HIASFEST 2020

The Hadiza Ibrahim Aliyu Schools Festival (2020 edition) held from 19th-22nd of February 2020 at the Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre by 10am began daily. Unlike the previous edition that had eight events categories of On-The-Spot Poetry writing, On-The-Spot Short Story Writing, On-The-Spot Painting, Spoken Word, Contemporary Song, Cultural Dance, Quiz, Craft and Tuition Fee Scholarship for Art and Science, the 2020 edition saw the addition On-The-Spot Non Fiction (Literary Essay). A total of thirty-two (32) trophies were up for grabs in these nine categories.

OPENING CEREMONY

Guests at the opening ceremony included Sueddie Vershima Agema, the CEO of Sevhage Publishers, Mallam Jibrin Ndace, the representative of Mallam Mohammed Idris Malagi (MD Blueprint Newspaper), Mallam Bala Abdullahi Kwatu, the initiator/sponsor of the festival, the representative of the Emir of Minna, Mallam Iliyasu Kuta, Mallam Muktar Aliyu (representing Alhaji Ibrahim Aliyu's family), amongst others.

Participating Schools:

Other schools from outside Niger State entered their entries for the Nigerian Teen Authors Prize (Poetry and Fiction) which is a sub-category at HIASFEST. The schools include:

• • GOMBE HIGH SCHOOL
• • SUNSHINE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, KANO
• • DANSOL HIGH SCHOOL, IKEJA, LAGOS

Mallam B.M Dzukogi, the founder of the Hill-Top Creative Art Foundation, in his opening remarks, appreciated every individual who graced the event. He appealed to the students to be charitable when they become successful in life. He further stated that the child is obviously the inheritor of tomorrow as such the present (today) must be corrected so that tomorrow may be well. He urged the students to discover what is in them now and follow that path. He concluded by appealing to everyone to support the activities of the Hill-Top Creative Arts Foundation by sponsoring her programs, publication of books and construction of the much-valued Writers Residency. He wished the contestant a fruitful contest.

SPEECH BY THE SPONSOR - ALHAJI BALA ABDULLAHI KWATU

We give gratitude to the Almighty Allah for yet another opportunity to organize Hadiza Ibrahim Aliyu Schools Festival, the 2nd edition to be precise. This year's event is a complete departure from the one held last year. While last year's event recognizes only Schools within Niger State, we've extended participation of this year and subsequent years to come to cover all interested Secondary Schools within the country.

Though last year's event was in June, our choice of February is to align with Schools' calendar particularly to allow participation from SS3 students, as this period as am told, is enough for their participation before writing their final examination, the SSCE. We intend to have next year and subsequent years to come in the month of January. The choice of the month coincides with the period of the demise of late Hajiya Hadiza which is January 19th.

As we continue to remember the late Hajiya Hadiza in every breath of our daily lives, our goal at HIASFEST shall remain to promote academic excellence, encourage you the younger generation with a positive inspiration on how to turn or change impossibilities to possibilities.

We want to see in you how Nigeria will truthfully rise to occupy its rightful position in Africa and beyond. We want to see talents been translated into positive leadership; we want to see a nation govern by capable minds. We've read in many books of beautiful stories of innovations in Science and Technology. I'm sure majority of us enjoy using social media, Instagram, WhatsApp, Viber and Facebook for instance. I may be wrong if I say 50% of the student present here have handset. The handset we enjoy using today is a brain work of another someone.

The battle in this century should not only centre on how to pass examinations but on how to fit-in in the global leadership. As you continue to enjoy the handset, please do also think on how to add positive value to the global economy. Never you think of yourself as a second-class citizen, as we are all equal before God and that God created all of us with a special talent. It is our responsibility therefore to not only identify the God given talent but to as well utilize this talent in building a positive pluralistic society like ours.

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

The keynote address was delivered by Yusrah Dzukogi representing Adamu Garko (Head boy, Gombe High School) on the topic "Creativity for National Development". The address emphasized the importance of creativity in nation building and the need for government support for the creative industry.

EVENTS OF THE DAYS

RESULTS OF EVENTS