United Nigeria Airlines (UNA) has pledged N20 million to sustain the annual Chinua Achebe Prize for Fiction administered by the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) in the next 10 years.

Under the sponsorship arrangement, the airline would provide N2 million yearly to the ANA, bringing its total commitment to N20 million by the end of the decade.

The Executive Chairman of UNA, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, disclosed the commitment yesterday, following a discussion with the President of ANA, Dr Usman Akanbi.

The intervention is expected to provide long-term funding for the literary prize, which was initiated by the Anambra State Government in 2021 in collaboration with the ANA to honour the enduring literary legacy of late Prof. Chinua Achebe.

The sponsorship became necessary following funding difficulties encountered by the organisers in recent years after the current Anambra State administration appeared to have discontinued its financial support for the award.

Gov. Willie Obiano’s administration started the sponsorship with N1 million in 2021, while the administration of Gov. Chukwuma Soludo continued the funding and agreed to the ANA’s request to increase the annual prize sponsorship to N2 million.

The increase was made against the backdrop of rising inflation and the growing administrative expenses associated with organising the award, including payments to members of the judging panel.

However, according to ANA, the state government’s support subsequently became uncertain despite several letters reminding the government of its earlier commitment.

Explaining the rationale behind the airline’s intervention, Okonkwo said Achebe’s legacy deserved a commitment capable of preserving it for future generations.

He said: “Achebe is too precious in our consciousness for the award to continue to suffer the current epileptic funding.

“Very few men and women of letters and culture in recent history have brought as much attention and honour to the black race and the African world as the great Achebe through his writings, lectures, speeches, intellectual activism, ethical conduct, and intermittent interventions in political affairs, which have made him an authentic conscience of the Nigerian people.”