HIASFEST 2022 REPORT

The fourth edition of the Hadiza Ibrahim Aliyu Schools Festival (HIASFEST) was an unforgettable spectacle for everyone privileged to attend the edition. It was held from 19th to 22nd of January 2022 with delegates coming from Benue, Taraba, Osun, Kaduna, Gombe and FCT. The 2022 edition was a great improvement from the previous editions in terms of planning, programme and participation.

The 2022 edition of HIASFEST consist of ten categories and each category has three trophies. There are two trophies for Best Actor (male and female). These ten categories include:

Competition Categories

• On-the-spot Poetry Writing
• On-the-spot Short Story Writing
• On-the-spot Non Fiction (Literary Essay)
• On-the-spot Painting
• Cultural Dance

• Contemporary Song
• Spokenword
• Drama
• Quiz
• Craft

There were also special awards, prizes and tuition scholarships for students and individuals who have distinguished themselves in Literary and Art Administration.

OPENING CEREMONY

The opening ceremony began by 10:00am but the registration team of the HCAF were already at the venue before time to ensure participating schools were duly registered as a prerequisite to participate in the event. Although some schools did online registration, there was still a need to verify them again to be sure the data presented were accurate and to also guarantee smooth participation.

Participating Schools (41 Total)

• Himma International College, Minna
• Father O' Connell Science College, Minna
• Barakat Community Secondary School Ilorin
• New Horizons College, Minna
• Nut Endwell Model Science School Chanchaga
• Government Army Day Secondary School, Minna
• Diamond Global Academy, Minna
• Hill-Top Model School, Minna
• Challenge International School, Minna
• Jewel Model Secondary School, Kubwa
• Helena Heritage Academy, Jalingo
• Mary's Secondary School, Adikpo
• Fomwan Schools, Minna
• First Oxford Academy Maitumbi
• Zarumai Model School, Minna
• Government Secondary School, Makurdi
• Beracah Academy, Minna
• Baiwa International School, Minna
• Government Science College Kontagora
• Al-Fitrah Islamic Academy Tunga, Minna

• Queen view Academy Minna
• El – Bethel Academy, Minna
• Nasfah Academy, Minna
• Champions Learning Fields, Minna
• Federal Science and Technical College Kuta
• Government girls Day Secondary School, Suleja
• Legend International School, Minna
• Government Day Secondary School, "A" Maikunkele
• Gombe International School, Gombe
• Day Secondary School Limawa, Minna
• Government Day Science College Tunga
• Khalid Imam Academy, Kumboso, Kano
• Upper Niger River Basin School, Tudun Fulani
• Bosso Secondary School, Minna
• Government Girls Day Science College, Minna
• Treasure International School, Minna
• Brighter Schools Minna
• Baptist Comprehensive School, Kontagora
• Capital school Bay Clinic, Minna
• Al – Ali International School, Minna

The guests in attendance included Alhaji Bala Abdullahi Kwatu, the initiator of HIASFEST, Hajiya Amina Nasir; the Co-ordinator of Aliyu Trust Foundation, Dr Zubairu Twashi (Pioneer Founder, Wushishi Old Students Association), Dr Kamar Hamza and Mallam Mahmud Tanko.

HCAF FOUNDER'S SPEECH

Mallam Dzukogi in his welcome address invited Dr Kamar Hamza to pray for the repose of souls of Hajiya Hadiza Aliyu and Muktar Ibrahim Aliyu. Afterwards, he made a special recognition of schools that came from other states, Hill-Top branch members across the country and some special guests seated. He spoke about how Alhaji Kwatu's initiative has emboldened the spirit of creativity in the students. He added that it has also emboldened the writers and escalated their reach. HIASFEST has made the writers so alive.

THE INITIATOR'S SPEECH

HIASFEST 2022 is a huge success. I can feel the ambience as presently been expressed by participating students, teachers and most especially the Hill-Top Creative Arts Foundation, the organizers of this beautiful event. The Hill-Top Creative Arts Foundation has metamorphosed to a blue diamond platform of literary promotion with almost branches across the country and even going beyond and I sincerely thank Mohammed Baba Dzukogi for taking the stress off our shoulder.

From next year, Arabic and Pidgin English shall be added to widen the window of participation. We remain committed to promoting academic excellence.

THE EVENTS BEGIN

Day One:

The Contemporary Song event was held at the big hall of Justice Legbo Kutigi International conference centre. This event witnessed sonorous rendition of songs, choreography of performances and hollers of cheers from the audience. This event was held simultaneously with the On-the-spot Non Fiction and Short Story Writing held at Himma International College.

Day Two:

Early the following day, the On-the-spot Poetry Writing event took place at Himma International to conclude the creative writing aspect of HIASFEST 2022 and by 10:00am, the painting category kick-started at Hill-Top Arts Centre, Maitumbi Minna. By 12:00pm, the Drama category began with schools performing on the theme "Political Marginalization". The Spoken word event started by 2:30pm and concluded the event for day two.

Day Three:

Cultural dance was the first spectacle of the fourth day. This was followed by the Quiz event. The final event for the day was Craft, which allowed students to demonstrate the ingenuity of their innovations and dazzle the spectators with the problem-solving mechanism of their design.

Day Four:

After a keenly contested four days among the participants representing their schools in the different categories of HIASFEST, the closing ceremony is a time of reward and recognition.

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

The Star Prize winners Adepoju Isaiah and Zakiyyah Dzukogi were invited for their speech. Isaiah Adepoju delivered a keynote address on "The Ideal Africa: Nigeria, and Other Places I've not been" which emphasized the importance of community, creativity, and the role of young people in shaping Africa's future.

RESULTS OF EVENTS

Category	1st	2nd	3rd
On-the-Spot Poetry Writing	Aliyu Baba Saidu, Fr. O'Connell Sci. School, Minna	Khairat Nasiru, Diamond Global Academy, Minna	Chukwuma Eke Pacella, Jewel Model Sec. School, Kubwa
On-the-Spot Short Story Writing	Sabir Udu, New Horizons College, Minna	Anna Jacobs, Himma International College, Minna	Vyangel Aorobee, Helena Heritage Academy, Jalingo
On-the-Spot Non-Fiction Writing	Ahmad Abdulazeez Tugga, New Horizons College, Minna	Abdulrazak Salihu, Challenge International School, Minna	Rafiah Aminu Magaji, FOMWAN Islamic School, Minna
Craft	Trust Onyekwere, Jewel Model Sec. School, Kubwa	Abdulsamad Shetu & David Yisa, Federal Science and Technical College, Kuta	Chibuzor, Fr. O'Connell Science School, Minna
Drama	New Horizons College, Minna	Barakat Community Secondary School, Ilorin	Himma International School, Minna
Contemporary Song	St. Mary Secondary School, Makurdi	NUT Endwell Model Sci. Sch., Minna	Zarumai Model School, Minna
Spoken Word	Champions Learning Field, Minna	Elizabeth Ekawu Imaji, Jewel Model Sec. Sch., Kubwa	Abdulrazak Salihu, Challenge International School, Minna
Painting	Shalom Elkanah, Himma International College, Minna	Chinenye Ndubuisi, Himma International College, Minna	Amina Hussaini Kagara, New Horizons College, Minna
Cultural Dance	Himma International School, Minna	Zarumai Model School, Minna	St Mary Secondary School, Makurdi
Quiz	Upper Niger River Basin, Minna	El-Bethel Academy, Minna	NUT Endwell Model School, Minna

Overall Winning Schools

• 1st: Himma International College, Minna
• 2nd: Father O'Connell Science College, Minna
• 3rd: Barakat Community Secondary School, Ilorin, Kwara State

Special Awards

Best Actor Awards

• Best Actor (Male): Mohammed Kabir, New Horizons College, Minna
• Best Actor (Female): Anisa Fatima, NUT Model School, Minna

Most Valuable Contestants

• MVC (Male): Abdulrazak Salihu, Challenge International School, Minna - ₦100,000
• MVC (Female): Pacella Chioma Chukwuma-Eke, Jewel Model School, Kubwa - ₦100,000

The Nigeria Prize for Teen Authors, 2022

Prose

• 1st: Testimony Odey - "Feathered" - ₦150,000
• 2nd: Abdulrazak Salihu - "Hiccups" - ₦100,000
• 3rd: Sa'ada I. Yahaya - "Strong Bond" - ₦50,000

Poetry

• 1st: Abdulrazak Salihu - "Constellations" - ₦150,000
• 2nd: Chukwuma-Eke Pacella - "Love in its Bliss and Sins" - ₦100,000
• 3rd: Edim Nympha - "Nectars of a Naked Dawn" - ₦50,000

Tuition Scholarships

• Art: Peter Kwange (IBB University, Lapai) - ₦100,000
• Science (Winner of Craft Category): Trust Onyekwere, Jewel Model Sec. School, Kubwa - ₦100,000

HILL-TOP CREATIVE ARTS FOUNDATION AWARDS

Best Performing Branches

• 1st: HCAF, Benue State Branch - ₦50,000
• 2nd: HCAF, Kaduna State Branch - ₦40,000
• 3rd: HCAF, Taraba State Branch - ₦30,000
• 4th: HCAF, Kano State Branch - ₦20,000

Best Performing LG Chapters

• HCAF, Kontagora Local Government Chapter, Niger State - ₦20,000

Conclusion

Prominently, HIASFEST gave more shine to the star boy of the Hill-Top Creative Arts Foundation, Abdulrazak Salihu, who outshined his contemporaries and harvested the prize money in several categories. He became an instant inspiration to many and a celebrity among his peers. This is what HIASFEST seeks to achieve; to inspire, motivate, and reward.

HIASFEST has continued to live up to its expectations as the event become fiercer year by year. It is expected that the Hill-Top Creative's Arts foundation will continue to put structures in place to ensure that the event remains competitive, rewarding and fair.