The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Naira Rice, Comrade Arinze Omenwa, has donated a 50kg bag of rice to support the 2026 Chinua Achebe Literary Festival and Memorial Lecture, while urging young writers in Anambra State to remain committed to initiatives that promote intellectual development, hard work and the preservation of worthy legacies.
Omenwa made the donation over the weekend when a delegation of the Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW), Anambra State Chapter, led by its State Coordinator and initiator of the annual festival, Izunna Okafor, visited the Naira Rice factory in Nise, Awka South Local Government Area of the state.
The donation marks another year of support from the Naira Rice boss, who has consistently identified with the young writers and their annual celebration of the late literary icon, Prof. Chinua Achebe. His support has included the donation of a 50kg bag of rice towards the successful hosting of the festival over several years.
Okafor, while appreciating Omenwa for sustaining the gesture despite prevailing economic challenges, described him as one of the dependable supporters of the initiative, noting that his continued commitment had gone beyond a one-off contribution to become an established part of the festival’s history.
The Coordinator also commended him for recognising the importance of investing in young people and supporting a literary platform dedicated to celebrating excellence, encouraging creative expression and inspiring the next generation of writers.
Speaking, Omenwa explained that his interest in the Chinua Achebe Literary Festival went beyond the annual donation, describing the initiative as a personal commitment and a project he had become deeply associated with. He said he would continue supporting the young writers and hoped the programme would grow into a sustainable institution capable of influencing generations.
He expressed great confidence and optimism that the festival will teach and expose young people to the value of patience, discipline and hard work, rather than the growing tendency in society to desire the rewards of success without being prepared for the process that leads to it.
Drawing from his experience as an employer, Omenwa recounted how some of his former workers had left his establishment after seeing a colleague who had moved to Owerri return to Anambra with a car within a short period. According to him, many of those who followed the man in the hope of achieving similar success eventually struggled to find their footing, with some ending up in occupations different from what they had imagined.
He said the experience buttresses his belief that young people needed programmes that would teach them the importance of building their lives gradually, understanding the value of work and appreciating that lasting success comes through commitment and perseverance.
Omenwa further argued that celebrating Achebe annually provides an opportunity to introduce younger generations to the life and achievements of a man whose influence has endured beyond his lifetime. He reasoned that when children and students repeatedly encounter the celebration of Achebe, they are encouraged to ask questions about who he was, what he accomplished and why his works continue to command attention.
He maintained that such exposure could inspire young people to discover their own talents and appreciate that writing, literature and other creative pursuits could provide pathways to achievement and lasting recognition. He also stressed that the absence of a positive legacy in criminality makes it important for society to deliberately celebrate people whose lives and accomplishments offer worthy examples.
The Naira Rice chief executive also challenged the young writers to pay greater attention to documenting the achievements of their communities and ancestors, lamenting what he described as a growing disconnect between the present generation and the accomplishments of previous generations.
He recalled the industrial, agricultural and infrastructural achievements of earlier generations, including indigenous production, railway development, the construction of the First Niger Bridge and other projects, arguing that the present generation should be building on those foundations rather than allowing their history and productive traditions to fade.
He cited the wine industry in France as an example of how a society could turn an indigenous product into a major commercial enterprise, wondering why local products such as palm wine and other resources could not receive similar attention through research, innovation, processing and investment.
According to him, preserving ancestral heritage does not require rejecting modern civilisation, but rather understanding the achievements of the past and adapting their lessons to present-day development. He urged writers to document such histories and encourage renewed interest in indigenous knowledge, production and enterprise.
Omenwa, who also reflected on his personal journey as an entrepreneur, referred to his autobiography, “Against All Odds”, which chronicles his early struggles and eventual emergence as an employer of labour. He said stories of people who overcame difficult backgrounds to achieve success should be documented and shared to encourage young people who may be facing similar circumstances.
He further advised the organisers to develop a long-term institutional structure for the festival, including a succession plan that would guarantee its continuity beyond the present leadership. He also suggested that the platform could expand its scope to celebrate other notable individuals whose contributions and achievements deserve documentation and recognition.
The business mogul described writing and communication as important instruments of societal transformation, noting that ideas could only influence people and endure when they were effectively expressed and documented. He said Achebe’s literary works remained a powerful example of how written words could preserve ideas and communicate them across generations.
He encouraged the young writers not to become discouraged by the financial and organisational demands of sustaining the annual programme, assuring them that their efforts to promote literature and celebrate positive legacies were worthwhile and deserved continued support.
The 2026 Chinua Achebe Literary Festival and Memorial Lecture, now in its 11th edition, is scheduled to hold on Friday, November 13, at the Anambra State NUJ Secretariat (located behind the Central Bank of Nigeria and close to Roban Stores), Awka, beginning at 10am.
The event, organised annually by the Society of Young Nigerian Writers, Anambra State Chapter, was initiated in 2016 in honour and memory of Achebe, the internationally acclaimed Nigerian novelist and author of Things Fall Apart, Arrow of God, and No Longer at Ease. Over the years, it has developed into a platform for literary engagement, the promotion of creative writing and the encouragement of reading culture among young people. Previous editions have also featured the presentation of writing competition awards, poetry performances and the unveiling of annual Chinua Achebe Poetry/Essay Anthologies.
This year’s edition of the event is themed, “The Writer as a Nation-Builder: Achebe’s Literary Philosophy and the Quest for a Better Society”. It will feature the 2026 Chinua Achebe Memorial Lecture, dramatization of selected works by Achebe and poetry performances by participating schools and individual participants; announcement of winners of the Chinua Achebe Essay Writing Competition, award presentations and the unveiling of the 11th international Chinua Achebe Poetry/Essay Anthology, titled Achebe: A Voice of the People.
Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo is expected to attend as Chief Guest of Honour, while the memorial lecture will be delivered by author, publisher and media personality, Tobenna Obiano. The traditional ruler of Obosi and Chairman of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Chidubem Iweka (Eze Iweka III), will serve as the Royal Father of the Day; while author and media personality, Sir Chuka Nnabuife, will Chair the occasion.
Other dignitaries, writers, literary enthusiasts, cultural stakeholders, students and members of the public are also expected at the event.
More photos from the event:
