Fidelity Bank Partners ANA To Mark Things Fall Apart @ 50

 10th March 2008

Fidelity Bank Plc has thrown its enormous financial muscle behind preparations by the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) to mark the 50th Anniversary of the publication of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart with pomp and colour.

Since the first week of January this year, the literary universe has sprouted with chain of events across the globe to mark the golden anniversary of the 1958 classic from the father of African novels. Already, activities marking the golden anniversary of the book have commenced in several states of USA, through Portugal, France, Britain, Canada, Australia, India, China, South Africa, Nigeria to other parts of the world.

The Nigerian event promises to be no less colourful as Fidelity Bank rallies round ANA to make the two-week-long celebration a memorable one. No fewer than five Nigerian cities have been chosen to host the various activities which will begin in Lagos on April 12, and move through Ibadan, Abuja, Ogidi/Awka to Nsukka.

The involvement of Fidelity Bank in the celebrations follows a high level deliberation held in January between the national leadership of ANA and the officials of the bank where both parties resolved to work together for an eventful outing.

Reginald Ihejiahi, Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank, explained that the bank was once again on familiar ground. “We at Fidelity are committed to the recognition and reward of excellence in all human endeavour, especially in the arts. We recognise the role Things Fall Apart has played in its excellent portrayal of Africa against the swirl of ancient stereotypes. That is why we are identifying with the global activities marking the birth of this book in strong terms,” he explained.

According to him, Fidelity had always taken keen interest in those aspects of national life that are consistently ignored by corporate bodies who have no patience to see values that are not so obvious. “When we hosted Chimamanda Adichie last year, it was intended to draw attention to the need to preserve Nigeria’s cultural heritage. We are back on the same path with the celebration of Things Fall Apart at 50,” he further remarked.

Ihejiahi also revealed that Fidelity Bank was behind the international workshop on creative writing which was hosted by the famed novelist, Chimamanda Adichie in two Nigerian cities last year and had made elaborate arrangements to deepen its involvement in the arts this year.

Lending voice to the explanations, Hycinth Obunse, the Assistant General Secretary of ANA, revealed that some important international guests are expected in the country to mark the celebrations which will commence in Lagos.

At an earlier meeting, the national president of ANA, Dr. Wale Okediran, had commended Fidelity Bank for its support to the development of creative arts in Nigeria.

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