Abubakar Akote writes on the recently held 2014 MBA Literary Colloquium in Minna, Niger state
In 2010, I witnessed the beginning of what later came to be known as MBA international literary colloquium at the government house Council Chamber, Minna. Before then, Chief Servant was not used to celebrating his birthday in public sphere. It was a surprise to the Chief Servant when he came out to the Council Chamber and was asked to unveil books to mark his 55th birthday. It was the then Secretary to the Government of Niger State, Professor Muhammed Kuta Yahaya that organized the stuff. Surprising as it was to Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu on that beautiful morning of November 12, 2010, Secretary to the Niger State government and now the Commissioner for Agriculture, Professor Muhammed Kuta Yahaya asked the Chief Servant to unveil books, an idea that completely replaced a tradition of cutting of birthday cake. That was the day “Talba and His Regalia” which Yahaya himself had authored was unveiled. The birthday song by the students of Government Secondary school, Minna and poetry performance titled the “elephant” by Terfer Danjuma also brought out the uniqueness of a new tone of birthday celebration. I remember, as small as the event was, it was attended by prominent politicians in the state. For those who haven’t known, this is the brief of how what we have now as international literary colloquium started.
MBA Literary Colloquium had sought to achieve a lot not just to celebrate the Chief Servant, or to serve as a mere platform for literary discourse, but to bring together vibrant minds to discuss issues marring our nation’s development. In 2011, when this little idea was reshaped and brought to the public mind, many people began to ask, “What does MBA Colloquium mean and what does it seek to achieve?” As Hassan Haruna of Protocol unit would always ask me jokingly at the then Research and Documentation unit, “what do you even call it, Collo… or what”?
The forum was important. But to me, of the four colloquiums held the first and fourth had stood out to be the most unique ones, in terms of the manner in which the speakers spoke on the topics given to them and how best they controlled the audience through vibrant and energetic presentations.
As I have briefly stated, B. M. Dzukogi, one person I have always described as an extraordinary character in the Nigeria literary landscape told me as we were preparing for the first edition that the aim of the colloquium was to create a platform and allow the intellectuals the opportunity to step forward and bare their minds on how best to uplift Nigeria. I have no doubt to say that MBA colloquium has indeed accomplished its mission.
The idea, as facilitated by two brilliant characters, Professor Muhammed Kuta Yahaya and B. M. Dzukogi has set new pace for intellectual growth. The first edition which I have considered the most vibrant and lively had a prominent Nigerian poet, Odia Ofeimun as the Guest speaker. The topic “Building Intellectual Power to Fix Nigeria” was undoubtedly apt. The Guest speaker, Odia Ofeimun brilliantly delivered about 45 minutes unprepared speech. He x-rayed the role of education, unity and intellectuals to the national development. Having had the control over the crowd throughout his speech, Ofeimun talked extensively on the importance of unity among Nigerian citizens and underscored the need to build sound intellectuals.
He pointed out that, though, we can equally have illiterate intellectuals. The variation, however, between the two “literate intellectual” provides an enduring means that is unavailable to the illiterate intellectual because the work of the intellect is not limited to only what you get at school, but we have defined intellect as a matter of reason, we have defined intellect beyond simply acquiring a story by learning how to bring the different concepts together so that old meaning will acquire new perceptions, and new perception will be able to accommodate old meaning.”
The 2012 edition which had the Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka as the keynote speaker was marked by series of events that added meaning to the entire idea. With the establishment of Niger State Book Development Agency, which incorporates Cyprian Ekwensi e-Library, MBA literary colloquium began to have its base stretched out. Soyinka stormed the city of Minna on November 12, 2014 to grace the 2nd colloquium as the keynote speaker on “Nigerian Literature, Unity and National Development.” Though, not as lively as that of Odia Ofeimun, Soyinka examined the role of writers in bringing about the desired changes and national development. He observed that writers are to write and in that, they are to lead the society for better.
With the establishment of an agency saddled with the responsibility of book publishing, many, especially young writers have begun to have hoped to reach out to the public through writing. It was in 2013, that the platform was further elevated to international level when we first had Professor Kofi Anyidoho of University of Ghana as the keynote speaker. He delivered lecture on “Creativity, Youth and National Development.”
Anyidoho pointed out how fast a society with creative minds grows and the role of younger generation in facilitating the development of their societies. Anyidoho was the first international guest to grace the MBA Colloquium and to speak as the keynote speaker.
The 2013 edition was preceded with the officially commissioning of “MBA BookHawker Scheme”, an initiative of B. M. Dzukogi.
The 2014 edition which was held recently had former president of Mozambique, and Chairman, Forum of Former Heads of States in Africa, Sir, Joaquim Alberto Chissano, as the keynote speaker on a theme: “Leadership and National Development”. Chissano noted that Nigeria and indeed African nations are in need of vibrant and visionary leaders.
He said it is important for leaders to have visions but their visions must not be imposed on the citizens. “What makes a leader successful is how best he harmonizes his visions with the aspirations of common people.” He said.
This, he added, is only achieved if leaders develop attentive listening habit and interact with the citizens. By this, Chissano underscored the relevance of a forum like MBA Colloquium.
MBA Colloquium goes beyond a mere celebration of the celebrant. To me, it is not a birthday celebration. It is something entirely different. In birthday parties, people sing birthday songs for the celebrant, drinks and dance to the melodies of birthday songs. In this year’s MBA Colloquium, ideas are molded for national growth and development.
The establishment and signing into law, a Bill establishing Niger State Book and Other Intellectual Resource Development Agency recently at the Niger State House of Assembly; it is something Nigeria has benefitted from and will continue to benefit from. Bringing intellectualism to bear is great achievement of the colloquium. Yahaya Kuta said big institutions start the same Book Development Agency has started and it will grow big. This will surely give credence to citizens who wish to achieve higher intellectual development. Book Development Agency will surely become a strong cardinal point in achieving a superior dream of the state and Northern Nigeria in terms of literacy and intellectual development.
In my opinion, B. M. Dzukogi and his team should begin to brainstorm on how best to sustain the colloquium because I may see it as a lost dream if the platform is not sustained. It should be incorporated into agency’s annual events or pragramme. This vibrant initiative and idea especially, now that Nigeria is in a mess needs not to die away. The government that would come after this should give the agency full support and co-operation. The same Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has accorded to triumph beyond the individual’s imagination. It will be great if the agency sets it in its agenda for its programmes. So that our democracy will flourish and our country will one day become great.
Akote is a student of Mass Communication, IBB University, Lapai-Niger State