Halima Usman, an award-winning poet, author of 15 books, public speaker, administrator and philanthropist. She is the founder and Chairman Board of Trustees of the Halima-factor Community Initiative. She sits on the Boards of the Mamman Vatsa Foundation; Strategic Assembly for Leadership Trust Initiative (SALT i) and Gombe Goes Global (3G) Network.
She is a holder of Master of International History and Diplomacy from the University of Maiduguri. She is a recipient of the following awards: Peace Ambassador Award, June, 2022 – Northern Nigerian Youth Peace Ambassadors; Global Peace Ambassador, November 2021 – World Organization of Ambassador; 2020 Icon of Literature Award, Thinkers Magazine; Executive Grand Matron of the Halima Usman Centre for the Study of African Women in Leadership and Gender Improvement (HUCSAW) May 2021, by Stand Tall Africa Initiative; Outstanding Women in Education, Business & Leadership Award, May 2021 by Stand Tall Africa Initiative; Icon of Societal Development Award, April 2021 by National Youth Assembly of Nigeria (NYAN); National Association of Students of English & Literary Studies Award of Recognition. Lagos, May, 2017; African Writers Development Trust (AWDT) Special Prize NTA Trail Blazer Award, March 2017; Thespian Award for Support to Nigerian Youth, August, 2016; Abuja Literary Society (ALS) Award for Sustained Literary Development in Nigeria. 2nd December, 2016; Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Outstanding Female Author Award. 7th July, 2016; and Head of Civil Service of the Federation Award for Creativity in the Service (Best in Poetry), 2015.
Aside her official responsibility she is using her skill to encourage education and responsible attitudes among youth, women and children, she started a project: Turning Poetry to Action which involves organizing the Association of Writers in the Public service; poetry and art competitions for public schools during the World Poetry Day 21st March every year; Gombe Day of Literature and Creativity, September every year and the VOICES FROM THE CAMPS for Internally Displaced Children.
She offers scholarships to some indigent children from Primary school to Tertiary Institutions. She also runs several skills acquisition programmes for ITF, NECA in ICT, Photography and videography, cosmetology, public speaking, leadership and empowers youths with capital and mentorship to excel in their learned trade etc.
This she has done successfully with the support of the National Orientation Agency, the National Centre for Women Development, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Women Affairs and the Gombe State University.
For her exemplary resourcefulness, creative enterprise, creation of artistic platforms and immeasurable commitment to the growth of art in Nigeria, Halima would be honoured with a Golden Award for Art Administrators in Nigeria, in January, 2024, at HIASFEST.