Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Manassah Daniel Jatau PhD, has applauded a non-governmental organisation, HalimaFactor Community Initiative for creating a platform to help the youths in developing self-confidence.
The Deputy Governor further extolled the Initiative for organising the Gombe Day of Literature, now renamed North East Festival of Literature, Culture and Creativity in the past eight years which he said has challenged youths to read, write and discover their hidden potentials.
Speaking at the 3-day 2021 edition of the literary event which came to an end on Thursday in Gombe, Dr. Jatau said the literary prowess displayed by young men and women who have been nurtured by HalimaFactor Community Initiative speaks to its pedigree, stressing that such opportunity was not readily available in their days.
“You will agree with me that in our time, one of the young participants that came from Yobe would have been jittery during his performance, that he is able to talk is because HalimaFactor Community Initiative engineered confidence in them, and whether you are big or small, self-confidence is the greatest weapon towards any fight.”
“Once there is no self-confidence, you have lost the war. That these young persons have developed self-confidence means that they have been equipped with the tool they can explore in the society where unemployment and hunger is the order of the day. With what they have, they are at an advantage over their peers.”
“Also, HalimaFactor Community Initiative has imbued the zeal for creativity in them. With creativity, they can adapt to their environment” he said.
While commending the founder of the initiative, Halima Usman for her foresightedness in contributing to government’s effort to boost the educational sector, the Deputy Governor expressed the willingness of the state under the leadership of Gov. Inuwa Yahaya to continue fostering partnership with the initiative in the interest of Gombe and North East children generally, especially as the campaign for self-reliance is heightened.
In his remarks, the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of Nigeria National Petroleum Company Ltd, Mr. Garba Deen Mohammed said the company will continue to offer unrelenting support for the annual event which he said has attracted the goodwill of individuals and organisations committed to youth development.
Represented by the Mr. Festus Azike, Garba Deen Mohammed assured that the success story the annual event has recorded in the past eight years, particularly in uplifting the youths and developing their capacity will continue to form the basis under which his organisation will be part of HalimaFactor Community Initiative.
In her comment, the founder HalimaFactor Community Initiative, Halima Usman said the event is not centered around her as a person, noting that she has set up a mechanism to ensure that even in her absence, the programme will hold.
While commending the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Aliyu Usman El-Nafaty for making available facilities of the university for hosting of the event, Usman, who is also the chairman of Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, Abuja chapter announced that the 2022 edition of North East Festival of Literature, Culture and Creativity will be a one-week long event.
“You can decide to sponsored one thing or the other. The whole essence is to keep the dreams of these children alive, to raise the next set of professors, just like we have them sitted here today.
“We want to raise them, we don’t want to lose them. So I encourage everyone of us to look at the possibility of partnering with us, sponsoring one thing or the other towards the success of this event” she appealed.
The first North East Festival of Literature, Culture and Creativity featured lectures, panel discussion, workshop, poetry, prose, drawing competition, arts and literary exhibitions.
