The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) says it has concluded plans to write a book on nationalism, patriotism and to ensure that each Nigerian school child gets a copy. Mr Denja Abdullahi, the president of the association made this known during his welcome remark at the association's 5th National Executive Council meeting on Saturday in Ilorin, Kwara State.

He said that this was to encourage patriotism among the younger generation. "Young ones are not abreast with the positive things about the country; schools these days do not inculcate positive nationalistic values into the younger ones. "This is why they are not patriotic in most things they do. "The essence of the book is to instigate patriotism among the younger generation."

Abdullahi said that this could only be achieved through the collaboration and contribution of the state chapters of the association. He encouraged state chapters of the association to do more in ensuring that their activities had positive impact on their communities.

The ANA president also admonished state chapters to have a complete and comprehensive data base of all its members. "However, it should go beyond ordinary registration; there should analogue type of registration where members are to filled membership form and submit.

"There should also be digital registration where members are to go to the association's website, fill the form and submit it. "This will checkmate the issue of fake members or those who are not committed to the course of the association," he said. Abdullahi said that the association was supporting one of its members who was wrongly committed to prison in Bayelsa State.

He noted that ANA would continue to support and protect the interest of its members and to make sure that their works brought in the needed royalties. "We shall continue to make the society an egalitarian society with our works and other activities."

He encouraged strong and committed members in the state chapters to mentor the younger ones so that they could take over without any problems when it was the time do so. The ANA president said that the "International Book Fair" would hold in May month in Abuja and urged members to get ready with their works to be displayed.

He said added that ANA was planning a documentary that would involve prominent people across the country. The high point of the occasion was the presentation of cheques to the state chapters for the organisation of the 2016 Yusuf Ali Reading Campaign in the states.

The states that got the cheques were the ones that their proposals were approved by the ANA National Executive Council. They are Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi and Bayelsa States. Others are Benue, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, FCT and Kwara State respectively. Other benefiting states are Kogi, Lagos, Nasarawa, Oyo, Plateau and Zamfara.

Also each state was given N150,000 cheque. The ANA president however said that those state whose proposals were not approved could get the grant next year and urged them to put up a better proposal. He also appreciated Barrister Yusuf Ali for his unquantifiable contributions to the association for over five years and called on other Nigerians to also support the course of writers in the country.