PAWA hails Akanbi’s leadership qualities
By Abubakar Imam
The Pan African Writers Association (PAWA) has commended an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilorin and National President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Dr Usman Oladipo Akanbi, for his sterling leadership style which, it said, has considerably elevated the standard of the 45- year old Writers Association.
The Secretary-General of PAWA, Dr Wale Okediran, made this assertion penultimate Friday (October 30, 2026) on the sidelines of the recent Film Screening session by the Film Africa Network ( FAN) at BAZE University, Abuja.
Dr Okediran, who also served as ANA National President from 2006 to 2009, commended Dr Akanbi for successfully building on the performance of past ANA Presidents. He explained that Dr Akanbi’s efforts have continued to keep the Association on a high pedestal among members of the African Writers Associations.
He particularly saluted Dr Akanbi, who is a former President of the University of Ilorin Student Union, for ensuring the realisation of the Association’s Mamman Vatsa Writers Village in Abuja, which, he said, comprises the Chinua Achebe International Conference Centre, Secretariat, Hotel, Library, as well as the Ken Saro Wiwa International Writers Residency.
Dr Okediran added that the facility, which he described as awesome, was the venue of the first World Congress of the nascent World Organisation of Writers, which was held in 2024.
