PROFESSOR Vincent Chukwuemeka Ike, is a man of many parts,a novelist of distinction, President, Nigerian Book Foundation (since 1993), the traditional ruler of Ikelionwu, publisher, author and  administrator. The author of the famous Toads for Supper who organised the  first Anambra State Literary Creativity Festival, in this interview with Vanguard Art, explains the reason behind the festival and other sundry issues. Excerpts

CAN you explain what the Anambra State Literary Creativity Festival is all about?

The Nigeria Book Foundation, with the support of His Excellency Mr. Peter Obi, CON, Executive Governor Anambra state, wishes to ensure that the inevitable deaths of world class creative writers of Anambra state origin do not leave a vacuum. The 1st Anambra State Literary Creativity Festival will begin the process of grassroots sustenance of the legacy of top- quality Literary Creativity established by the departed literary icons.

*Prof. Chukwuemeka Ike

Fundamentally, Anambra as a State has played a pace setting role in the creative industry whether it is in business, religion, arts or politics. Can you tell us which aspect is being celebrated?

Literary Creativity.

Why the Arts?

Anambra has given Nigeria, Africa, the International Literary Market Place. an impressive array of Creative Writers – Cyprian Ekwensi, Chinua Achebe, Christopher Okigbo, Chukwuemeka Ike, Onuora Nzekwu, Obi Egbuna, Nkem Nwankwo, Ifeoma Okoye, Nathan Nkala, Akachi Ezeigbo Chimamanda Adichie…. I could go on indefinitely. Considering that during my student days at Government College Umuahia, Nigeria did not have one published Creative Writer of note; this is an achievement worth celebrating.

In an age where Science and technology are pioneering the creative and development industry, why the choice of humanities for celebration?

The answer is simple. A sensible person does not celebrate what does not exist. The Nigeria/ Biafra war in 1967-70 brought about significant scientific and technological breakthroughs on the Biafran side, with Biafra refining crude oil previously considered the prerogative of the technologically advanced Western World. With Biafra defeated on the battle front, our people returned to square one. What do we have to celebrate in science and technology? We have switched off our brains in the area of science and technology and handed over our fate to China.

Can you explain to us the role of NBF in this project?

The Nigerian Book Foundation (NBF) is a non-profit, non-Governmental, National Book Development Organization. The objects of the 20-year old organization include the development of an indigenous book industry: The promotion of authorship of books for use in all institutions of learning as well as for general use, for pleasure and education in its wildest possible meaning.

Encouragement of the reading habit among Nigerians; and the promotion through books of ideas and ideas that would enhance the socio-cultural development of the country are also desired. It was the NBF that activated the establishment of the present day Nigeria International Book Fair held in Lagos in May every year to replace the moribund Ife Book Fair.

Are there other plans of furthering this project?

If you examine the curriculum vitae of a good number of the best known First Generation Nigerian Creative Writers, you will find that many of them attended the Government Colleges of the Colonial era. Gabriel Okara, Chinua Achebe , Christopher Okeigbo, Chukwuemeka Ike , Elechi Amadi, Cyprian Ekwensi. Wole Soyinka, Femi Osofisan studied at Government College, Ibadan.

JP Clark studied at Government  College, Warri/ Ughelli. Those colleges provided the conductive environment which nurtured their creativity.

The NBF recently submitted a recommendation to the erstwhile Honourable Minister of Education on what can be done to turn the Federal Government Colleges into conductive environments for the nurture of Creative Writers.