HIASFEST 2023

HIASFEST has continued to maintain its status as the undisputable, largest and most comprehensive teen arts festival in Africa.

The 2023 edition began on the 13th of January with a Pre-Hiasfest Workshop facilitated by Paul.T. Liam and Ojo Olumide Emmanuel. The workshop introduced secondary school students and intending participants of HIASFEST 2023 to the rudiments for Poetry, Short Story and Non-fiction writing. The three-day event, which was sponsored by Hon. Saidu Musa Abdul, exposed the participants to the hacks for effective writing and also guided them on the pitfalls to avoid when participating in the on-the-spot writing of HIASFEST.

As part of the innovations to improve the experience of the participants during HIASFEST, the Hill-Top Creative Arts Foundation introduced panel discussions in the 2023 edition. On the 17th January, the first panel discussion of the 2023 edition was a virtual one with the Finalists of the Nigerian Prize for Literature. It was moderated by Ojo Olumide, Ibrahim Uthman and Odu Ode. The Guests included Romeo Oriogun (a Nigerian Poet and essayist, and the winner of the Nigerian Prize for Literature with his poetry collection- Nomad) and Su'eddie Vershima Agema (a Nigerian poet, editor, and literary administrator whose poetry collection- Memory and the Call of Water was shortlisted for the NLNG Prize).

HIASFEST main events took place from the 19th to 22nd January, 2023 at the Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre, Minna and the HCAF headquarters, David Mark Road, Minna.

Day One

Day One began with the registration of participating schools. This was followed by the opening ceremony. The guests at the opening ceremony include Alhaji Bala Abdullahi Kwatu (Initiator, HIASFEST), Hajiya Saadiya Aliyu(MD,Urban Shelter Limited), Hajiya Maryam Aliyu, Hajiya Amina Nasir (Aliyu Trust Foundation), Dr Zubairu Twachi, Mr Jerry Adesewo, Mallam Tanko Mahmud and others.

HCAF FOUNDER'S SPEECH

Mallam BM Dzukogi in his welcome address appreciated everyone who has come to identify with HIASFEST. He urged the participants to internalize their craft and imbibe the spirit of art. He stated that the essence of HIASFEST is to redeem humanity through art. he encouraged the participants on the need to build friendship with others citing that the absence of love will always lead to the destruction of whatever has been created. In concluding his speech, he praised the Hill-Top Creative Arts Foundation as a visible organization whose vision is to build the future by making the present better through children.

CHAIRMAN'S OPENING REMARKS

Dr Zubairu Ibrahim Twachi, the National President of Wushishi Old Students Association (WOSA) and Director of Strategic Planning, Federal Polytechnic Bida, in his opening remarks as the chairman of the event extolled the initiator of the festival. He also appreciated BM Dzukogi, describing him as a father to children. He further appealed for continuous support for children.

Afterwards, prayers were made for the repose of the soul of Hajiya Hadiza Ibrahim Aliyu.

HIASFEST INITIATOR'S SPEECH

The message of HIASFEST since its first edition in 2019 remains to encourage the Nigerian youth to develop an entrepreneurial mind. An entrepreneurial mind by nature sees knowledge beyond simply reading and writing. An entrepreneur is a critical thinking person, a solution provider and a positive influencer. He sets his goals and then work assiduously to achieve those goals. I see entrepreneurship in the core of the HIASFEST agenda.

HIASFEST, certainly promotes efficiency in the use of language to perfect entrepreneurship in creative writing; prose, poetry and including but, not limited to creative innovation in science and technology. In the last 150 years, for instance, Hausa language has been dominant globally. This can be seen by the featuring of Hausa in renowned international news agencies such as The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Radio China, Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Deutchwhale.

The featuring of other Nigerian Languages recently by the BBC, notably Yoruba, Igbo and Pidgin is a pointer to the vital role our indigenous languages occupy in this age, particularly as it relates to civilized industrial smartness.

According to Professor Aliyu Bunza, (Department Languages, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto), Hausa ranks number 11 most popular language out of the 7600 tribes known in the world. With this record, its evidently clear that Hausa language holds the key to many economies in Africa and for this potential to be properly harnessed, then, the need for the Nigerian government to include few indigenous languages in the study of science and technical education in the national syllabus is long overdue, especially in vital subjects such as Medical Sciences, ICT and Engineering. For example, we could have BTech Engineering (Hausa) or Double Honors, MBBS combined (Igbo and English).

Fellow students, distinguish guest, ladies and gentlemen, HIASFEST 5th edition comes with more than 30 prizes and counting more from Hill-Top Creative Arts Foundation. I understand only Swahili is not in contest.

In general, HIASFEST has gained acceptance from the Nigerian students and beyond, the 5th edition saw the participation of Oluwasegun Romeo Oriogun, a Nigerian poet and essayist, University of Nebraska, winner of 2017 Brunel University African Poetry Prize and the Nigerian Prize for Literature award 2022 and the Future Awards.

Su'eddie Vershima Agema, a Nigerian poet, editor and literary administrator NLNG Nigeria prize for Literature 2022 nominated shortlisted book- Memory and the Call of Water.

Saddiq Dzukogi (born in Minna) is a Nigerian poet and assistant professor at Mississippi State University, a winner of Derek Walcott Prize for Poetry, and a co-winner of 2021 Julie Suk award. This collection was also shortlisted for the $100,000 Nigerian Prize for Literature.

Dzukogi was a finalist for the 2017 Brunel International African Poetry Prize. His poem "Paradise" won him the 2021 Wilbur Gaffney Poetry Prize. He was the first-runner up for the 2022 Maureen Egan Writers Exchange Award. He has also been a three-time finalist for the Association of Niger Authors' Poetry Prize in 2012, 2014 and 2016.

With this excitement, what can I say, but thank you. This was the last word of the commentator at the World cup final between France vs Argentina. Thank you, Hill-Top Creative Arts Foundation, thank you to all state branches, thank you Alh. Bala Miller, thank you Government of Niger State. Last year, I was crying, running up and down to have the attention of Professor Wole Soyinka and Chimamanda Adichie to attend the 4th edition. Today, I can boast in fulfilment to say though we are not there yet, but we are right on target.

Hajiya Firdausi Ibrahim Aliyu, the Managing Director, Aliyu Trust foundation and Amina Nasir, its coordinator, thank you, thank you to the family of Mallam Ibrahim Aliyu, a visionary leader who sacrificed his yesterday for people like us to see today, may we be instrumental to those that will see tomorrow. Amin.

Hajiya Saadiya Aliyu, in a brief remark, thanked the initiator, organisers, contributors and well wishers for the successes of HIASFEST. She promised continued support to the growth of the festival.

REMARKS BY COORDINATOR, ALIYU TRUST FOUNDATION

Hajiya Amina Nasir, the coordinator of Aliyu Trust Foundation mentioned that HIASFEST is going far beyond imagination. She also used the opportunity to remember late Muktar Aliyu. She ended her speech by appreciating the Aliyu family and Alhaji Bala Abdullahi Kwatu who saw the future in art. Her speech was followed by goodwill messages.

REMARKS BY MR JERRY ADESEWO

Mr Jerry Adesewo in his speech appreciated Alhaji Bala Kwatu and the Hill-Top Creative Arts Foundation for their efforts. He further stated that it would be a good ground to make additional request for support especially for winners from other parts of the country so that their trips to the award ceremony can be funded.

The ceremony ended with the closing prayer and national anthem. This was followed by the first panel discussion in the afternoon of day one.

The focus of the panel discussion was on the theme "Getting Known: Promoting my Book, my Art." It was moderated by Blessing Omeiza Ojo. The panelist included Peter Kwange, Zakiyyah Dzukogi and Pacella Chukwuma Eke.

After the panel event, the activities for HIASFEST 2023 opened began with the Contemporary Song. The judges were treated to the resonating, mellifluous and outstanding musical renditions by school choral groups.

Unlike the previous editions, the On-the-Spot writing were held at the Hill-Top Creative Arts Foundation (HCAF) National Headquarters, Minna. Day one featured the On-the-spot Non-Fiction and Short Story Writing.

Day 2

Day two continued with the on-the-spot events in Poetry writing and Painting at HCAF National Headquarters hall. This was followed by a Panel Discussion at the Legbo Kutigi Main Hall on the topic "Nigerian Teen Authors: Who are they, what do they Write?" This was moderated by Haneefah Abdulrahman and the panelists included Odu Ode, Zee Aslam, Dr. Ola Ifatimehin and Dr. Ismail Bala. After the panel discussion, the Drama category flooded the stage with exhilarating, topnotch artistic performances. The event was judged by Dr Ola Ifatimehin and Mr Jerry Adesewo. Afterward, another panel discussion followed on the topic "The Place of Teen Authorship in Literary Development of Nigeria." This was moderated by Blessing Omeiza Ojo. The panelists included Halima Aliyu, Maryam Bobi, Paul Liam and Priscilla Adesina.

The day ended with the Spoken Word Category and HIASFEST Night of Spoken Word performances which featured Bash Amuneni, Otaki and others.

Day 3

The event of the day began with a panel discussion on the topic "What New Ways for Book Distribution in Nigeria?" The panel was led by Dr Ola Ifatimehin. The panelists included NLNG prize for Literature (2022) contender Su'eddie Agema, Authorpaedia Director Kukogho Samson, Abdulrahman Abuyaman of Minna Literary Society and Uchenna Emelife of Book'O clock. The discussion chatted on the relevant strategies book distributors could utilize to get books across to Nigerians.

Many spectators at HIASFEST in the past editions would share this sentiment that the most enchanting category of the event is the Cultural Dance which is seen in the remarkable demonstration of culture, well-choreographed dance steps and dramatic accompaniments. After the cultural dance event, the largest panel discussion of the event took place, moderated by the indefatigable founder of the Hill-Top Creative Arts Foundation, Mallam BM Dzukogi. The topic was "Proliferation of Book and Arts Festival in Northern Nigeria: What is the Trigger and for What? The panelists represented the various notable festivals in the country. They included Jerry Adesewo (NIPOFEST), Su'eddie Agema (BBAF), Sada Malumfashi (HIBAF), Uchenna Emelife (SOBAFEST), Ojo Olumide Emmanuel (HIASFEST), Dr Ismail Bala and Faruk Aliyu (Art Promoter). The panelist discussion was followed by the Innovation Category. It was a grilling session for the participants as they were quizzed on how they arrived at their inventions and its potential usefulness to the society. The Quiz and, ICT and Technology categories also took HIASFEST to its crescendo with the participants sweating it out to prove themselves worthy of the prizes on the award ceremony. The day 3 ended with a Drama Night by Arojah Arts Concept, Abuja.

Day 4

The closing ceremony is always a time when expectations are high, the conquerors ready to be crowned and the losers, ready to embrace courage and return again with greater zest. This assertion has proven to be true in the previous editions and many cannot easily rule a school out as incapable of creating an upset. The closing ceremony aside its glitz and glamour witnessed an avalanche of guests and awardees. They include: Hajiya Amina Nasir, Engr. Enigba Umar, Alhaji Abdullahi Bala Kwatu, Engr. Hassan Hassan Yakubu Lemu(GM Finance, Urban Shelter Limited), Rev Mathias Echioda, Bala Mohammed (Tukuran Minna), Alhaji Ibrahim Alfa, Halilu Bala Badakoshi, Barr. Muhammad Danjuma, Prof. Muhammad Kuta Yahaya, Prof Abdulrasheed Faruq Haruna(Chairman of the occasion), Hon. Musa Ndakpayi, Alhaji Bala Nagogo, Faruq Aliyu, Dr. Zubairu Ibrahim Twachi, Hajiya Hannatu Jibrin *Commissioner of education, Niger State), Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman (Commissioner for Youths Development, Niger State), and others too numerous to mention.

Alhaji Bala Abdullahi Kwatu in his speech appreciated the guests present. He appealed to them to patronize the paintings of the students and also partner with them to build a friendly social and physical environment. He further added that the overall winning school next year will go home with a one-million-naira innovation fund prize. The fund shall be used in developing Technical innovative concept. This is to expose students to the international world to see and explore. A website for this shall be created to attract companies to buy from the talents. The Hill-Top Creative Arts Foundation would also an annual one million naira for logistics. In the end, he congratulated the winners of the edition. The event also witnessed award to deserving supporters of teen authors, winners, donations and book launch of the winners of the Nigerian Prize for Teen Authors (2022).

HIASFEST 2023 CATEGORY SCORESHEET