Meet Wole Adedoyin, an aspirant for the position of ANA General Secretary

 MEET WOLE ADEDOYIN, AN ASPIRANT FOR THE POSITION OF ANA GENERAL SECRETARY

Wole Adedoyin is a blogger, Database Expert, Poet, Christian Writer, Journalist, Programmer, Human Rights Activist and Certified Theologian. He is an alumnus of Wolex Polytechnic, the College of Salvation and Practical Evangelism, the Study Abroad in Lebanon (SAIL) Program - a collaborative initiative between the Wole Soyinka Foundation, Notre Dame University, Louaize, and Cedars Institute, Lebanon.

Adedoyin holds certifications as a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) and various other ICT professional certifications.

He has authored three poetry collections: "Whispers of Existence: Poetry on Life's Journey" (ISBN: 978-978-59871-7-1) released in 2022, "Echoes of Being: Reflections on Life's Tapestry" (ISBN: 978-978-59871-8-8) in 2020, and "Soul's Canvas: Poetic Meditations on Life's Essence" (ISBN: 978-978-59871-9-5) in 2023. His work has been featured in various literary journals and online platforms.

As per the information available on Muckrack (https://muckrack.com/wole-adedoyin/articles), Wole Adedoyin has an extensive writing portfolio that spans across various national and international newspapers, both in print and online formats. Some notable publications he has contributed to include News Ghana, National Daily Newspaper, The NEWS Nigeria, This Age, and Political Economist, among others. Additionally, Adedoyin is a prolific content creator, having authored over 1000 articles published on platforms like Opera News and Scooper News. His talent and dedication were recognized when he received the Opera News Hub's Original Articles of the Week award twice in March 2020 and the Original Long Read Articles of the Month award in the same month.

Adedoyin currently holds the position of President at the Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW), an organization established in 2010 at the former residence of Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka, located at the University of Ibadan. Originally named the World of Poets and Literary Society, SYNW is affiliated with prominent international literary associations such as the International Writers Association (IWA) and the International Authors Forum (IAF) - as evidenced by their listing on the IAF website (https://internationalauthors.org/news/member-spotlight-society-of-young-nigerian-writers/). The organization has also engaged in collaborations with esteemed global entities including Alliance Francaise (Nigeria), 100 Thousand Poets for Change (USA) - detailed in this link: https://100tpcmedia.org/2015/08/society-of-young-nigerian-writers-echoes-of-peace-ibadan-nigeria-100tpc-2015/, Woman Scream International Poetry - showcased on their official website: http://www.womanscreamfestival.com/2021/03/woman-scream-2021-nigera.html and http://www.womanscreamfestival.com/2022/03/woman-scream-2022-nigeria.html, as well as the Arts Festival, International Human Rights Art Movement (USA) - as highlighted on https://humanrightsartmovement.org/african-secretariat. Additionally, SYNW has affiliations with the Milton Society of Georgia, Alliance of Literary Societies (ALS), and the International Women Writing Guild (IWWG).

Adedoyin serves as the Coordinator of the Khalil Gibran Society in Africa, a position bestowed upon him by the Gibran National Committee in Beirut, Lebanon, on October 5th, 2017. Additionally, he is the visionary behind the Association of Nigerian Christian Authors and Publishers (ANCAPS), renowned for its prestigious National Christian Literature Awards held annually. Adedoyin is an esteemed member of ANA Osun.

POSITIONS HELD IN ANA

Adedoyin's involvement with the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) has been multifaceted. Initially, he held the position of State Auditor in Oyo ANA from 2006 to 2008, showcasing his dedication to the organization. Following this, he assumed the role of State Public Relations Officer (PRO) in Oyo ANA, serving diligently from 2008 to 2010.

In subsequent years, Adedoyin made significant contributions on a national level within ANA. He took on the crucial responsibility of National Secretary in the National Teen Authorship Scheme committee, demonstrating his commitment to nurturing young literary talents, from 2011 to 2015. His dedication continued as he served on the Young Writers Mentorship Scheme committee from 2016 to 2019, fostering the growth of emerging writers.

Additionally, Adedoyin played a vital role in the Intellectual Property Protection and Advancement Committee from 2018 to 2019, advocating for the rights and progress of authors within the association. His expertise and passion for literary protection were evident in his contributions to this committee.

Adedoyin's journey within ANA reached a pinnacle when he assumed the esteemed position of National Publicity Secretary (South) from 2017 to 2021. During this period, he effectively managed the association's public image and communication efforts. Currently, Adedoyin continues his service to ANA as the Chairman of the Publicity Committee, a position he has held since 2021. 

READING PROMOTIONS IN NIGERIA

Wole Adedoyin has significantly contributed to the promotion of reading culture in Nigeria through various impactful initiatives. One notable project is Read Across Nigeria (RAN), organized in 2016 to honor Dr. Wale Okediran. RAN successfully extended the joy of reading to twenty-four states across the country, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Additionally, the Read Nigeria Project, in collaboration with Adwinsa Publications Nigeria Limited, focused on three states in the southwestern region: Oyo, Ogun, and Osogbo. This endeavor showcased both renowned and emerging writers, creating a vibrant literary atmosphere. Furthermore, Adedoyin spearheaded the engaging Ibadan Reads project, featuring more than 20 talented writers, both established and up-and-coming.

ESTABLISHMENT OF BOOK CLUBS IN NIGERIA

In a concerted effort to foster a thriving reading culture in Nigeria, Adedoyin took the initiative to establish vibrant book clubs spanning various geographical regions in the southwest and beyond. Here is a comprehensive list of these clubs, each equipped with its dedicated blog:

1. Ibadan Book Club: https://ibadanbookclubonline.blogspot.com

2. Osogbo Book Club: https://osogbobookclubonline.blogspot.com

3. Ekiti Book Club: https://ekitibookclubonline.blogspot.com

4. Abeokuta Book Club: https://abeokutabookclubonline.blogspot.com

5. Ilesa Book Club: https://ileshabookclub.blogspot.com

6. Akure Book Club: https://akurebookclubonline.blogspot.com

7. Arewa Book Club: https://arewabookclub.blogspot.com

8. Atiba Book Club: https://atibabookclub.blogspot.com

9. Eko Book Club: https://ekobookclubonline.blogspot.com

10. Ogbomosho Book Club: https://ogbomoshobookclub.blogspot.com

11. Iseyin Book Club: https://iseyinbookclub.blogspot.com

12. Ilorin Book Club: https://ilorinbookclub.blogspot.com

13. Ife Book Club: https://ifebookclub.blogspot.com

Through these platforms, Adedoyin's vision to cultivate a deep appreciation for literature and learning thrives, bringing communities together through the shared love for books and knowledge.

INNOVATIVE LITERARY PROJECTS

Adedoyin is widely recognized for his creative literary initiatives, such as Fagunwa Day, the National Week of Remembrance for Departed Writers (NAWRED) at https://nawredonline.blogspot.com/, National Book Awareness Week (NABAWK) at https://nabawknigeria.blogspot.com/, African Book Week at https://africanbookweek.blogspot.com/, Children’s Book Week at https://cbwnigeria.blogspot.com/, and the World Book Day Hub at https://worldbookdayhub.blogspot.com/.

PARTNERSHIP WITH THE INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS ART MOVEMENT (IHRAF)

In 2020, Wole Adedoyin established a significant collaboration with the International Human Rights Art Movement (IHRAF) in Nigeria and across Africa, marking the organization's official introduction to the continent. This partnership commenced with the groundbreaking END SARS National Poetry Competition, the first physical project organized by IHRAF under Adedoyin's leadership. Since then, Adedoyin has spearheaded various literary initiatives, thanks to the generous support of IHRAF's Founder and Executive Director, Thomas Block.

These initiatives include the African Human Rights Essay Competition, African Human Rights Short Story Competition, African Human Rights Playwriting Competition, and the ongoing African Human Rights Spoken Works Competition. Through these impactful projects, IHRAF has successfully brought together a diverse community of African writers. Notably, IHRAF has published four anthologies featuring the works of over 300 African writers. These anthologies include "From Africa With Love: Voices of a Creative Continent," "Get Consent: Poetry and Essay Anthology on Rape and Sexual Violence Against Women," "The Malady and the Remedy: An International Essay Anthology on Human Rights Abuse in Africa," and "END SARS Rhythms: A Collection of Poems on Police Brutality, Assaults, and Battery."

PARTNERSHIP WITH THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN WRITING GUILD (IWWG)

Wole Adedoyin has successfully facilitated the membership of more than 80 Nigerian female writers into the International Women Writing Guild (IWWG) through a strong partnership. This collaboration has granted these writers exclusive access to the diverse range of programs and activities offered by the IWWG.

BOOKS EDITED AND PUBLISHED WITH OTHER WRITERS VIA THE SOCIETY OF YOUNG NIGERIAN WRITERS

Wole Adedoyin collaborated with fellow writers to edit and publish several E-Books through the Society of Young Nigerian Writers and www.obooko.com. These books include "Dora Akunyili: March of An Amazon," "Garden City and Other Poems," "Moonlight Songs for Pa Nelson Mandela," "Moonlight Tunes for An African Child," "Rising Voices," "Rhythms of Truths," "Silent Voices," "Songs from Unsung Poets," "Upcoming Voices," "Voices from Oja ‘ba Market," "Wailing Songs for Maya Angelou," "What Eli Saw and Other Short Stories," "Songs of Freedom," "Young Poetic Voices from Ebiks’ Studio” “Senator Abiola Ajimobi, Memories, Dreams, Reflections of A Mind Always in Motion." This initiative provided a platform for over 500 young writers to showcase their work.

FREE TRAINING WORKSHOPS FOR UP AND COMING WRITERS

Since 2011, Adedoyin has empowered more than 800 aspiring writers through his quarterly creative writing workshops under the Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW). These comprehensive sessions cover various forms of writing, including Poetry, Short Stories, Radio Playwriting, Literary Journalism, Playwriting, and Novel Writing. In recent years, he has expanded his reach to cities such as Osogbo, Ibadan, Abeokuta, and hosted notable events like the Ibadan Writers Conference and Ibadan Writers Seminar. 

LITERARY AWARDS

In 2005, Adedoyin was honored with the Oyo State Merit Award in Literary Arts by HE Chief Alao Akala, the then Executive Governor of Oyo State. His accolades continued with the Olaudah Equiano Poetry and Prose Prize in 2006, the ANA Oyo/Asiedu Sarpong Prize for Children Poetry in 2008, and the ANA Oyo/Vincent Iguanre Drama Prize in the same year.

In March 2020, Adedoyin achieved double recognition, winning the Opera News Original Articles of the Week award twice and clinching the Original Long Read Articles of the Month Prize.

Additionally, he received nominations for the prestigious The Future Awards Africa Prize for Education in both 2017 and 2018. The Award was endowed by The University of Sussex, as highlighted in the following links: https://awards.thefutureafrica.com/nigeriasnewtribe-future-awards-africa-unveils-nominees-2017-edition/ and https://awards.thefutureafrica.com/the-university-of-sussex-and-the-future-awards-prize-for-education/.

LINKS TO ADEDOYIN’S INTERVIEWS

Here are the links to four recent interviews featuring Wole Adedoyin:

Why young writers need their own association - https://dailytrust.com/why-young-writers-need-their-own-association-wale-adedoyin/ 

Association of Nigerian Authors not easy to run - https://blueprint.ng/association-of-nigerian-authors-not-easy-to-run-wole-adedoyin/ 

Why we celebrate D.O Fagunwa annually — https://tribuneonlineng.com/celebrate-d-o-fagunwa-annually-wole-adedoyin/ 

Writers Should Stop Copying Prof Wole Soyinka, Other Known Writers - https://www.thenigerianvoice.com/news/269291/writers-should-stop-copying-prof-wole-soyinka-other-known-w.html