09/08/2022
2022 CONVENTION: ANA NAMES PROF. ABDUL RASHEED NA'ALLAH AS KEYNOTE SPEAKER
By: ANA Publicity Committee
The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) has unveiled its keynote speaker for the 41st annual convention, scheduled to hold from October 26th to 29th, 2022.
In a press statement signed by the General Secretary of the Association, Maik Ortserga, officially announced Prof. Abdul Rasheed Na'Allah as Keynote Speaker for the biggest continental annual literary event with this year’s theme as, Literature and National Consciousness: The Story as a Catalyst.
Abdul Rasheed Na'Allah, (1962- ) for 10 years, 2009 to 2019, was the vice chancellor of Kwara State University in Nigeria; from July 1, 2019, he became the Vice chancellor of University of Abuja.
He received a BA in 1988 from University of Ilorin, with a thesis "Dadakuada: the trends in the development of Ilorin traditional oral poetry", subsequently published in African Notes., and in 1992 received a M.A. Literature in English from the same university. In 1999, he received his PhD in Comparative Literature from the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, and was subsequently professor and chair of African-American Studies at Western Illinois University. He then became the vice chancellor of Kwara State University in Nigeria, and now Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of University of Abuja, in the Nigerian Capital City.
He is the author and co-author of numerous books, but some books of his that are most recent are Yoruba Oral Tradition in Islamic Nigeria: A History of Dadakuada (Routledge, 2019), Globalization, Oral Performance, and African Traditional Poetry (Palgrave Macmillan, March 2018), African Discourse in Islam, Oral Traditions, and Performance (Routledge, 2010) and Africanity, Islamicity, and Performativity: Identity in the House of Ilorin (Bayreuth African Studies, 2009), and edited a poetry book, Obama-Mentum: An Anthology of Transformational Poetry.. Dr. Abdul-Rasheed Na'Allah's other books, include: coauthor with Ladan Sulaiman and Ahmad Sambo, Functional Literacy Primer in Hausa, sponsored by the European Economic Commission and Federal Government of Nigeria, 1992; coauthor, Instructors' Guide to Functional Literacy Primer in Hausa, 1992; coauthor with Bayo Ogunjimi, Introduction to African Oral Literature (Oral Prose), University of Ilorin Press, 1991; author, Introduction to African Oral Literature (1994); and Editor, Ogoni's Agonies: Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Crisis in Nigeria (Africa World Press, 1998)
Dr. Na'Allah has been nominated for and received numerous awards, including the 2018, Exemplary Leadership in Higher Education in Africa Award, by GUNi-Africa, 2017's Hero and Icon of Good Leadership award, by National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Joint Campus Committee, Kwara State; in 2016, African Patriot Award, by Commonwealth Youth Council; 2015, Inducted into the Member, WASU Hall of Fame, as Kwame Nrumah Leadership Award, by West African Students Union, WASU; also awarded Fellow, of the Literary Society of Nigeria, in March, 2014; also in 2014, given Meritorious Award as Notable Academician, by Rotaract Zone JD9125, Nigeria Rotary International; in 2013, decorated with the Leading Light Award, by the University of Ilorin Alumni Association, National; awarded in November 2013, the Award of Recognition of Sterling Achievements/Outstanding Contributions, by the Unilorin Alumni Association, Abuja Chapter; in 2012, given the Meritorious Award, by the Ilorin Emirate Students Union; also in 2012, decorated with the Honorary Membership and Merit Award, by the Man ‘O’ War Nigeria; in 2009, he received the Cathy O’Neill Couza Award for Outstanding Leadership in Diversity, Western Illinois University (WIU), USA; also in 2009, he was awarded the WIU’s Administrative Achievement Award 2008-2009 for achievements as Department Chair by Western Illinois University, USA; also in 2008, he was presented both Western Illinois University Certificate of Recognition, and Inducted into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi Membership, USA; he received the Gold Key Recognition Award, University of Alberta Student Union, in 1998; the Graduate Student Service Award, GSA, University of Alberta; The Alberta Heritage Charles S Noble Award for Student Leadership, in 1998 by the Province of Alberta, Canada; and the Black Achievements Award, Post-Secondary—Scholastic, 1998, by the Black Achievement Awards Society of Alberta.
He wrote the article on Kwame Anthony Appiah for The Oxford Encyclopedia of African Thought. He was the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Kwara State University (2015-2019) and is now the Vice-Chancellor, University of Abuja (July 2019-).
With a passion for this theme, Prof. Abdul Rasheed Na'Allah already knows some of the important takeaways he hopes to impart on the attendees.
ANA President, Camillus Ukah has finally given firm assurances that the association is ready to deliver a memorable convention.
