Niger as the Intellectual Capital: The Historical Perspective

 By

Isyaku Bala Ibrahim

Intelligence is a function of IQ, which is a brain activity that allows interpretation and transformation of generated impulses into logical and meaningful data and ideas that have the ability to change or shape man and his society. The process of this transformation might not follow structured and guided principles from the formative period to the growth of an individual. However, actors in a group responding to such impulses tend to act in tandem towards a common but unpronounced objective. The brain or the mind, or an individual is central to the strategic development of the society through the implementation of his thought-out dreams or visions. This will however push him to thinking of being patriotic, having good sense of morality, faith, togetherness, cooperation, peace, and unity; and empowering people for the society to prosper. Patriotic thinking points to selflessness in delivering service at one’s endeavour in pursuit of a common goal. The goal of societal growth is hinged on making it better than one meets it. Morality is therefore the feeling of high consciousness of our being which guides one’s behaviour not to infringe on the other or breach societal norm. Perhaps, in a bid to reshape society that is why teachers, statesmen, academics and writers like Abubakar Imam, Cyprian Ekwensi, Etsu Muhammadu Ndayako, Etsu Muhammadu Kobo, Malam Abubakar Zukogi, Professor Shehu Bida, Prof Bawa Salka, Prof Aaron Tsadu Gana, and the like spent a greater part of their lives penning ideas. Therefore, Niger is one of the foremost entities in Nigeria with a strong literary heritage.

So, intellectual power is the conditioning of the mind towards generating meaningful ideas to solve societal problems. These ideas hold the key to national development which can be frustrated with uneducated populace. This approves of the nobility of Dr. Babangida Aliyu’s drive to use intellectual power as a platform for engendering stability, development and prosperity in Niger State. A literate society can only prosper under the following parameters or indices:

1.     High Concentration of Intellectuals, meaning high concentration of thinkers and researchers, meaning high concentration of creative products, alternatives and choices.

2.     Functional Educational Institutions, because citizens perpetually become intellectually challenged arising from the proliferation of critical populace seeking answers to topical ideas and buoyed curiosities, which only educational institutions can help to deflate.

3.     Innovative Printing and Publishing Centres, because well thought out ideas must be recorded formally and shared to enable new approaches, knowledge and discoveries reach wider audiences to accelerate growth and development. 

4.     Turnout of Literary Works: Books, Journals, Newspapers, Magazines, Monographs, etc. suddenly, the society that was once dormant in thought becomes cultured in book development, which is the most reliable and concrete form of idea preservation, documentation and dissemination.

5.     Vibrancy of Bookshops, Libraries, Archives, Museums, etc. A society of books grows simultaneously with book depositories and sale houses. This gives citizens affordability and accessibility in a more formal channels that encourages readership and distribution.

The Intellectual legacy of Niger State has a long and historic tradition in its favour in modern day Nigeria, its silence about it for a long time has not encouraged scholarship in young Nigerlites.  Nevertheless, Nigerlites have made their educational, creative, intellectual and political marks across Nigeria with enduring legacies upon which Nigeria was built and for the future. So, the current crow of Niger State Government over intellectualism has an undisputable Iroko root in the intellectual struggle of Nigeria’s early nationalists and compatriots for which the state and the country as a whole grew.

Early Literary Icons of Niger State Extraction from Nineteen Century

From the nineteenth century, intellectual activities of that era were primarily centred on the missionary activities of both Islam and Christianity, even though, the Islamic missionary activities predated the Christian one which was majorly facilitated before and during the colonial era. The Northern region and partly south-western part of the country are predominately Muslims, which were familiar with the Arabic orthography and scriptures, and hence used it to communicate in their local languages. In the North, Ajami was very popular among the people who applied it in the day-to-day activities of the emirate, court, and Madarasa administrations and other interactions. Then we have Hausa, Kanuri, and Nupe Ajamis, and this is partly the reason why our early currencies reflected a fusion of a local language written with Arabic letters on a part targeting the acceptance of the North, and on the other part pure colonial language with Roman letters, which could not go down well with some people recently as the later was sustained, the former is history.

In the 1840s, the Christian missionary activities began with Europeans and Americans opening mission stations around different countries (Chiefdoms and Kingdoms). One of the foremost kingdoms at that period was the Nupe Kingdom, where stations were opened at Lokoja, Patigi, and Tsonga owing to presence of Niger River that allows easy access to the Kingdom.  These missions led to publication of first sets of books in local languages thereby winning converts to the new faith. Thereafter, anthropologists also performed different adventures uncovering interesting findings about the kingdoms in their published books and journals around the world.  In that period, Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther among others was commissioned to evangelize the Niger River territories which saw him moving to and from Eggan, Dibo, Kakanda, Lafiyagi, Bida etc. meeting prominent notables like Etsu Aliyu of Lafiyagi and Etsu Muhammadu Saba (Masaba) in several occasions during the Niger Expedition, and this led to his interest in Nupe Language and published books like Prima Woro (1842), and A Grammar and Vocabulary of the Nupe Language (1864).

  

However, writers whose works were published before Nigeria’s independence fall into this clique (first generation). The emergence of indigenous writers, the first literary icons in the country like the Kagara-born Alhaji (Dr.) Abubakar Imam Kagara popularly known as Abubakar Imam was a most desired accomplishment to the handicapped indigenous literary environment. He pioneered the trend in the country with his most celebrated publications which have enduring legacies and contributed greatly to the growth of indigenous language literature i.e. Hausa language in Nigeria. This also gave him an edge above other African writers, who used the colonial languages of Portuguese, French, or English to develop literature in the continent in that era.  James Hubbard stressed the achievement of Imam in his book, Education under Colonial Rule: A History of Katsina College, 1921 – 1942 that, “The fate of literary ventures involving college graduate improved after 1937. In 1935-36, Abubakar Imam (Abubakar Kagara),… wrote a three – volume Hausa work, in the style of a thousand and one nights, called Magana Jari Ce (Hausa: Literature is capital).” This trilogy were advanced school readers and the government’s financial arrangements then were more generous than for the novels project, as sales and distribution were not a problem, he added. Imam’s considerable talents was discovered after talent hunt of the 1932, prior to writing of Magana Jari Ce with his first book, Ruwan Bagaja which stunned the Judges, hence, won the contest in 1933. Thereafter, he was commissioned to write more books which yielded the three volumes of Magana Jari Ce, published between in 1938 and 1939, a model for Hausa colloquial prose as a lot of people had had their literary development through these classical tomes.

While Abubakar Imam’s three volumes of Magana Jari Ce were concurrently published between 1938 to 1939, Chinua Achebe’s first book Things Fall Apart was published in 1958 just before Nigeria’s Independence, and Wole Soyinka’s work was published in 1969 - The Bacchae of Euripides. It was a rebranding of the Pentheus fairytale.  Imam is the real pioneer of true African literature in the country using the indigenous language which was well received among his target audience and speakers in the West African region specifically in Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana, and Niger to further literary development in a region where books in local languages are scarce. The later-day-greats of Nigerian literature now struggle to translate their works in their own languages. Imam’s intervention strategy was succour to the overall migration from Ajami writings used for centuries to the Roman orthography in his works. This pioneering activism was also at variance from the general adoption of the colonial language by stakeholders as the means of communication in the educational and media systems. These works are considered as truly classical African books in African lingo of Hausa and its development. Imam kindly handed the baton to another Minna-born writer, late Cyprian Odiatu Duaka Ekwensi in 1948 with a dual debut of An African Night’s Entertainment and When Love Whispers. Whoever has gone through these entertainments would have seen Ekwensi’s crafty depiction of his Minnaness in the works.

The media is an important part of any enlightened society as it educates, and inform its populace. Print media is one important area where Nigerlites have contributed immensely to the development of the country. Abubakar Imam became editor of the first Hausa newspaper, Gaskiya Ta fi Kwabo (Hausa: Truth is Worth more than a Penny) which was first printed in January 1939. It charged only a penny for a copy and gearing articles to a wide audience, they had success. Within a year, circulation was 15,000 and the paper’s correspondence columns, in particular, evoked substantial public interest. New Nigerian Newspaper was established by Northern Government in January 1966 as late Malam Mahmud Turi Muhammadu who held from Bida town was its former Managing Director employed by the then government in 1969 and became the managing editor in 1972; he was editor a year later. From October 1976 to March 1980, he ascended to the post of the Managing Director of the newspaper. Mohammed Haruna from Bida worked in the editorial department of the newspaper upon graduation, rising to its Acting Editor in 1981/1982 and becoming the Managing Director in 1985. He retired in 1989. In 1990, he co-founded the Citizen, a weekly magazine, with three other veteran journalists: Bilkisu Yusuf, Adamu Adamu, Kabiru Yusuf and which closed-shop in 1994. Sam Nda-Isaiah is one of the arrow heads of newspaper publishing business in the country, who founded Leadership Newspapers Group in 2004, and another Nigerlite is Alhaji Mohammad Idris, who is Chairman/CEO of Blueprint newspapers Ltd, the publishers of Blueprint newspapers in Abuja. Other ace columnists/opinion drivers and shapers from the state are a common feature in the pages of the national dailies people like, Maikudi Abubakar Zukogi, Muhammad Al-Ghazali, Alkasim Abdulkadir, Prof. Brainy, Dr. M. U. Ndagi, Awaal Gata etc.

The state government’s newspaper – Newsline is one of the oldest and functional government papers founded by the former military governor of the Niger State, Col. David Mark in 1986. In addition, other government publications have emerged under the current regime of Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu such as the Niger State Impact Magazine and The Interpreter which are both capturing the activities of government and the dreams of Nigerilites and ever-ready to get them informed, which is facilitated by the inventiveness and resourcefulness of the Research and Documentation Unit team of the Government House. Hundreds of publications have been churned out by this unit since 2007.

Nigeria’s Nationalists Writers from Niger State (1961-1990)

Most Nigerian writers could not publish their works till after independence. This kind of writers falls into this category. The generation has Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe born in Zungeru, Niger State on November 16, 1904 whose My Odyssey  was published in 1970. This is followed by Mamman Vatsa first published works of Verses for Nigerian State Capitals (Poetry) in 1973. However, the establishment of the Association of Nigeria Authors by Chinua Achebe and others in 1981 marked the continuation of Niger State influence on the literary body, as Vatsa contributed greatly to its emergence and sustenance. Being one of its pioneer members, Major -General Mamman Vatsa donated a large piece of land to the body in Abuja tagged today as the Mamman Vatsa Writers Village in 1985, after holding a national convention there. He was a true nationalist and polyglot-writer who wrote and published several books and poems in Hausa, English, Pidgin (Naija Langwej) and Nupe languages. Vatsa, a Nigerlite pioneered Nigerian Teen Authorship Scheme with his Soldier’s Children as Poets. Today, Niger State has taken the lead in championing this genre. It is currently being popularized by Raji/Dzukogi leadership of ANA through a grant by the wife of Niger State Governor to commence a pilot programme in five states of the federation. Owing to the legendry accomplishments of the body through Mamman Vatsa led the Association to then appeal for his death sentence to be commuted. In the account of Max Siollun, who quoted Soyinka of saying on 4th March 1986 in a synopsis after meeting IBB a day before Vatsa’s execution, “Chinua Achebe, J. P. Clark, and myself met Babangida that day. He (Babangida) came out, and he gave his pledge. He said: ‘Gentlemen, I’m glad you people came, I’m going to throw my weight on the side of mercy, I promise you, I’ll do my best.’ ” Thereafter, he gave up the ghost on 5th March 1986. The legendry achievement of ANA draws it strength from it pioneers such as the Mamman Jiya Vatsa.  

Since then Nigerlites have one way or the other contributed to development of literature on the continent. The 1991 Booker Prize winner, Ben Okri whose stardom was consolidated with his first fiction, Flowers and Shadows (1980) and his award endearing book The Famished Road had his umbilical cord buried in the valley of Minna in March 1959.  Abubakar Gimba joined this group with the publication of his first, Trail of the Sacrifice in 1985 and he thereafter became ANA’s President in 1997. Corpse as a Bridegroom of Yahaya S. Dangana made its debut in 1986. Abdullahi Ismaila unveiled the Demon and other Poems in 1990, and was the former Chairman of ANA, National Assist General- Secretary. In league with Abdullahi were Baba Akote, Ezekeil Fajenyo (Bandaged Candle), Amaechi Odimeze, Jerry Galadima, Godwin Bawa, and later joined by Dzukogi and Kamar Hamza.

The Birth of Niger’s Literary Crusaders (1991 -2012)

The actors of the first and second generations in Niger State were primarily adult authors, but the third and fourth are a class of adult authors along with their children. This is a generation where the mentors are growing along with the mentees. It is a complex generations where the fathers are weaning their sons and daughters into literary maturity and achievements. They have unlimited drives, large heart to outdo their predecessors with high spirit of regeneration through empowerment of the young and curious minds in schools around the state through the following programmes: Annual Schools Carnival of Arts and Festival of Songs, Art Centres, Literature Libraries, Reading projects, Teen Authorship Schemes, Theatre practice, and Writer’s Spell. This is the reason why larger portion of writers in the third and fourth generations are the products of aforementioned programmes. However, despite the complexities of its outlook, these generations can broadly be categorized into two groups: the frontiers & Mentors, and the Mentees. The dynamism, unrepentant activism, functionality and stubborn hope that marked this era (still unfolding) is articulated in Kamar Hamza’s monograph.

The Emergence of a new Frontiers and Mentors

The Minna literary evolution went into lull between 1991 and 1994; a new verve was introduced to the environment when Yahaya Dangana and Godwin Bawa invited and inaugurated Abdullahi/Dzukogi EXCO in December 1994. The executive succeeded in the rediscovering and reinventing strategies that help positioned the literary activities in the state through innovative steps of growing literary outputs in books and in the print media across the country. The pioneers of this generation are Abdullahi Ismaila, Baba Akote [(the Moving Cloud (Poetry)], BM Dzukogi [Midnight Lamp (Poetry)-1996], Saidu B. Musa, Kamar Hamza (Best Book of Rhyme), Lucky Oghuvwu (Mr. Culture) as drivers and anchor leg of the unfolding movement.

The second leg had writers like Khalil Ayuba (Darkness of Doom), who ought to be in the upper category above. Aminu S. Muhammad (Moon and the Star), Nma Hassan, Hasiya Mohammed (A Price to Pay), Alkasim Abdulkadir (International Journalist), Ayuba Pmabi (Voyage through Soul), Shagabo D. Bala, Awwalu A. Sakiwa(Story of Bayajida), Sadisu Mohammad (Inaudible Noise), a Nupe filmmaker, actor, producer and a writer (Short Stories 2004),  Banma Baba Suleiman,  Bilkisu Abarah, Sulay Nsubong (Die and Be Beloved – 2005),  Almamun Malam, Farida Mohammad (Dance with the Ocean – 2009), Awal Avuti, Abba Abdulkareem (Balderdash)

Fireful Mentees and baton holders

Saddiq Dzukogi [Images of Life-2004, Canvas-2011], Zainab Manko [Penalty of an Orphan (Story), 2006], Halima Aliyu [One Little Trick One Painful Death (Story), 2006]; Gimba Kakanda [Safari Pant (Poetry) 2010], B. M. Nagidi [Slaying the Wayfarer (Poetry) - 2011], Paul Liam [Indefinite Cravings (Poetry)-2012]; etc.

Teen and Kid Authors

Fatima Daniyan (the Wicked Mother - Story)

Hauwa Hussaini (Full Moon –Poetry)

Institutional Scholars

Attainment of scholarship and excellence is one important character academicians of Niger State origin are known for in various educational institutions across the country. Though, the state’s first degree graduate was the late Alhaji Shehu Ahmadu Musa who graduated in 1960 from the University College, Ibadan. This landmark achievement opened a path for others, as things have progressed considerably as turnout of intellectuals have increased in pursuit of brilliance for the state. However, there are numbers of thinkers from the state that have made considerable impacts in the development of Education in different fields of knowledge in the institutions of learning around the country. Today, with about 30 Professors and over 60 Ph.D degree holders in different institutions around the country, Niger State has become a breeding ground for scholarship and excellence.  

Professor Shehu Jibrin Bida is the first Veterinary Doctor in Northern Nigeria who graduated from the Veterinary College, Tuskegee, Alabama (1967), M.Sc. from Kansas State University, Kansas, USA (1969); Ph.D from Veterinary College, University of London (1973) and became a Professor of Pathology in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Other intellectuals are Prof. Jonathan Othman Ndagi, the first VC of FUT Minna (1982 to 1990); Prof. Bawa Salka;  Prof. Muhammadu Daniyan, former Rector, Federal Polytechnic Bida (1991-1997), and third VC of  FUT Minna (1997-2002);   late Prof. Ango former Rector of Federal Polytechnic Bida; there is also Prof. Jerry Gana who became professor of Geography in 1985 and three-term minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Prof. Muhammad Bello Audi; Prof J.M. Baba; Prof. Muhammad Kuta Yahaya, former SSG and the Current Chief of Staff to the Niger State Government; and Prof. S. K. Tswanya. The Niger State College of Education had its first provost in person of late Dr. Umaru Sanda Ahmadu (1975-88), Dr. Peter Sarki and lots more.

The Story of the Niger Press

Publishing outfits are central to the attainment of this vision of Niger State intellectual distinctiveness. It will be out of place if one has developed an idea but it can go beyond the right-owner, as bringing it to the fore is the most honourable thing to do. Get it published or printed for the benefit of humanity. So this struggle will be incomplete without the availability of the chains of publishing companies or houses.

Though, Niger State has an entrenched press tradition. The Niger Press was established by Rev. Alexandra Woods Banfield in Tsonga in December 1910, owned by Evangelical Publishers of Canada. It is about the first printing company in the country as Mr. Jason stressed, “Mr Banfield had no previous experience in printing, but his engineering background served him well, and together with a few young men he started printing. Orders were sent in from a number of mission stations, government officials and traders, and it was soon evident that the Press was meeting a real need.” By 1914, Niger Press was in full swing, staffed by Nigerians, and printing and binding were done in about twelve languages: English, Hausa, Yoruba, Nupe, Gbagyi,  Munchi, Yergum, Angas, Sura, Bachama, Jukun and Berom (Burum). The Press published very large or difficult jobs such as: Scripture portions, dictionaries, prayer books and Bible stories, hymn books, readers, primers, catechisms and reading sheets. Not only were these printed, but suitable covers were made and the books bound, a credit indeed to Nigerians who did the work.

In September 1918 E. F. George took over the management of the press as he had vast experience in the printing business. Thereafter, the press owners made an important decision that culminated into the movement of the Press activities to Minna from Tsonga in January 1919 and it was thus better equipped. The decision was reached because they believed  Minna is more centrally situated town on the railway and within easy reach of various mission stations, and hence Minna became SIM’s headquarter in Nigeria. Jos then became the headquarter of the press in 1928 because of its favourable weather to the white men.

In 1958, Niger Press and African Challenge joined forces in Lagos and the name Niger press was changed to Niger Challenge Press to reflect the printing of African Challenge and Yoruba Challenge. Yoruba Challenge was a vernacular magazine, which was later, phased out because it was selling below expectation. Along the way, there came a great change that had adverse effects on the production, distribution and sales of African Challenge and other publications. In February 1966, the Niger Challenge Press was sold out.

Minna and Nigeria’s 1st Bookshop

The first bookshop in the region was opened in 1914 in Minna. It was a missionary shop called Sudan Interior Mission (SIM) Bookshop which had an additional book kiosk at Minna rail station. It thereafter spread into the rest of the country: Jos in 1924, Kano 1945, Kaduna 1957, Lagos 1960, Ibadan 1964, Port Harcourt 1965.

In compliance with the indigenization decree of 1972 promulgated by the then military administration, the name Sudan Interior Movement (S.I.M.) Bookshops had to be changed to Challenge Bookshops in 1974. The name Challenge was deemed more indigenous, and it was felt that the time had come for S.I.M / ECWA to stand on the threshold of indigenization by handing the management of S.I.M Bookshops over to ECWA leaders. As at 1984 there were 36 Challenge Bookshops across the length and breadth of the country. The state today can fly its own kite with prominent bookshops such as Ilmi Bookshop, KC Bookshops and the rest. This is where government needs to do a grand plan for book sales. Real big time bookshops to meet the intellectual capital policy of Niger state must be redesigned to cover all the local governments.

The Intellectual Centres

The economy of most nations today is been propelled by the knowledge power. Knowledge – Based Economy is powered by the strategic human capital development. Therefore, the knowledge power philosophy has the ability to bring faster development to a growing economy like Niger State. So, such economy is People-Centred, where the empowerment of the individual is key to attainment of a common goal or vision. This will also strengthen other sectors such as industry or manufacturing, Agriculture, and tourism. However, the intellectual centres in Niger State are the key educational institutions include: higher educational institutions, primary and post-primary schools (private and public), literary centres and bodies. They are the breeding centres for innovator, idea-breeders and generators.

The First Literary Body in the Country

The first organized literary body in the country is not the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) which came into existence in 1981, but the Bida Literary Society (BLS) established in 1932, which is among the first literary bodies on the continent. James Hubbard wrote about  the literary society that, “In Niger Province, a British plan to have an educated member on each Native Administration council to handle the paper work produced places for Nuhu Agaie, Na’ibi of Agaie, and Suleiman Barau, Iya of Abuja. The only organized group in which college graduates seem to have played a prominent role was the Bida Literary Society. P.G. Harris, District Officer Bida founded the society in 1932 as a meeting ground for educated Africans, both college trained northerners and southern-born clerks. It met every two weeks through at least 1934. It remained, however, a creation of the British and of little significance, political or otherwise.” People like Abubakar Imam, Alhaji Aliyu Makama, Malam Ahmadu, Malam Nuhu Agaie, Suleiman Barau, Malam Ibrahim Jibrin (the father of Prof. Shehu Bida) etc were all pioneer members of this iconic literary body. However, even Christopher Okigbo’s African Authors Association was founded around 1956. Bida Literary Society even predated the Ghana Association of Writer which came to existence in 1957.

Currently, there are four literary bodies in the state whose activities and influences have been overwhelming: Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Niger State Chapter; Bida Literary Society (BLS) – this body’s activities have been very minimal because most members have been absorbed by ANA; Hilltop Arts Foundation (HAF) – a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) has a broad objective of establishing art centres, libraries, and teaching arts across schools in the state for instance, it has centres and libraries in the following places: Hilltop Model Schools, Government Girls Secondary School, Old Airport, Government Secondary School (GSS), Minna; Women Writers’ Association (WRITA) of Nigeria, Niger State Chapter – It is women platform encouraging female writers and young minds to embrace books through it reading and spelling campaigns in the state.

Educational Institutions

Niger State has numerous schools, about 4 Federal Government Colleges, 157 Secondary Schools, 12 Science & Technical Schools, 19 vocational Schools etc.

Universities:

-         Federal University of Technology, Minna (established in February 1983)

-         IBB University, Lapai (established in 2005)

-         Edusoko University, Bida (formative stage)

Polytechnics:

-         Federal Polytechnic Bida (established in 1977)

-         Niger State Polytechnic, Zungeru, & Bida (established 1991)

Colleges of Educations

-         Federal College of Education, Kontagora (1978)

-         Niger State College of Education, Minna (established 1975)

Schools of Health:

-         Niger State School of Midwifery, Minna

-         Niger State School of Nursing, Bida (1977)

-         Niger State School of Health Technology, Minna

-         Niger State School of Health Technology, Tunga Magajiya

Schools of Agriculture

-         Federal College of Fresh Water Fisheries Technology, New Bussa (1978)

-         Niger State School of Agriculture, Mokwa (1979)

Others are:

-         Federal Schools of Aviation, New Bussa

-         Federal College of Wild Life Management, New Bussa (1978)

-         Justice Fati Lami College of Arts and Islamic Legal Studies, Minna

Literary Centres:

Literary centres are the brain of the society, the preserve of its culture, which Niger State is blessed with so many of them. It is however important that Nigeriltes explore the information contained in these places like National Information Centre, Minna; National Library of Nigeria, Minna; Dr. Abubakar Imam Library, Minna; Niger State Archive, Minna; Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu Writer’s Village, Maikunkele (formative Stage); Hilltop Arts Centre (the first literary centre in the Northern Nigeria), Minna; GGSS Art Centre, Minna; GSS Minna Art Centre etc.

Educational Tour Centres

Niger State is a peaceful state and as a result of this disposition, conferences, trainings, meetings, summits, political brainstorming sessions, workshops and seminars are a daily occurrence in the state most especially in the state capital. So, there several educational tour centres available in the state capital such as UK Bello Arts Centre, Justice Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre, YES Multipurpose Hall, General Abdulsalami Youth Centre, and other  hospitality centres like parks, garden Hotels, sports centres across the state.

Scholarship Enablers

There are Nigerlites who in the course of discharging their duties in governance have contributed to the empowerment of people for the development of the nation. This group is mostly policy-makers and implementers who have challenged people to become the best in later in life.

Alhaji Aliyu Makaman Bida led the trend as the first Minister of Education and Social Services, between 1952 and 1956, and Minister of Finance from 1956 -1966 in the Northern Nigeria. Later, he was very instrumental to the positioning of education in the region including the establishment of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, and Kaduna Polytechnic, and where he served in their boards for over 15 year. He also served in the board of University of Ibadan until his death in March 1980. He was a mentor to thousands of Nigerians.

IBB was a friend of the professionals and writers as seen during his regime which writers and technocrats who were part of his government, people like Professor Wole Soyinka, Dr Tai Solarin, Prof Jerry Gana etc.  Therefore, the NLNG’s The Nigeria Prize for Literature and The Nigeria Prize for Science could not have happened without General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) establishing Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Bonny. Apart of generating more revenue for the government, it is also empowering writers. This singular achievement is a challenge to the subsequent governments after IBB which ended up putting the petroleum sector into hysteria, because the nation cannot longer refine its petroleum products and have refused to build new ones. Assuming IBB did not conceive this NLNG project, and refused to complete the second phase of 150,000bpd capacity Port Harcourt Refinery commissioned in 1989. What would have been the position of LNG Nigeria Prize? So, we applaud the efforts of LNG for empowering scientists and writers across the country, as writers today have the opportunity to win the yearly coveted Prize of $100,000. The Prize award started in 2004 with a maiden reward of $20,000 and grew considerably over the years. Little wonder, IBB was invited to chair one of the Prize awarding ceremonies. Since inception of the honours, the following writers have been rewarded for excellence: the 2004 prize list has Bina Nengi-Ilagha, Omo Uwaifo and Prof Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo with a bit of disappointed as no winner emerged for the year’s literature prize for prose. Ezenwa Ohaeto & Gabriel Okara (Poetry 2005 Winners); Dr. Ahmed Yerima (Drama - 2006);  Prof Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo & Mabel Segun (Children Literature 2007); Kaine Agary (Prose 2008); no winner in 2009; late Esiaba Irobi (2010) and Adeyemi Adeleke (Children Book: Little-Known Mai Nasara 2011).

The advent Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, CON in 2007 as the Governor of Niger State total changed the direction of governance to a more proactive and serious business thereby affecting every segment of the society including the literary environment in an effort to broaden the economic fortunes of the state to include among others a knowledge-based-economy which is being propelled by the development of the intellectual power of the actors/stakeholders. So, this intellectual struggle is moving at a supersonic speed as educational and literary activities of the state have been reinvigorated thereby carving out a dimension toward achieving the broader vision of the state to be among the three most developed economies in the country by the year 2020 with the huge support given to the literary centres in the state. Though, more efforts are needed in some areas of the educational institutions which their managers need to be challenged to be more innovative to strengthened and improve on the quality of their outputs despite the resource change all over. They should be told that their great asset is the will to do it, as nothing is impossible. If they conceive it, they can do it.

References:

Azikiwe, Nnamdi (2004). My Odyssey (An Autobiography). Ibadan: Spectrum Books Limited

Daily Trust Newspaper. Meeting of the Chief Servant with Academics and Professionals of Niger State Extraction (Advertorial ).Vol.29 No.98, July 18, 2012 p.34

Dzukogi, B.M. (2009). Minna: Valley of Poets & Writers. Ibadan: Kraft Books Limited.

Hubbard, James Patrick (2000). Education under Colonial Rule: A History of Katsina College, 1921 – 1942. University Press of America.

Mason, Jim (2009). Literature Outreach in Nigeria: A History of SIM Literature Work 1901 – 1980. Waterloo

Nigeria LNG: The Nigeria Prize. http://www.nlng.com/PageEngine.aspx?&id=61 (accessed 27 August 2012)

Siollun, Max. The Trial of Mamman Vatsa on October 7, 2008 http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/max-siollun/the-trial-of-mamman-vatsa.html  (accessed 25 August 2012)