The Association of
Nigerian Authors (ANA) Kano state branch honoured its former
chairman, Professor Yusuf M. Adamu. The event which took place on 6th
January, 2013 at Murtala Muhammad Library Complex, Kano, was organised in order
to celebrate the promotion of the former chairman to the rank of Professor of
Medical Geography by the Governing Council of Bayero University, Kano.
Professor Yusuf M. Adamu who is a bilingual writer, writes in Hausa and English
languages. His works include Idan So Cuta
Ne, Maza Gumbar Dutse, Ummul Kahiri, Litters, Landscapes of
Reality, Animal in the Neighbourhood, Butterfly and other Poems, They Can Speak
English, and A Flat World.
The programme was very eventful
and coloured with a reading session, drama, goodwill messages and presentation
of a merit award. Most notable among dignitaries at the occasion include Professor
Abdalla Uba Adamu, the Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano Professor
Abubakar Rasheed mni, MFR who was represented by Professor Sadiq Isa Radda, (the
Deputy Vice Chancellor [Admin.]); the National President of ANA Professor Remi
Raji represented by Dr. Wale Okediran, Professor Isa Mukhtar, Professor Baffa
Aliyu Umar, Dr. Aliyu Ma’azu, ANA Kano Chairman; Ismail Bala, the Executive
Director of Kano State Censorship Board, represented by Kabiru Abdullahi, Auwalu
Y. Hamza, Ado Ahmad Gidan Dabino, Alh. Haruna Balarabe, Dr. Bala Muhamad,
Balaraba Ramat Yakubu, Maryam Ali Ali, Binta Rabiu Spikin, Abdulhakim Ibrahim
and many other distinguished guests.
In his welcome address
the Chairman of ANA Kano, Ismail Bala congratulated the celebrant for achieving
the highest academic title and also thanked him for his contributions toward
the development of the Association. The Chairman called to other members, to
give their continuous support as the former chairman, who had played a central
role in the formation of ANA Kano. The Chairman also sent the Association’s
appreciation to its members such as Engr. Y.Z Yau, Dr. Faruk Sarkin Fada, Aliyu
Abubakar and others, through whose support was actualised.
Of course I agree with
the Chairman that the Professor Yusuf M. Adamu is one of the figures that
brought the existence of ANA Kano and also invited many writers into its
Umbrella. I happen to know ANA through Professor Yusuf M. Adamu, when he first
invited me to attend their literary event to mark the Sallah celebration at
Gidan Dan Hausa in 1996. Many people we have started together are no longer
interested or are busy in other areas that diverted their attention.
The fruits of what the
present members are enjoying in the Association are the labour of Professor and
his colleagues such as Maigari Ahmed Bichi and Auwalu Y. Hamza. The kind of
mentoring and support they have offered to young writers are part of what has
led to the discovery of more writers in the State.
The Chairman of the
occasion, Professor Abdalla Uba Adamu, commended the Association for
celebrating the achievement of an icon in Nigerian literature and a promoter of
cultural development. To him, the attainment of Professorship by Yusuf M. Adamu
would give him independence to spread his tentacles into other areas of
interest apart from his area of specialisation. He recounted to the audience, how
Professor Yusuf M. Adamu introduced him into the field of cultural development.
Professor Abdalla Uba Adamu who is now a leading pundit in this area, is
playing an important role in the development of literature, music and the Hausa
film industry.
Professor Abdalla
identified the change of administration in Bayero University, Kano as what
brought Yusuf Adamu to this position. The University now allows for cross
fertilisation of knowledge that encourages multi-disciplinary scholars. He saw
Yusuf Adamu as someone that broke through to other disciplines, and that is why
Brian Larkin labelled him as a “Cultural Activist”
Professor Abdalla
called the celebrant, “the Abubakar Imam of 21st century, the new
icon on cultural desktop and a freedom fighter.” He recognised Adamu’s
Professorship as the declaration of total independence. The Professor finally
thanked Bayero University, Kano for creating the atmosphere.
Members of the
Association staged a drama with leadership as a central theme to commemorate the
day. The drama which portrayed the leadership of past EXCO, calls for the new
EXCO of the Association to display a good leadership that will bring positive
change.
After the drama
presentation, readings were taken from members in Hausa and English languages.
The presentations were largely poems and short stories on the celebrant’s life
and behaviour. Some of the presentations include “Aikin Malamin Jami’a” by Danladi H. Zakariyya, “Alhajin Koko Ko Alhajin Zuru” by Lawal Adamu Giginyu, “Your Name
Echoes” by Zaharaddeen Ibrahim Kallah, “Shehun
Malami” from Zulkifl A.G Dakata, “Farfeshiya”
by Isa Muhammad Inuwa, “Gatan Marubuta”
by Nasiru G. Ahmad ‘Yan Awaki, “My Pen Again” by Yaseer Kallah, “It is you I adore”
from Ibrahim Shu’aibu, “Babban Gwani”
by Adamu Yusuf Indabo and “Faces in the Streets” by Maryam Ali Ali. The reading
session was concluded with a presentation of Hausa poetry titled “Taya Murna” by Aminuddeen Ladan Abubakar
(ALA).
In a goodwill message,
honourable Dr. Wale Okediran who represented the National President of ANA also
shared his knowledge of Professor Yusuf Adamu. He mentioned the time he was
first hosted in Kano when ANA organised a workshop for Hausa writers that took
place at Rock Castle Hotel, Tiga in 2001. According to him Professor Adamu was
then the coordinator of the programme, and he was the first to introduce him to
Kano by assigning his brother to take him round the Kano city. I can exactly
recall those days because I was opportuned to attend the workshop, and it was
also the first time for me to know Dr. Wale Okediran. At that time we had a
conversation on the wonderful structure of the Rock Castle Hotel that was built
on rock by the former Governor of Kano, late Audu Bako. I gave him the history
of the hotel and he was so amazed with the structure built in the outskirt of
the state. He and former National Financial Secretary, Lukman Sanusi demanded
to see more of Kano city. Professor Yusuf M. Adamu assigned late Usman M. Adamu
of blessed memory to take them to Kano city. Honourable Dr. Wale Okediran also
read from a collection of poetry Verses in Absentia written by late Aisha Usman
Bugaje to bless the occasion.
The Vice Chancellor of
Bayero University, Kano commended the programme for honouring one of the staff
of the University, who is a great asset to them. According to the Vice
Chancellor, the University has geared itself towards staff development. The
openness of his administration gave equal opportunity to its staff, and this
will no doubt improve the standard and rating of the University. According to him, the increase in number of
Professors in various Departments of the University can attest to the rapid
development taking place.
Of course the Vice
Chancellor is right, Bayero University, Kano is taking a new shape of
development, and this made it possible for the University to maintain its first
ranking as the best University in Nigeria based on NUC accreditation. In terms
of structures, the ten years Alumni students of the Bayero University won’t
recognise his department or may be confused because of the development.
Congratulations Bayero University, Kano.
A former Commander of
Nigerian Civil Defence Corps in Katsina, Alhaji Haruna Balarabe shared with the
audience, the contributions of the celebrant at the community level. He said,
the celebrant is an indigene of Zamfara born in Katsina and brought-up in Kano,
but his community services went round to all the states including Sokoto where
he earned his first degree. He finally
congratulated the celebrant and urged him to continue with the good work.
The Executive Director
of Kano State Censorship Board joined in congratulating and commending the
celebrant. According to him the Association and the Board are partners in
business, and they will continue to give their necessary support to promote
literature in the state.
Ahmed Alkanawy in his
goodwill remarks said the gathering is an indication that the celebrant is a
man of the people, considering the large turnout, in a situation where the
celebrant was neither a money tag, nor a political office holder.
Professor Isa Mukhtar
who also blessed the occasion, thanked Allah for showing him the day that his
student attained the rank of a Professor. The old Professor taught Yusuf Adamu
at Usman Dan Fodiyo University, Sokoto. He also acknowledged his contribution
in the area of Hausa literature even when he was an undergraduate student.
Professor Isa Mukhtar was known as one of the teachers and mentors of writers in
the state who support their creative works.
Other important
dignitaries gave their goodwill messages. Among them there were two former
chairmen of the Association, namely, Auwalu Y. Hamza and Ado Ahmad Gidan
Dabino; there was also Dr. Faruk Sarkin Fada.
The Association presented
a Merit Award for Visionary Leadership and Outstanding Service to Professor
Yusuf M. Adamu. While presenting the award, the Vice Chancellor of Bayero
University, Kano represented by DVC Admin. congratulated the celebrant and
urged him to continue with the task ahead.
The celebrant,
Professor Yusuf M. Adamu thanked the Association for acknowledging his
contribution and for giving him the merit award. The Professor stated that one
cannot build a house and allow it to be destroyed, therefore he reemphasised
his commitment to continue supporting the Association.
The Vice Chairman (ANA
Kano) Alhaji Badamasi S. Burji on behalf of the Association thanked the special
guest, guests of honours and other guests who spared time to attend the programme.
He prayed to Almighty Allah to safely deliver the guests to their destinations.
The programme was ended with a closing prayer by Dr. Bala Muhammad.
Zaharaddeen Ibrahim
Kallah is the branch Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Authors, Kano State
Branch. dinik2003@yahoo.co.uk
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