PAWA consoles Prof Iyaayi’s family

A delegation of the Pan-African Writers Association (PAWA) has visited Benin City, Nigeria, to express condolences to the family of the Professor Festus Iyayi.

A statement signed by Prof Atukwei Okai, Secretary General of PAWA and copied to Ghana News Agency on Friday said the delegation visited the late writer’s family on November 17.

The statement said a three-member delegation from PAWA, led by Prof Okai eulogised Prof Iyayi for his unflinching commitment and selfless devotion to the cause of African writers, especially for his enormous contribution as the Programmes Development Advisor to the Association.

It said Africa had been robbed of an illustrious son by the death of Prof Iyayi.

A founding member of PAWA in 1989, Prof Iyayi was a major literary figure in Nigeria and Africa, having to his credit published works such as Contract, Violence, Heroes and Awaiting Court Martial.

He was Head of Department of Business Administration of the University of Benin and was killed tragically in a road accident in Kogi State, Nigeria while travelling in a delegation as a former President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities to Kano to discuss the four-month strike by members.