By Wole Adedoyin
Dr. Wale Okediran has been re-elected for another three-year term as Secretary General of the Pan African Writers Association (PAWA). His re-election was confirmed at the recently concluded PAWA General Assembly, which brought together prominent literary stakeholders from across the continent.
Okediran’s re-election comes as no surprise to many who have followed his impactful leadership in steering PAWA through a transformative phase. Since his initial appointment as Acting Secretary General in 2020, following the passing of PAWA’s founding Secretary General, Prof. Atukwei Okai, Dr. Okediran has been instrumental in repositioning the organisation as a central voice for African writers and literary practitioners. His first official election in 2022 further solidified his leadership, which has now been renewed through unanimous endorsement.
The election, chaired by Professor Cherno Omar Barry of The Gambia, was lauded for its transparency and inclusiveness.
It also saw the emergence of other key figures into PAWA’s leadership structure, including Mr. Ashraf Aboul Yazid (Egypt) for Northern Africa, Prof. Egara Kabaji (Kenya) for Eastern Africa, Prof. Cherno Omar Barry (The Gambia) for Western Africa, Mr. Carlos Paradona (Mozambique) for Southern Africa, Mr. Eric Joel Bekale (Gabon) for Central Africa, and Ms. Reyna Lineres Jones representing the Diaspora.
Reacting to the news of Dr. Okediran’s re-election, the President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Dr. Usman Oladipo Akanbi, described the feat as a well-deserved recognition of Okediran’s tireless commitment to the advancement of African literature. Dr. Akanbi noted that Okediran’s visionary leadership has not only strengthened PAWA but also contributed immensely to the broader conversation on African literature and cultural diplomacy.
Dr. Okediran’s tenure at PAWA has been marked by significant achievements, from fostering stronger ties between writers’ organisations across the continent to expanding PAWA’s programs aimed at promoting African literature globally. His administrative acumen, drawn from years of experience in public service, literature, and cultural advocacy, has been pivotal in revitalizing the organization’s operations.
Beyond his administrative roles, Dr. Okediran boasts an impressive literary career. He is the author of fourteen novels, with his most acclaimed work, Tenants of the House, earning the prestigious Wole Soyinka Prize for African Literature in 2011. He is also the founder of the Ebedi International Writers Residency in Iseyin, Oyo State, a platform that continues to nurture emerging literary talents from Africa and beyond.
His professional life extends beyond literature; he is a Fellow of the General Medical Practitioners of Nigeria and Public Health Physicians of Nigeria and has served as a Member of the Federal House of Representatives from 2003 to 2007. His diverse background uniquely positions him to bridge the gap between policy, culture, and literature.
Literary communities across Africa have hailed his re-election as a positive development for the continent’s literary future. Writers, publishers, and cultural advocates see in him a leader capable of uniting Africa’s diverse literary voices under a common agenda of progress, creativity, and cultural pride.
As Dr Wale Okediran embarks on this renewed mandate, expectations remain high that PAWA under his stewardship will continue to thrive, inspiring new generations of African writers and fortifying the continent’s literary heritage.
