Enugu writers pay courtesy visit on Bukar Usman in Abuja

By Henry Akubuiro

ON a cloudless afternoon sky, a day after the 2025 ANA International Convention ended in the FCT, Abuja, public intellectual, prolific author, and president, Nigerian Folklore Society (NFS), Dr. Bukar Usman, received a delegation of writers from the Enugu State chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors at his Maitama residence.

Led by the chapter’s chairperson, Mrs. Adaobi Nwoye, the delegation included the President of Enugu State Customary Court of Appeal, Justice George Nnamani, a former Enugu State Commissioner for Public Utilities, Water Resources and Rural Electrification, Mr. Emeka Ukwuaba, and a former Chief Press Secretary to former Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, Mr. James Eze; they are all published authors and respected members of the literary community in the Southeast and beyond.

In her introductory remarks, Mrs. Nwoye said: “The people here are like the elders of ANA Enugu, and we came here as a mark of respect for what you stand for in Nigeria as a veteran public servant and an outstanding man of letters. Lest we forget, Usman was, last year, honoured by the Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL).”

Usman praised the humility of Justice Nnamani as a serving judge and a young man. He remarked that leadership positions had nothing to do with age but merit. He recalled that Nigeria’s former Foreign Affairs Minister, Babagana Kingigbe, was his class mate at Borno Provincial Secondary School, Maiduguri, now Government College, Maiduguri, but he later became his permanent secretary in the civil service, yet he served him quietly, noting, “Until we parted ways, nobody knew what happened.”

ANA Enugu Chapter Chairperson, Mrs. Adaobi Nwoye (left); elderstatesman, Dr. Bukar Usman; Justice George Nnamani; James Eze and Emeka Ukwuaba during the courtesy visit

Usman then recalled that he served under 12 secretaries to the federal government during his days in the public service, the last being Gidado Idris, saiying truth was the armour of any public servant. He also recalled a close encounter with former Nigerian Military Head of State, General Murtala Muhammed in 1976, when he, a junior officer, was summoned together with his permanent secretary to his office, where the general merely recommended a letter of advice for him over a matter concerning him (Dr. Usman), which was reported to him (Gen. Murtala).

He cautioned public servants not to compromise in the discharge of their duties, because integrity would place them high on public reckoning years after retirement. He conducted the visitors around his home, bookstore and office. He gifted each visitor a book written by him for which they expressed appreciation for his kind gesture.

Earlier, the author of the award-winning poetry collection, Dispossessed, James Eze, presented a copy of his book to the elder statesman, who encouraged him to keep on writing.

Justice Nnamani, who spoke on behalf of the visitors at the end of the visit, said the delegation had gained a lot from Dr. Usman’s wealth of experience, and thanked him for receiving them at home.

* This report by Henry Akubuiro was first published in The Sun on November 21, 2025, P. 16 and online at https://thesun.ng/bukar-usman-receives-enugu-writers-in-abuja/?amp