Jerry Adesewo
Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State has on Saturday January 20, pledged the donation of the sum of ten million naira (N10,000,000), to the Hilltop Creative Arts Foundation, organisers of the annual Hadiza Ibrahim Aliyu Schools Festival, HIASFEST.
The sixth edition of HIASFEST, which took place at the Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi Conference Centre in Minna, and other venues around the ancient city over the weekend, had participation from thirty-three schools, from fives state, namely Kaduna, Taraba, Benue, Abuja and the host state, Niger.
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Speaking at the closing ceremony of the festival, through the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Abubakar Usman, Governor Baggo commended the visionary thinking behind the Hill-Top Creative Arts Foundation, and the festival, both of which has become a platform for younger generations to unleash their potentials.
“I am pleased to be in your midst. A school festival is a platform where talents are showcased; therefore, I urge the organisers to keep up the good job,” said Governor Bago, as he emphasised that the festival serves not only to promote creative arts but also as a platform to discover and nurture young talent.
Also speaking at the event, the initiator of HIASFEST, Alhaji Bala Kwatu, pointed out that, in addition to the festival, a 270 seaters E-Library and Creativity Centre named after former Principal of the school, Mrs. Ibiyeye, is being constructed within the premises of Government Day Secondary School, Minna.
“This centre is designed to enhance education and entrepreneurial skills, and will serve as an accredited centre for Computer-Based Test (CBT) Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) exams, West African Examination Council (WAEC), indoor games, cyber security training, as well as radio and TV studios, among other facilities,” he added.
The festival started in 2019, and is jointly funded by Alhaji Bala Abdullahi, who initiated it, and the Aliyu Trust Foundation. The donation by the state government therefore become a welcome idea in view of the organiser’s plans to expand the festival to West Africa.