Award-winning Nigerian author and medical doctor, Wale Okediran, has been celebrated by notable Nigerians and literary associations for his reelection as the Secretary General of the Pan African Writers Association (PAWA), a position he is holding for the second time.
Okediran’s new position was announced after PAWA’s 2025 General Assembly elections, guided by a newly constituted election committee of the association.
Following an official call for nominations on July 13, all posts, except the presidency, were uncontested, resulting in automatic elections of Mr Ashraf Aboul Yazid (Egypt) as Vice President for Northern Africa, Professor Egara Kabaji (Kenya) for Eastern Africa, Professor Cherno Omar Barry (The Gambia) for Western Africa, Mr Carlos Paradona (Mozambique) for Southern Africa, Mr Eric Joel Bekale (Gabon) for Central Africa, Ms Reyna Lineres Jones (Diaspora), and Dr Wale Okediran as Secretary General.
According to the association, the new leadership marks a diverse and dynamic literary council poised to navigate PAWA through the evolving cultural, linguistic, and socio-political landscapes of African literature.”
Many writers, creatives, and friends of the writer and politicians have taken to the press and social media to celebrate him for the feat and his contributions to Africa’s arts and literature.
In a press statement signed by the Association of Nigerian Authors’ (ANA) General Secretary, Dame Joan Oji, the association stated that Okediran’s unanimous confirmation by the PAWA General Assembly for a second term reflects his dedication, wealth of experience, and remarkable achievements during his first tenure, which reaffirms the confidence African writers repose in his capacity to continue advancing the continent’s literary agenda.
The president of ANA, Dr Usman Akanbi, said that Okediran’s new mandate in PAWA would usher in greater accomplishments not only for African literature but also for ANA, of which Dr Okediran is a past president. Akanbi urged Okediran to continue to inspire emerging writers across the continent and sustain his leadership in all spheres of art, literature, culture, creativity, and tourism.
The curator of All Poets Network International (APNETI), Khalid Imam, congratulating Okediran on behalf of APNETI, said his re-election is a testament to his outstanding leadership and dedication to PAWA, adding that his successful first term set a strong foundation, marked by significant achievements and progress.
“We look forward to more impactful work under your guidance and are excited about the prospects of continued growth, collaboration, and success. May your second term in office usher in a new era of prosperity for African Literature in indigenous languages at the continental level, breathing life into our cultural heritage,” Imam said.
Wale Okediran, former national president of the Association of Nigerian Authors and former member of the Federal House of Representatives, has published fourteen books, one of them winning the 2011 Wole Soyinka Prize for African Literature. In 2010, he co-founded Nigeria’s first writers’ residency, the Ebedi International Writers Residency.
