HIASFEST 2025

The Hadiza Aliyu Schools Festival has continued to live up to its name and status as the largest, most comprehensive and rewarding Teen Arts Festival in Africa. The event soared on the wings of Sir BM Dzukogi's 60th birthday celebration colloquium which was to celebrate the sage, philosopher, Art Administrator, Grand Patron of Teen Authors, Founder, HCAF and so much more. What better time should these events have coincided if not this period? The 2025 edition was no exception as it saw four days of exciting performances, discussions, triumphs, awards, rewards, and lots more. The 2025 edition which marked the 7th edition held at the Justice Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre from the 14th to 17th January, 2025.

The guests in attendance at the opening and closing ceremonies included: Ambassador Zubairu Dada (Former Minister for Foreign Affairs), Gen. Abba Mohammed Dikko (Rtd), Dr Zubair Tswachi (Chigari Lafiaji & Chairman, WOSA), Prof Abdulkadir Mukhtar (Member, HIASFEST Governing Council & SA to the Hon. Minister of Interior on Strategy and Innovation), Hajiya Amina Nasir (Member, HIASFEST Governing Council), Alhaji Suleiman Dada (Hakimin Maikunkele), Alhaji Yusuf Abdullahi Kwatu (Village Head, Maikunkele Yamma), Alhaji Saidu Muhammad (Dagachin Maikunkele Dukuchi), Alhaji Bala Abdullahi Kwatu (HIASFEST Initiator and Sponsor), Barr. Adamu A Umar (Secretary, HIASFEST Governing Council), HRH the Emir of Borgu, Barr Sani Haliru Dantoro III (Represented by the Tukuran Borgu, Hon. Bello Agwara), Hajiya Firdausi Aliyu (MD, Aliyu Trust Foundation), Mallama Kahdija Abdullahi Sakiwa (Founder, Maituwo Charity Foundation), Faruq Aliyu (Trustee, Aliyu Trust Foundation), Maryam Aliyu (Trustee, Aliyu Trust Foundation), Hajiya Maimuna Muhammad Babangida (Awardee; Seasoned Journalist and Broadcaster), Saeed Musa Abdul (Director, Himma International College, Minna), Dr. Mahmud Muhammad (Minna Institute of Innovation and Technology), Aminu S. Mohammed (Founder, Arts Muse Fair), Fatima Iman (Rep Provost, FLAILAS, Minna), Aisha Abdulkadir (GM, CSDA, Minna), Alhaji Salihu Garba (Mai Samarin Minna), Mallam Yakubu Lemu (Member, Governing Council, HIASFEST), Alhaji Mohammed Mustapha (Chiroman Lapai), Mallam Dahiru Magaji, Alh. Salihu Garba (Maisamarin Minna/Wakilin Sarkin Minna), Mallam Suleiman Sarki, Mallam Bala Muhammad Supply (Member, HIASFEST Governing Council), Dr Bello Nagogo (GM, Urban Shelter Infrastructure, Lecturer, Base University, Abuja & Rep, Nagogo Family), Alh. Muhammad Mustapha (Chiroman Lapai, representing HRH, the Emir of Lapai) and HIASFEST 2025 judges; Dr Ola Ifatimehin, Mr Jerry Adesewo, Dr Ismail Garba, Paul Liam, Zainab Bobi, Kesh Rowland, Auwalu Abdullahi Sakiwa, and others too numerous to mention.

Opening Ceremony

The opening ceremony was attended by individuals from all walks of life. It began with the registration of schools. This was followed by the main event which was the Opening Ceremony.

Sir BM Dzukogi, Founder, HCAF, in his opening remarks, welcomed distinguished guests and well-wishers who had come to witness the event. He stated that "Our strong base for this convergence is Mallam Ibrahim Aliyu." He appreciated Alhaji Bala Abdullahi Kwatu for initiating the festival and increasing the prizes. He urged the children to be good, stating that they are the inheritors of tomorrow. He added that if they are good, their tomorrow will be good and they will inherit a good society.

Chairman's Address

The Chairman of the occasion, General Abba Dikko (Rtd), appreciated the guests present. He also acknowledged what Sir BM Dzukogi has been doing for children. He added that he will be paying upward for five years the prize he is sponsoring. He added that "We must key into the development of our children" stating that "we must build a society that we would be proud of in our respective graves that we have done well."

Initiator's Opening Speech

It is with immense and profound honour that I address you today at the 7th edition of HIASFEST. This extraordinary celebration of innovation, creativity and intellectual brilliance has become a symbol of what we can achieve when united by a shared vision of empowerment and progress for the youth of Nigeria.

HIASFEST stands as a beacon of hope, providing a fearless platform for young minds- particularly those of Niger State- to dream, innovate and showcase their boundless potential. Over the years, this festival has brought to light extraordinary talent and creativity and this year is no exception.

During the 5th edition, we introduced the Innovation Prize for the overall best school as a bold commitment to inspire our students to push the boundaries of their intellectual and creative capacities. With a prize of N1,000,000.00 (One Million Naira), our aim was to ignite a spirit of innovation that would transform these young minds into future leaders. The journey has been remarkable.

Last year, during the 6th edition, we celebrated one of the brightest stars on this journey: Himma International College, Minna. Their groundbreaking project, the Air Quality Index System App, exemplifies the ingenuity of our youth. This app is to enable users assess air quality, analyze pollution levels and receive real-time updates through text messages and internet searches- a vital innovation for safer and healthier living.

As we gather here for the 7th edition of HIASFEST, I am thrilled to announce yet another innovation by Himma International College, Minna: a Smart Poultry Farming System. This remarkable intervention underscores the ingenuity, resourcefulness and transformative potential of our students. I am filled with pride and anticipation for what the future holds. At the closing ceremony, we shall witness a demonstration of the Smart Farming System.

Financial Commitments

Distinguished guest, ladies and gentlemen, during the 6th edition, I did made commitment to make available, the sum of N100 million for this course within 2024 and 2025. I'm happy to announce to you that so far, the sum of N43m have been expended, first, the provision of a functional vehicle- a bus- to support the operations of the Hill-Top Creative Arts Foundation in the sum of N24m and additional disbursement of N16.9m as part of my contribution for this year's event.

Our collective contribution to HIASFEST from Bala Kwatu, the Aliyu Trust Foundation and the Mallam Ibrahim Aliyu's since inception to date, now stood at the N140.1 million (One Hundred and Forty million, One Hundred Thousand Naira) only.

New Prize Structure

Looking ahead, I am thrilled to announce new incentives to encourage greater and robust participation as follows:

• The Overall Winning School Prize has been increased from N1 million to N2 million.
• Second Overall Prize of 1.5 million has been introduced.
• Third Overall Prize will now be N1 million.
• The Best Outstanding Male Student Prize will receive N500,000, alongside N500,000 for the Best Outstanding Female Student.

Competitive Events

A panel discussion took place after the opening ceremony and was followed by Contemporary Song Category at the main hall of Justice Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre. On-the-Spot Writing, Non-fiction and Short Story Writing took place at Himma International College Hall, Minna. The first day ended with a Night of Tributes held in honour of Sir BM Dzukogi at Nasfah Hotels, Minna.

Day 2 witnessed On-the-spot Poetry writing, Painting, Spoken Word and Drama performances while Day 3 witnessed Cultural Dance, Innovation and ICT&Technology categories.

Closing Ceremony

Mallama Khadija Abdullahi Sakiwa opened the floor with an opening prayer where she prayed for the repose of the souls of Hajiya Hadiza Ibrahim Aliyu, Muktar Aliyu and others, asking Allah to grant them Aljannah Firdausi. This was followed by the National and Hiasfest Anthems.

The Chairman of the event Amb. Zubairu Dada extolled the beauty of HIASFEST and the greatness it is unleashing into the future. He urged everyone to support what HIASFEST is doing.

HIASFEST 2025 CATEGORY RESULTS