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Dr Bukar Usman: 80th Birthday Felicitations
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Marama Skill Acquisition Centre Formally Opened The Marama Skill Acquisition Centre, built by the Bura Women Development Association (BUWDA), was formally opened by the Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum CON, on Marama Culture Day, January 1, 2023, at Marama, Hawul Local Government Area of the state.
The formal opening ceremony of the Centre was one of the three events organized by BUWDA to publicize the activities of the Marama Skill Acquisition Centre and make the project sustainable. The other two events were the graduation of sets of trainees, which took place at the Centre on December 31, 2022, and a fund-raising occasion designed to raise money to enable the association carry on with the work of the Centre. The Centre, which has a number of skill-acquisition facilities and qualified trainers, was conceived by BUWDA as a hands-on institute for the training and empowerment of the jobless youths of the area. Apart from the skill-delivery tools and equipments provided for the purpose of turning the trainees into self-reliant producers of goods and service-providers, there is also the “Dr Bukar Usman Library”, built to serve as a repository of useful information for both the trainees and the trainers. According to Mrs Hyelni Bulus Zoaka, BUWDA’s secretary, “As a further way to show appreciation, we are naming the library of the centre ‘Dr Bukar Usman Library’.” Dr. Usman, responding to the honour done to him, said that the Marama Skill Acquisition Centre is “worthy of every support”. He thanked the Bura Women Development Association, stating that “The Skill Acquisition Project established through the initiative of Bura Women is indeed commendable and a pride to our community”. The Bura Women Development Association (BUWDA) was formed in 2012 by Bura women living at Abuja. The association’s 11-point aims and objectives includes the provision of “developmental projects”, a goal currently being realized by BUWDA at the Marama Skill Acquisition Centre, established two years ago.
Dr Bukar Usman Honoured with Continental Arts Award The Council of the Pan African Writers’ Association (PAWA) honoured Dr Bukar Usman, prolific writer and folklorist and President of the Nigerian Folklore Society, with PAWA’s distinguished “Noble Patron of the Arts Award”. The award medal was presented to Dr Usman on June 25, 2022, at the Premier Hotel, Ibadan, during PAWA’s Dinner/Award Night, an event organised to conclude the association’s General Assembly conference whose theme was, “The Role of the Writer in a Pan African Agenda for Peace and Security”. Earlier on May 30, 2022, in a letter notifying Dr Usman about PAWA’s decision to honour him with the award, Dr Wale Okediran, PAWA’s Secretary General, had said that the award bestowed upon Dr Usman “is as a result of your long standing commitment to the Arts and Literature in Nigeria and in the diaspora”. Some past winners of PAWA’s patron of the arts awards across Africa include Professor Kwesi Botchwey, Founder and Executive Chairman of the African Development Policy Initiative, President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana and Mr Walter Kefuoe Chakela, Founder of the Congress of South African Writers (2017); Dr Goodluck Jonathan, President of Nigeria (2014): and Abdou Diouf, President of the Republic of Senegal (1999). The Pan African Writers’ Association is a leading Pan African cultural institution accorded full diplomatic status by government and consists of 52 national writers’ associations on the continent.
Courtesy: bukarusman.net ______________________
Widowhood In Nigerian Society: Indian Scholar, Suraiya Shahin, Lauds Bukar Usman For Proficiency, Guidance By Yemi Adebisi Suraiya Shahin, a Ph.D. scholar from Jamia Millia Ismaila University, New Delhi, India has said the contribution made towards the completion of her research thesis by the Nigerian writer, the acclaimed Walt Disney of Africa, and author of hundreds of storybooks, Dr. Bukar Usman will forever remain a fulcrum of her academic excellence. Award-winning author, Usman, one of the foremost Nigerian story writers who has churned out several book titles written in Hausa, Yoruba and English languages is the author of 1000 Folk Stories of Nigeria and a Selection of Nigerian Folktales: Themes and Settings. Shahin has sought the assistance of Dr. Usman on how to get enriched materials on widowhood practices in Nigeria. Published in Independent of March 5, 2022
Bukar Usman Authors 2 More Books By Nathaniel Bivan Bukar Usman, one of Nigeria’s most prolific writers, has authored two more books. They include ‘My Public Service Journey: Issues in Public Policy Administration in Nigeria’ and ‘Restructuring Nigeria: An Overview’. A third is however written in his honour titled ‘Falsafar Bukar Usman’.
‘My Public Service Journey’ is an expository work on the Nigerian public service. Here, he shares his perspectives and documents his views and advice on various matters of good governance and the public service. Before now he had published ‘My Literary Journey’, a continuation of his autobiography, ‘Hatching Hopes’. In ‘Restructuring Nigeria’ he takes a look at the debate around the subject and attempts to document the key points while at the same time responding to some of the crucial questions raised by stakeholders. Usman does not only write in English but also in the Hausa language. This time around however, Khalid Imam, a writer and poet whose works have been published in various platforms, takes the liberty of compiling songs written in honour of Usman by various artists in Hausa. Born in Biu, Borno State, Usman has authored many books, among them is his Biu Emirate Studies Series, ‘Language Disappearance and Cultural Diversity in Biu Emirate. A recipient of several awards, he has a degree in Public Administration and International Relations and was conferred with Honorary Doctor of Letters degree in 2014 by Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. (Courtesy: Daily Trust, Nov 25, 2019)
Bukar Usman Releases More Books to Reading Public By Yemi Adebisi
Dr. Bukar Usman Foundation has again enriched the readers’ world by churning out more new books to round off the year. The Foundation, established as an enduring platform to extend gesture of goodwill to the needy members of society in all manner of circumstances and as far as her resources can carry, has been a succour to generations of talented youths, individuals and organisations with diverse limitations. Running under the chairmanship of the erudite researcher, story teller, author and retired permanent secretary in the presidency, Dr. Bukar Usman, her contributions towards the growth of African literature is considered immeasurable. No fewer than four books that the Foundation has added to the reading public probably to meet the yearning aspiration of her fans as the year is running to an end, especially to the indigenous literature, has been described as a mile stone in the literary world. Though the media and group-sponsored conferences have been dealing with issue of restructuring over time especially among the political elite, no one has ever come up with a book on this matter. Dr. Bukar Usman, renowned pacesetter has churned out a book on this topical issue. Entitled Restructuring Nigeria: An Overview, he responds to some of the critical questions raised by many stakeholders. In doing this, the guru identifies over 30 contentious questions, and without name-calling and use of intemperate language, logically counter them one after the other. The 125-page book is potable, creatively designed, neatly bonded and reader friendly. Another book, My Public Service Journey: Issues In Public Policy Administration In Nigeria, is the author’s expository work on the Nigerian public service. Bogus and appealing, it narrates the journey of this public servant who rose through the ranks to the pinnacle of his career, serving with distinction as director general/permanent secretary in the presidency during the last 11 years of his 34-year civil service tenure. The book is largely the judgement of an insider peeping into the chambers of the public service from the outside. For those who know what he stands for in Nigeria’s art community, the veteran journalist, author, and film director, Ben Omowafola Tomoloju has created a niche for himself through his prowess as a cultural ambassador of note. This time, he has surprisingly distinguished himself with the latest book he wrote in Yoruba language, in collaboration with Dr. Bukar Usman Foundation. Entitled Ogorun-un Itan Lati Ile Yoruba, the book accounts for, as the name implies, 100 folklores from Yoruba land. This indigenous literature has been found to be exclusively unique and enriching, as it contains salient stories that have not been published before. Published along with the three titles is another 266-page book in Hausa authored by Khalid Imam titled Falsafar Bukar Usman (Bukar Usman’s philosophies). It contains 23 songs by three different Hausa song artists mainly extolling the virtues of Dr Bukar Usman as an individual and the Dr Bukar Usman Foundation. The songs were composed between 2013 and 2019. Ogorun-un Itan Lati Ile Yoruba, published in Yoruba under the sponsorship of the Dr. Bukar Usman Foundation has a counterpart to be published next year in Igbo under the title: Nchikota Akuko-ifo Ndi Igbo containing Igbo folktales, also collected by Dr. Bukar Usman Foundation but written by a separate author. To date, Dr. Usman, the award winning author and president of the Nigerian Folklore Society (NFS), has written about 25 books in English language, ranging from folktales to security and public service. He has also written 17 books in Hausa language. Courtesy: The Independent, November 23, 2019
Poor Education Funding: Dr Bukar Usman Foundation, Others, to the Rescue The Guardian News Report by Anote Ajeluoruo
Foundations, by their nature, are established as interventionist agencies to bridge a gap in certain aspects of society and make positive impact. Specifically, foundations are expected to direct their energy and resources to the provision of infrastructure. But while the achievements of foreign foundations always seem visible even from a distance, local foundations’ efforts to make impact in the Nigerian society tend to be insignificant at best, or even non-existent. The examples include donation of blocks of classrooms, boreholes for local communities, provision of books and libraries to schools and students, scholarship to a few students in secondary and tertiary institutions, donation of ICT and science equipment to schools, building of markets among other projects calling for intervention. In fact, they have left a big void in a critical area of social philanthropy where intervention would make a lot of difference to Nigeria’s quest for development – aiding academic and cultural excellence for human capital growth. An example of a foreign foundation often considered for its significant impact is Carnegie Foundation. It has an ongoing diaspora fellowship that brings global scholars teaching in American and Canadian universities to return home with their knowledge and skills and imparts same in their home countries. It also enables these scholars to take something from the local environments back to the United States and Canada where they reside and work. Three of such global scholars from Nigerians – Prof. Segun Ojewuyi, Dr. Nduka Otiono and Prof. Tony Adah – were in Nigeria last year at University of Ibadan, Delta State University, Abraka and Pan-Atlantic University (PAU) respectively on the Carnegie Foundation Fellowship bill. The U.S. Fulbright Scholarship is a notable intellectual programme that has benefitted Nigerian scholars over the years. In Nigeria, there are some local foundations that readily come to mind and doing their bit. UBA Foundation provides books to schools; Dr. Bukar Usman Foundation gives scholarship to primary and secondary school pupils and students; Dangote Foundation is partnering Bill and Belinda Gates Foundation to fight diseases, TY Danjuma Foundation is reported to have invested in infrastructural facility at Pan Atlantic University and Youth Empowerment and ICT Foundation which imparts ICT skills on young people. Tony Elumelu Foundation only recently had its scholarship scheme rested after three years. “They (foundations) should partner with governments to equip hospitals and fight diseases and epidemics. Some of them can be active in the area of arts and sciences. Those who run these foundations should utilise the monies wisely for the purpose they are meant for”. Prof. Tony Afejuku of University of Benin, Benin City also agrees with Adimora-Ezeigbo when he said foundations should sponsor researches and academics to travel to conferences abroad. He said, “They should give research and travel grants and create Professorial Chairs in the universities so as to move the academia forward which they don’t yet do anyway. They need to have relationship with the academia. They should sponsor writers’ programmes, provide grants to help writers publish works and endow chairs and help forge international collaborations”. Prof. Emevwo Biakolo of Pan Atlantic University, Lekki, Lagos, said foundations are defined by the purpose for which they are set up and subsequently work in that direction. “If they are for education, we can expect something for education,” he noted, adding that his university has benefitted from TY Danjuma Foundation during its relocation period from Victoria Island to Lekki through the provision of infrastructural funds. ” Broadly speaking, it’s 50-50; it’s not merely enough to have a foundation. How well-funded are they to be able to make impact? TY Danjuma Foundation gave us considerable funding for our movement. Pascal Edozie was helpful in terms of infrastructure. We have received a lot of goodwill. School of Media and Communication (SMC) has received a lot of support. “In terms of Professorial Chairs, our foundations have not been forthcoming. Human resource is very expensive in universities; that is an area they should look at. No doubt, foundations need to be encouraged, especially if the funds given are put to good use. Universities need to be proactive in terms of funding being properly utilised. Universities ought to make a drive to encourage donors to come to their aid, and show accountability and productivity. At PAU, we always tend to rely on the business community for our activities” . Prof. Nduka Maduka of University of Port Harcourt doesn’t believe foundations make any impact in Nigeria’s academia. As he put it, “Universities are the pearl of learning anywhere. We’re still fighting for proper social institutions. I hope the foundations will develop and function properly to help the academia move forward. Foundations have to show interest in the areas they want to intervene. They should take an area of interest and develop it and provide facilities. With an area of interest in mind, they should make sure that academics there go for further studies; provide libraries, laboratories and develop them generally. Or is it in the secondary schools, they could train the teachers for better service delivery”. Prof. Mark Nwagwu, formerly of University of Ibadan and now Paul Okoye University, Awka, Anambra State, said foundations like TY Danjuma Foundation and a few others were doing their bit to lift universities. He corroborated Biakolo in its intervention at PAU, adding that another foundation also donated a very expressive art work. He noted that Foundations needed to do more in terms of the yawning gaps that should be filled. Nwagwu said First Bank Plc also established a Professorial Chair in Agriculture and Petroleum. According Nwagwu, “Not only are these not enough, it shows we place value in education. We do have a serious problem and attitude to money. Why would anyone accumulate so much money for himself the way we hear everyday? We don’t have value for things that demands value in this country. In this 21st century, funding for our education is going down and down; it’s not encouraging at all the kind of funding education receives”. However, Dr. Bukar Usman of Dr. Bukar Usman Foundation, Abuja, the only foundation that responded to our enquiry, was of the same view with Nwagwu in acknowledging the widening gap in educational funding and how interventionist efforts appear a mere drop in the ocean compared to the widening needs. His foundation provides scholarships to needy pupils and students. Usman said the sky is the limit for foundations, “from our experience judging the demand we are getting and not even meeting up”. With a floodgate of applications his foundation receives, Usman said they had to ascertain applicants’ genuineness before taking action. According to him, “We must ascertain if a child is in financial straits. The demand is high but resources limited that the culture is yet to catch up. Government used to meet the needs of pupils, but the number is staggering and overwhelming. We have assisted but not much”. Usman said foreign foundations were gradually shifting focus since Nigeria’s oil wealth. Missionaries, he noted, were other sources of intervention in educational needs, but government took the schools over for fear of indoctrination. However, such actions didn’t seem wise. Usman lamented the slow pace of development in the country’s education, noting that there is appreciable depreciation rather than appreciation from what it was decades back. (Courtesy: The Guardian, 23 February, 2016)
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