When IBBU Lapai honoured Abubakar Gimba
The Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State, recently rubbished the time honoured truism that a prophet is not honoured in his town when the institution rolled out the red carpet in honour of late writer and public intellectual, Mallam Abubakar Gimba.
The National Conference on the ‘Life and Writings of Abubakar Gimba’ was convened by the Faculty of Languages and Communication Studies of the university, which the late Gimba played a prominent role in setting up; a fact, speaker after speaker never let the audience forget in the four days the conference ran.
Convener of the conference, Dr. E.E. Sule, an associate professor of English and the Dean, Faculty of Languages and Communication Studies, said: “As far as I know, this is the first public event on Mallam Abubakar Gimba after his death on February 25, 2015.”
He also said that though Gimba belonged to the entire university having served as the Chairman of the Evaluation and Implementation Committee that set up the university as well as serving as Chairman of the First Governing Council of the institution, it is in “the faculty of Languages and Communication Studies his spirit and ideas find home.”
“I would like to point out that this conference is just the beginning of what the Faculty ought to do, must do, to preserve his memory,” he said.
Many speakers at the event shared their memories of Mal Gimba, many lauding his humility, dedication and hardwork.
In a similar vein, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Muhammad Nasiru Maiturare said, “To know Abubakar Gimba at close quarters was a rare privilege. Working with him… was a distinct honour. He was very rich in knowledge and accomplishment yet very simple unassuming.”
He lauded Gimba for his numerous achievements saying, “In life, we do many things which make us whom we are and in the end they shape every detail about us. In just 63 years, Abubakar Gimba had turned full circle. He had achieved more than many who had lived for more years had achieved.”
On its part, the Niger State Government of Alh Abubakar Sani Bello, determined not to be left out in the race to honour one of the State’s favourite sons, announced a prize in the institution in honour of the late writer.
Making the announcement on behalf of the governor, Alh Hussaini Nma Baba, the Director of the Niger State Book and Other Intellectual Resources Development Agency said the government is determined to use literature as a tool for development and regeneration and would therefore institute the prize, whose modalities will be worked out later, with the sum of N500, 000 as prize money.
The four-day conference featured paper presentations from academics and writers drawn from across the country. As well as a book chat and writers’ workshop covering the fields of creative writing, poetry, children writing and playwrighting.
The book chat and workshops were organized in conjunction with Minna-based AMAB Books and Publishing.
The conference had in attendance the Emirs of Agaei and Lapai, scholars from various institutions, members of the Association of Nigerian Author’s, executive, students and the family of the late Abubakar Gimba.