abuja court ruled in favour of the association but awarded damages to Home Securities which the association is expected to pay within sixty days.

“Because of the urgency of the matter and to forestall further loss of the land, the national executive committee resolved to sell one hectre of the land and settle the damages awarded Home Securities. The balance of the sales would be used to build a fence round the plot of land,” BM Dzukogi, the association’s Secretary General said in a statement.

However, the executive has urged state branches to convene meetings on this decision and forward their resolutions to the association’s secretariat.

Also, the executive constituted a land committee to oversee the development of the land. The committee is to have in its ranks the likes of Odia Ofeimun, Wale Okediran, Ahmed Maiwada and Aminu S. Muhammad among others.

Concerning the association’s longstanding draft constitution, the executive resolved to ratify the constitution at this year’s general convention of the association scheduled to hold in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State between the 25th – 28th October.

Prior to this however, all state branches are to organize constitution review sessions in the various states from March 1 to April 30th, the outcome of which will be communicated to the secretariat after which a harmonized copy “will be sent back to the branches for observation and further comments if any,” Dzukogi said.

Other decisions taken at the meeting included the setting up of a committee to review the ANA Prizes. The committee will be chaired by Vice President Denja Abdullahi. Other members are Tanko Okoduwa, Tade Ipadeola, with Chinyere Obi-Obasi as the Secretary.

“Until their work is completed, 2012 call for prizes will be delayed to mid-March, this year,” Dzukogi explained.

He urged outstanding winners over the years whose prizes have not been redeemed to be patient as efforts are being made to address them.

Also, the ANA Review committee was established to function for the next two years. It is headed by Amanze Akpuda with Abdullahi Ismaila Ahmed, EE Sule and Dr Owonibi as members.

Activities lined up by the executive for the year include a Teen Authorship programme, a workshop, and the introduction of Nigerian Writers Series, inauguration of the convention Local Organising Committee in Uyo and a revamping of the association’s website among others.