By Emmanuel Edukugho

In welcoming the distinguished persons, mainly renowned academics and erudite scholars who attended the 13th convocation and ceremony of the investiture of New Fellows of the Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL) at the main auditorium, University of Lagos, Professor Ben Elugbe, President, said: “Although some of us here are not members of the Academy, there is no doubt that the success of our gathering is insured by your presence.

Whether of masquerades in our ancient communities, or of events such as the public inauguration of Presidents of countries, or of religious crusades, or of great sports events, the audience is of great importance.

The audience, as my predecessor on this chair pointed out in 2009, is the matching essential, the indispensable participator.”

He described Nigerian Academy of Letters, as “the apex academic organization in the Humanities in Nigeria, is in a position to offer advice and service on all kinds of issues in this country.”

The NAL President added that, “we are not short on initiative and activity: we have our regular occasional publication series and the less regular one The Annals.” These organs of the Academy Publish annual Lectures, Convocation Lectures, and papers from the scientific sessions of the convocation.

Elugbe, who was elected president of the Academy in 2010, said his job is to ensure that the Academy remains focused on its ideals, comparable to what academies do elsewhere in the world.

“The election and investiture of Academic and Honorary Fellows is a part of that ideal because it enables us to recognize and reward, in our own small way, excellence in academics as swell as in service to Nigeria.”

He explained that Academic Fellowships are open to Professors of at least 10 years standing while Honorary Fellowships are open to all Nigerians who hold degrees in the Humanities (or Arts). There are also overseas fellowships for Humanities academics abroad.

recieving Honorary Fellows, from Prof. Ben Elugbe, President of The Nigerian Academy of Letters [NAL] and Prof. Kunle Adeniran, Secretary of The Nigerian Academy of Letters [NAL] During the The Nigerian Academy of Letters [NAL] 13th Convocation and Investiture ceremony of fellows, held at University of Lagos, Auditorium, Akoka, on Thursday, 11th August, 2011. Photo by Bunmi Azeez”]In the case of academic or regular fellowships, it is required that one be recommended or nominated by a fellow academic in one’s discipline (not necessarily a Fellow, but a member), who is in a position to convince both the Screening Committee (chaired by the Vice President) and the College of Fellows (COF) that one is ready for election as a Fellow.

In the case of Honorary Fellowships, NAL does not require the intervention of the COF. The Executive Committee of the Academy receives and takes a decision on nominations to this category. It must be convinced that the nominee has contributed to the society in a positive way.

In the citation on Abati read by the Orator, Professor Festus Adesanoye, he was described as a fearless social critic, accomplished writer, former university teacher, brilliant lawyer, journalist par excellence and one-time member of Governing Council, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.

He obtained first class degree in Theatre Arts from University of Calabar in 1985; MA, Ph.D from University of Ibadan, while in 2000, bagged LLB from Lagos State University.

“An Hubert Humphrey Fellow USA, prominent activist in Nigerian print journalism, political commentator, satirist, social critic, columnist of The Guardian, Chairman, Editorial Board before exemplary exploit of first rank which gave him job as Special Adviser to President Jonathan (Media and Publicity),” said the Orator.

Before coming to The Guardian, Abati had teaching experience in UI, OOU as associate lecturer in Dramatology and World Theatre History, contributing editor, Romance Magazine.

An outstanding scholar and journalist, won a special merit award of Obafemi Awoplowo University Law Society, he has written several books, seventeen review articles in international journals, best productive, public opinion writer.

The other honorary fellow inducted into NAL was Alagba Adebayo Faleti, renowned Yoruba translator, broadcaster, TV exponent, pioneer of WNTV, first television station in Africa, who has produced Yoruba folklore full length plays.

An actor and playwright in the genre of Duro Ladipo, Herbert Ogunde, featured in several landmark Yoruba plays and a great lover of Yoruba culture.

Faleti translated Nigeria’s national anthem from English to Yoruba, also speeches of military President Ibrahim Babangida and chief Ernest Shonekan, head of the National Interim Government.

He has a number of unpublished Yoruba works, published a dictionary of the pronouncement of Yoruba names. Faleti was described as “Quintessential Omoluabi, greatest living poet of Yoruba language.”

The Regular Fellows inducted in the ceremony were Professor Bamidele Rotimi Badejo, erudite scholar, teacher, member, Governing Council, University of Maiduguri, Professor Conrad M.B. Brann, a great scholar, and Professor Agwonorobo Enaeme Eruvbetine, former Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Lagos, who rose through the ranks as a graduate lecturer to a professor and has produced 12 Ph.D holders.

Others were Professor Abiola Odejide, foremost writer of Children’s literature, university teacher of immense experience, and Professor Ayodeji Olukoju, renowned history scholar, pioneer of Maritime history who has published authoritative works on ports and maritime historical development, internationally acclaimed. Currently he is the Vice Chancellor, Caleb University, Imota, Nigeria.

Professor Emeritus Jide Osuntokun, who delivered NAL convocation lecture titled “Nigeria and the curse of elections,” a current and apt theme for 2011 in which elections have been held. He was of the view that elections in Nigeria are cursed.