8th Edition of HIASFES Kicks Off, Promoting Reading Culture and Cultural Revival.
The Niger State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to support private initiatives focused on educational renewal, cultural preservation, and youth development.
This was evident with the start of the 8th edition of the Hadiza Ibrahim Aliyu Schools Festival, a flagship platform aligned with the goals of the New Niger Agenda.
The festival, which gathers pupils and students from public and private schools across the state, serves as a strategic private sector intervention in the government’s ongoing efforts to revive reading culture, strengthen cultural identity, and encourage creative learning within the official education system. By combining academic, literary, and cultural activities, the initiative supports the administration’s policy of using education and culture as tools for social unity, human capital growth, and sustainable development.
During the opening ceremony, Hon. Ladidi Rakiya Bawa Bosso, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, highlighted that the festival complements the state’s deliberate investments in literacy, indigenous knowledge systems, and youth-centered cultural programs.
She noted that under the New Niger Agenda, culture and education are being repositioned from ceremonial sectors to vital drivers of values re-orientation, civic responsibility, and economic growth.
She added that encouraging students to participate in reading, creative writing, performing arts, and intellectual competitions fosters critical thinking and pride in the state’s rich cultural heritage. She also emphasized that the government remains dedicated to supporting initiatives that connect classroom learning with cultural awareness, aiming to develop well-rounded citizens who are intellectually capable, culturally rooted, and globally competitive.
Alhaji Bala Abdullahi Kwatu, founder of the festival, in his welcome speech, acknowledged the supportive environment created by the state government and reaffirmed the festival’s goal of backing public policy on education and cultural sustainability. He explained that the festival was created as a practical response to the decline in reading habits among youth and the gradual loss of indigenous cultural expressions, especially at the grassroots level.
The festival includes a variety of activities, such as debates, quizzes, poetry recitations, storytelling, visual arts, music, and traditional dance competitions.
These activities are intentionally designed to spark interest in books and learning, foster healthy competition among schools, and preserve cultural traditions that define Niger State’s identity.
Apart from entertainment, the Hadiza Ibrahim Aliyu Schools Festival acts as a policy tool, bolstering government efforts to integrate culture and literacy into youth development initiatives. It also provides a platform for identifying young talents early and offering mentorship, supporting the objectives of the New Niger Agenda to invest in the next generation.
The festival continues tomorrow with more educational and cultural activities, further reinforcing the Niger State Government’s vision of building a literate, culturally confident, and socially responsible society based on the principles of the New Niger Agenda.
