THE yearly general meeting of Nigerian Academy of Letters will hold on Thursday, August 15. The theme for this year is Nigeria's Cultural Tapestry.  The Convocation Lecturer, Professor Ayodeji Olukoju, will deliver a lecture titled:  Nigeria's Cultural Tapestry and the Challenge of Development.

    The Academy owes its origin to Section 641 of Udoji Report (1974) in which the creation of National Academies was recommended.  NAL was formed years later by learned societies including the Historical Society of Nigeria, the Philosophical Society of Nigeria, the Linguistic Association of Nigeria, the Hausa Studies Association, the Yoruba Studies Association, the Biblical Studies Association of Nigeria, the Nigerian English Studies Association, the University French Teachers' Association of Nigeria and the Society for the Promotion of Igbo Language and Culture.  

   The primary objective of the Academy is to promote research and scholarship at the highest level in all the branches of the Humanities.

    NAL's major yearly events include an Annual Lecture and the Convocation at which subjects of national interest such as Culture and Growth, Good Governance, Politics and Art, Materialism, Morality, etc. are addressed.  

   The yearly convocation holds at the University of Lagos, usually on the second Thursday of August at the Main Auditorium of the University (not Academy House).  

   Its three main segments are the Convocation Lecture delivered by a distinguished scholar, Investiture of new Fellows and a Scientific Session at which papers focusing on the main theme are presented and discussed.  

   The Annual General Meeting takes off the following day at 9 a.m. at the main Auditorium.   Past Convocation Lecturers include Emeritus Professor Ade Ajayi, Professor Wole Soyinka, Emeritus Professor Ayo Bamgbose, Emeritus Professor Ayo Banjo, Emeritus Professor E. J. Alagoa, Emeritus Professor Tekena Tamuno, Professor Munzali Jibril, Professor Anthony Asiwaju, Professor are eminent Nigerians of exemplary character, who have made outstanding contributions to national Olatunji Oloruntimehin.  Others include Emeritus Professor Jide Osuntokun, Professor Oyin Abogunrin and Professor Abiola Irele. 

 Members of the Nigerian Academy of Letters are scholars who have been Professors for at least five years in various branches of the Humanities.  Regular Fellows are scholars who have been Professors for at least ten years, and are not only distinguished, but also current in terms of research and publications.

    Honorary Fellows of NAL development.  They include Mr. Gamaliel Onosode; Chief (Dr.) Bayo Kuku; Chief Emeka Anyaoku; the Emir of Suleija, HRH Alhaji (Dr.) Muhammadu Awwal Ibrahim; the Oba of Benin, Omo N'oba N'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Erediauwa II; Mallam Adamu Ciroma; Archbishop (Dr.) Adebola Ademowo; Ambassador J.T.F Iyalla, Ambassador B. A. Clark and Alagba Adebayo Faleti.

    Those to be honoured on Thursday, August 15, are the following: Professor Richard Olaniyan (History, Obafemi Awolowo University, Professor Is-haq Oloyede  (Islamics, University of Ilorin) and Professor Eno-Abasi Urua (Linguistics, University of Uyo). Venue is the University of Lagos Main Auditorium.  Time:  11 a.m.