By RICHARD INYA, BM NAGIDI

The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) has honoured three distinguished Nigerians — Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, Dr. Usman Sanni, and Dr. Udenta O. Udenta — with special awards in recognition of their outstanding contributions to literature, education, and national development. The honours were conferred during the grand dinner and award ceremony marking the conclusion of the 44th ANA International Convention, held at the Chinua Achebe International Conference Centre, Mamman Vatsa Writers' Village, Abuja.

The event, which also featured the announcement of winners of the 2025 ANA Literary Prizes and the Chinua Achebe Prize for Literature, brought together writers, scholars, publishers, cultural advocates, and government officials from across the country. It was a memorable celebration of literary excellence and a tribute to individuals whose vision and dedication continue to advance creativity and intellectual growth in Nigeria.

In his address, the President of the Association of Nigerian Authors, Dr. Usman Oladipo Akanbi, described the three honourees as "true allies of literature and nation-building." He commended Governor Soludo of Anambra State for his unwavering support of literary initiatives, particularly the sponsorship of the Chinua Achebe Prize for Literature, which he said has become one of the most prestigious literary awards in the nation.

According to Dr. Akanbi, "Prof. Soludo has consistently demonstrated his belief in the transformative power of education and literature. His government's sponsorship of the Chinua Achebe Prize stresed his commitment to preserving the legacy of one of Nigeria's greatest literary icons while nurturing new voices in fiction."

Dr. Usman Sanni, a respected scholar and advocate of creative education, was honoured for his intellectual contributions to literary scholarship and his mentorship of young writers. His extensive academic work and long-standing participation in ANA activities were celebrated as exemplars of the association's mission to foster literary excellence and national development through the written word.

Similarly, Dr. Udenta O. Udenta — a renowned writer, critic, and political thinker — received recognition for his decades-long commitment to advancing the arts, cultural policy, and intellectual discourse in Nigeria. The ANA leadership praised his courage in using literature and criticism as instruments for social consciousness, political reform, and national cohesion.

In his acceptance remarks delivered by the Commissioner for Education, Anambra State, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, who received the award on his behalf, Governor Soludo expressed deep gratitude to the association for the honour. He dedicated the award to the people of Anambra State and to the memory of Prof. Chinua Achebe, describing him as "a guiding light to all who believe in the transformative potential of storytelling." Soludo reaffirmed his administration's commitment to supporting arts, education, and cultural development as essential components of human capital growth.

Dr. Sanni, whose award was received by former ANA President Denja Abdulahi, and Dr. Udenta also expressed their appreciation to the association for the recognition. Both emphasised the importance of sustained investment in creative education and national literary infrastructure and pledged to continue contributing to the growth of literary culture in Nigeria.

The award ceremony capped what many described as one of the most successful ANA conventions in recent years — a gathering that celebrated not only writers and their works but also public figures and scholars who have championed literature as a force for enlightenment, unity, and national transformation.

With these honours, the Association of Nigerian Authors reaffirmed its enduring commitment to recognising excellence, strengthening collaboration between writers and policymakers, and ensuring that literature remains a central pillar of Nigeria's cultural and developmental landscape.