About NAL
The Nigerian Academy of Letters is a national academy and apex body of arts and literature in Nigeria. It is an autonomous, scholarly and non-political state institution for advancing scholarship and public interest in the humanities at the highest level in Nigeria.
There are four types of fellows in the Nigerian Academy of Letters: Foundation Fellows, Regular Fellows (normally resident in Nigeria), Overseas Fellows (resident abroad) and Honorary Fellows.
The Nigerian Academy Of Letters is a National Academy And Apex Body Of Arts And Literature In Nigeria. It Is An Autonomous, Scholarly And Non-Political State Institution For Advancing Scholarship And Public Interest In The Humanities At The Highest Level In Nigeria. Established In 1974 After Recommendation Of “Udoji Report Of 1974” It Is Currently Governed By Executive Committee Of Distinguished Professors And Promote Limited Number Of Four Types Of Fellows; Foundation Fellows, Regular Fellows, Overseas Fellows And Honorary Fellows On A Yearly Basis.
History
The academy was established in 1974 after a Governmental Report (Udoji Report) Of 1974 made a recommendation for the creation of national academies.
Fellowship
There are four types of fellows in the Nigerian Academy of Letters: Foundation Fellows, Regular Fellows (normally resident in Nigeria), Overseas Fellows (resident abroad) and Honorary Fellows. Fellows are appointed for life and every prospective fellow must be nominated by a living Fellow. Self-nomination is forbidden. The Fellowship is given rarely to distinguished professors after a rigorous election exercise. Not more than two candidates from any discipline and not more than four in any one year can be admitted into the Academy. Elected Fellows are inducted at an investiture ceremony, which formally confers on them the right to use the postnominal Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters (FNAL).
Foundation Fellows
- Professor Emeritus Ayo Bamgbose, NNOM (Foundation President)
- Professor Emeritus J. F. Ade Ajayi NNOM
- Professor Emeritus Adiele Afigbo, NNOM
- Professor Emeritus Adeboye Babalola, NNOM
- Professor Chinua Achebe, NNOM
- Professors J. P. Clark-Bekederemo, NNOM
- Professor Wole Soyinka, Nobel Laureate
Objectives
The objectives of the Academy are as follows:
- to create a national forum for the coordination of the efforts of learned societies in the area of the Arts;
- to promote scholarship at the highest levels in this area;
- to influence at the different levels of the national life, the formulation of policies affecting the development of the Arts;
- to cooperate with similar bodies in the promotion of overall national interests;
- to encourage and undertake various publications, including books, monographs, journals, bulletins and newsletters;
- to encourage the development of the creative arts;
- to encourage and undertake other activities which promote the broad objectives of the Academy without discrimination on grounds of sex or creed.
Funding
The Academy relies on the grants from the Federal and State Governments, but more particularly on benefactions from corporate bodies and individuals who are lovers of scholarship in Humanities and of the creative arts. For information about making a donation, gifts or endowments to the Academy, please email us at: info@nalonline.org.ng
MEMBERS OF THE NAL’S EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, 2023- 2025
S/N | NAME | OFFICE/POSITION |
1. | Professor Sola Akinrinade | President (president@nalonline.org.ng) |
2. | Professor Andrew Haruna | Vice President |
3 | Professor Olakunbi Olasope | Secretary (secretary@nalonline.org.ng) |
4. | Professor E.T.O. Babalola | Assistant Secretary |
5. | Professor Afis Ayinde Oladosu | Treasurer |
6. | Professor Victor Chiagozie Ariole | Financial Secretary |
7. | Professor Umaru Pate | General Editor |
8. | Professor Duro Oni | Immediate Past President |
9 | Professor Emeritus Ayo Bamgbose | Foundation President |
10 | Professor Emeritus Ayo Banjo | A Past President |
11 | Professor Emeritus Dan Izevbaye | A Past President |
12 | Professor Emmanuel S. Dandaura | Bulletin Editor |
13 | Professor Yakubu Aboki Ochefu | Representative of History Discipline |
14 | Professor B.A.C Obiefuna | Representative of Religious Studies Discipline |
15 | Professor John Ayotunde Isola Bewaji | Representative of Philosophy Discipline |
16 | Professor Folake Onayemi | Representative of Classical Studies Discipline |
17 | Professor Florence Orabueze | Honorary Solicitor |
18 | Professor Munzali Jibril | Co-opted |
19 | Professor Olu Obafemi | Co-opted |
20 | Professor Ishaq Oloyede | Co-opted |
21 | Professor Abubakar Adamu Rasheed | Co-opted |
