Senator Adetunmbi charges authors to tell truth about Lagos

Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi has said members of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) must engage critically with the realities of the mega-city of Lagos to become more relevant. He said this at the patrons’ night of ANA held at Freedom Park, Broad Street, Lagos, in honour of the association’s past and new patrons. Adetunmbi, a […]

Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi has said members of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) must engage critically with the realities of the mega-city of Lagos to become more relevant.

He said this at the patrons’ night of ANA held at Freedom Park, Broad Street, Lagos, in honour of the association’s past and new patrons.

Adetunmbi, a former senator representing Ekiti North, applauded the upcoming ANA convention in Lagos with the theme ‘Mega-Cities and Mega Realities’ and pointed out that “literature and literary writings must insist in presenting objective reality.” Also, that “mega-cities offer avenues to explore a wide array of existential realities with the capacity to resolve critical problems,” particularly in a city like Lagos, where literary works must begin to reflect the diverse backgrounds, cultures and experiences agglomerate.

He further listed three critical themes, which include the reality of solid waste management in the city, which is a major challenge considering the fact that Lagos generates 4 million tonnes of solid waste yearly. Another is the population explosion in where the steady influx of people adds tremendous pressure on housing and other goods and services. The third reality centres around environmental pollution from carbon dioxide emissions in Lagos state, and its impact on life expectancy, which in Nigeria is about 53 years, a sad fact, he said, given our resources.

Adetunmbi did not leave out the place of Lagos as a prominent place in Nigeria’s history, as a melting pot and a frontier of colonial interface with West Africa.

The event, which was staged to honour the association’s past and new patrons was graced by eminent personalities, including the former deputy governor of Lagos, Chief Mrs. Sinatu Ojikutu, Mrs., Maureen Bakare, former DG of Ministry of Women Affairs, Lagos State, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, ably represented by Hon. Wahab Alawiye-King, Dr Tolu Ajayi, first chairman of ANA Lagos, Mrs Toki Mabogunje, Vice President of the Lagos Chamber of commerce and Industries and many others.