RAINY SEASON: ANTI-FLOOD CAMPAIGN By Bello Sagir Imam

Every year, water flood as a form natural disaster affects Nigeria, particularly its northern part, which swallows properties worth billions of Naira, washing away houses, displacing thousand of residents, markets, farmlands and cemeteries unearthing many corpses. The disaster render many affected people missing, costing hundreds of lives. This is mainly due to nonchalance of the residents and poor environmental policy from the government.

Flood in action

According to Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), 363 people died in flooding in Nigeria in 2012. 7 million people were affected and 2.3 million displaced after 597,476 houses were submerged by water. The country is still working to recover from the 2012 floods, which were considered to be the worst in 40 years. The following year, 2013, in Kano alone, the flood displaced over 500 people, killed one person after he fell in a River at Darmanawa in Kumbotso Local Government Area of the State. Four people were missing after they had been swept away by raging flood waters. The flooding also damaged the city cemetery, unearthing 20 corpses. The then Kano authorities claimed that at least 100 homes have been destroyed in the area, but Nigeria’s State Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation Agency (NEMA) gave a conflicting figure that 408 homes were destroyed in Kano city and another 26 outside the metropolis.

Last year, 2015, No fewer than 53 people have died in 11 states in the country resulting from flood disasters that displaced more than 100,420 persons.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report indicated that thousands of houses, farmlands and property worth billions of Naira were also lost to the flood disasters in many Local Government Areas affected in the northern states which were Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kaduna, Jigawa, Adamawa, Yobe, Gombe and Bauchi.

Many factors contribute to water flooding, more prominently are: building houses on waterways, narrowness of culverts and bridges dumping refuse at drainages and over filling of dams. At first, while locally segmenting land (awon igiya) done by traditional leaders and land dealers, out of either ignorance or bias or both, lands are segmented on waterways which is later sold to prospective buyers who will build on it thereby blocking smooth passage of water. Some times extension of houses also affect the waterways. In such a case, water, especially during heavy rain, will not get a passage and this will make it force its way. Some culverts and bridges are too narrow to let water move without hitches, in such an instance, water will force its way. Also the uncivilized way of dumping refuse everywhere, especially at drainages blocks the water passage which makes it force its way. When our dams are over filled, they over flow and force their ways. In all these instances highlighted above, the water having forced its way, move to the streets and stop traffic movement, killing people, washes away whatever it meets, which may be houses, farmlands, markets. Also it drowns people and make them missing and eventually kill them.

The solution is that, first of all, looking at the non-fulfilling nature of our most governments, to their promises, the society ought to develope communal project whereby they build drainages or expand them etc, with their gathered money. Government should embark on regular anti-flood campaign especially near and during rainy season. This campaign includes, jingles, posters, bill boards, sign boards, anti-flood films show on TV and projectors, radio dramas, leaflets, radio and television programs and advertorials. Prior warning of flood outbreak by meteorologists must be taken seriously by both the residents and the government. Our dams have to be well managed by their experts, so that they will not be over filled to overflow and kill people and destroy farmlands and other properties. Town planning and environmental workers/experts should be carried along and their suggestions should be duly implemented. Local land segmenting (awon igiya) should be outlawed, or made to conform with the best standard practice. Traditional and religious leaders must be involved. Laws have to be enacted to punish anybody who commits environmental offense capable of aiding flooding. The increasing use of polythene bag have to also be limited.

Therefore, unless the strong measures mentioned above are put in place, the devastating flood will continue to cost lives and properties on annual basis, unchecked. My hope is that this campaign will be well disseminated until it reaches the concerned authorities and of course my fellow masses whom I'm optimistic will be influenced by this piece.

(C) Bello Sagir Imam 2016.

08132518714/08057680032/belsagim@gmail.com

AN OPEN LETTER TO MTN

This open letter was published in Blueprint Newspaper of 18/02/16 tagged: 'Letter To MTN' and on www.memorilacom tagged:'MTN: Last Plea Before I. Port'.

I'm sick of it. I'm  prostrated by the inconveniences I have been subjected to for quite many years, Without my knowledge, you steal money from my account and forcefully subscribe me to your caller tunes. I followed the instruction to opt out, but after successfully opting out, you register me again at a later time. You give me poor BBC Blackberry monthly subscription and poor call network. More so, you send me junks of useless text messages about your seductive promos and raffles. As a Muslim, you send me Christian messages that have nothing to do with me or my faith. And to add fuel to fire, a fortnight ago you sent me messages calling me to go and register my sim card, even though I suffered all the hustles involved in sim registration and successfully registered since last year. I patiently and quietly went and registered within five hours! The following day after you confirmed my registration to me, you sent another message to me that reads: 'Dear Customer, we are open this Saturday & Sunday. Please URGENTLY visit any MTN registration center to re-register your SIM. Very FAST service guaranteed. Text REG to 64625 for the center nearest to you. Valid ID required. Thank you.' Stop this madness to 08132518714, my number!

Before I resorted to put pen to paper, I visited MTN offices time without number and complained, but you had never attended to me convincingly. Every time I went to your office, I had to join the long queue of customers and patiently wait. Many times, I engaged in discussions with some customers on our collective predicaments. In the course of the discussion, some had shared with me their ordeals in your hand, MTN, which was mostly as the same as mine. At times, some of these customers leave the office foaming at the mouth. I could vividly recall an incidence that transpired between one angry customer and your customer care agent. Having waited in the queue for more than five hours for his number to be called which will enable him to be attended to by one of the customer agents, he was called and attended to. The frown on his face when he stood away from the chair facing the agent and the aggression in his movement indicated that something outward was definitely going to take place. What he did was tearing his copy of the re-registration form in his hand, threw them on the ground and made a long hiss before he walked out, murmuring.

Apart from going to your offices, I equally called your online customer care agent severally. I would wait for an hour or so before I was attended to online, yet you couldn't solve my problem. Recently, I posted a warning to you on my Facebook timeline and on other online fora that you either stop the madness or else...And you couldn't heed to the warning. Only this morning Saturday (13/02/16), you sent ten messages to me telling me to go and re-register. This is unethical! One of the messages, which you sent to me twice is threatening and it reads: 'Dear customer, to avoid being BARRRED this month,please register now at any MTN SIM Reg point.'.

Well, take note my callers pls! I love the MTN but I think 'I have to love them and leave them' having being patronizing them for over a decade without required customer satisfaction, in their over two decades of existence in Nigeria. In case I swap the telecommunication company, forgive me for any inconvenience doing that may course to you, for that is something courtesy of MTN! And the alternative should be my other number pls. MTN, let me put it clear to you, STOP deducting money from my account for a caller tune I didn't subscribe to. STOP giving us poor network for BBC and calls, STOP sending messages that has nothing to do with my religion and of course STOP sending messages calling me to go and re-register!

Before I shut the door at you, let me assure you that I can continue being in the list of your subscribers, provided you resolve my complaints above. At this juncture, I call on the National Assembly, the Human Right Commission, National Communication Commission, Consumer Protection Council and all other concerned authorities to come in and cement the bad rapport between us and the MTN.

This piece was published on 18/02/16 in Blueprint newspaper.

(C) Bello Sagir Imam 2016.
08132518714/belsagim@gmail.com/www.b>ellosagirimam.blogspot.com

CC:

MTN Nigeria Ltd.
National Assembly
Human Right Commission
National Communication Commission Consumer Protection Council

SICKLE CELL ANEMIA: PRE-MARITAL SCREENING, A THREAT TO LOVERS? -NASEEBA SANI BABALE

Nigeria has the largest population of people with sickle cell anaemia in the world with about 150,000 births annually. Statistics show that over 40m (one fourth) of Nigerians are carriers of the sickle cell gene. Despite this large number of people with this disorder, a lot of Nigerians still have a negative image and/or lack of awareness of it. Most lovers in the peak of love are reluctant to undergoing a pre-marital screening and refuse to let go of partners of whom they have a potential of giving birth to sickle cell anaemic children, just because their unadulterated love would not allow it.

Sickle cell disease occurs when a person inherits two abnormal haemoglobin genes, one from each parent. This abnormal haemoglobin is called haemoglobin "S". Inheritance of two haemoglobin S genes makes a person to have the SS combination. Thus the haemoglobin produced is abnormal and the person develops sickle cell anaemia.
Like all other inherited disorders, sickle cell anaemia is not curable! However, this deadly disease can be prevented only through pre-marital screening and counseling. Sickle cell anaemia is a disease that keeps its culprits, mostly children and young adults entangled in life-long episodes of intense pain and discomfort. They are rarely completely healthy, spending most of their days on hospital beds, swallowing medications and having blood transfused through their veins almost all the time. They also suffer a lot of social discrimination, psychological pains including depression. Their parents and loved ones are also involved in this pains. These includes financial challenges. They experience several sleepless nights nursing their sick kids, always running to and fro the hospital and their kids spend most of their times out of school rather than in school with their colleagues.

The normal haemoglobin is haemoglobin A, while two abnormal haemoglobins are most common, haemoglobins S and C. individuals with a combination of A and C or A and S are termed carriers of sickle cell trait. They are usually healthy and rarely present with any complications. Individuals with a combination of A and A have a normal haemoglobin type, while those with S AND C, C and C or S and S have the sickle cell anaemia! Couples that have the AC and AS combination, AC and AS combination or AC and AC combination have a high chance of giving birth to sickle cell kids! Individuals with the SS, CC or SC combination should only get married to an AA as that is the only way they can avoid giving birth to a child with similar condition as their own!

The only solution to preventing incidences of SCA is pre-marital screening. It is obligatory upon all individuals to know their haemoglobin genotype that is for them to know the type of haemoglobin combination they possess and to know the right partner for them.

It`s mandatory on us all to join hands and save the future generation, we must sacrifice whatever love we feel we have for each other as far as we have a potential of giving birth to a child with sickle cell anaemia. Let`s save our future from episodes of pain and hospitalization. Let`s save ourselves the financial and emotional burden associated with nursing a child with sickle cell anaemia. If we let our love leads us to the birth of sick children that suffer their entire lives in pain, those children will never forgive us when they come to know that we had a way of preventing their suffering, but didn`t because our love wouldn`t allow it! Let us all make a sickle cell anaemia free Nigeria possible!
NASIBA SANI BABALE, 2015.

Naseeba Sani Babale is medical laboratory scientist doing her internship with Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH).

'PEERLESS UNIVERSITY' AND OTHER POEMS -Bello Sagir Imam

The first poem here was published on Page 45 of 'BUK Today' magazine of January 2016, and it's historic, being the first one I rendered in a live radio program)

PEERLESS UNIVERSITY
-Bello Sagir Imam

The Nigerian version of Sankore
Erected in the shadow of Dala
As heterogeneous as the country
Bestowing the nation with light
Manufacturing credible leaders

The home of a dual cap and emeriti
Platform for learners and teachers
Nigeria's 'A' Grade Institution
Born opposite Dukawuya
But now based at Rimingata

Bearing 13 faculties and 70 departments
It hatches what can be hatched by none
Who excel in all disciplines
Helping the country grow and develop
Becoming the envy of all

Unwavering I'm, being loyal ambassador
For my university par excellence
The song sung now is
Above every university, there is BUK!

belsagim@gmail.com
(C) Bello Sagir Imam 2015.

I HAVE A DREAM (1)
(For Ummu Abdullahi. After reading 'I Have A Dream' of Martin Luther King)
-Bello Sagir Imam

I Have A Dream
that you're married
to a man of your choice

I have a dream
that you're blessed with
bright kids

I have a dream
that you graduate
at the top of your class

I have a dream
that you and your hubby
are love birds

I have a dream
that you become a relief
to your parents

I have a dream
that you separate with
your parent in peace

I have a dream that
your husband achieves
his lifetime dreams

I have a dream
that you became
a first lady

I have a dream
that you became
a star of stars

I have a dream
that you leave a legacy
to this generation
and to the posterity

I have a dream
that your son
becomes a president

I have a dream
that your grand son
becomes a governor

I have a dream
that you help
millions of poor people

I have a dream
that you re-unite
with your hubby
family and friends
in Firdaus.

(C) Bello Sagir Imam 2015.

I CHERISH YOUR BLUE EYES
-Bello Sagir Imam

A voice asks me every moment
Why I enjoy being a student
And my grade the best emolument
'Your blue eyes are my merriment

I cherish your blue eyes

Yes your blue eyes, at *BUK is my feast
To defend them I can clench my fist
That's why I marry the east
To live longer and tell the gist

I cherish your blue eyes

Eye contact with you cause
Me to understand all my course
And that's always the source
Of my food and a sauce

I cherish your blue eyes

In darkness you don't need light
Even in the grave at night
They will make it look bright
The eyes *NEPA can't fight

I cherish your blue eyes

I feel jealous in my mind
If men cherish your eyes in my land
I pray to marry you soon or you go blind
Before jealousy kills me, killing of this kind

I cherish your blue eyes

Blue eyed are blue eyed only
But you're in addition, Godly
For this I cherish them happily
And thank God for making you rarely

I cherish your blue eyes

Hello, accept me to be your hubby
And you be the mother of Sumy
Not forgetting Abdul our baby
And other babies with nanny

I cherish your blue eyes

*BUK is an acronym for the Prestigious Bayero University Kano. *NEPA: National Electricity Power Authority.

belsagim@gmail.com

(C) Bello Sagir Imam 2015. 
                         

THE SUN STILL SHINES
(For Sheikh Aminuddeen Abubakar)
-Bello Sagir Imam

When Kano was a grave
The sun rose from the heaven
Shining every where
The sun set suddenly
When his trumpet was blown.

He was a cloud
Raining scholarship
A voice
Silencing Ungodliness
A water
Washing away paganism
A sword
Beheading prostitution.

In the land of the Prophet
Azra'I'll seized him
And Arabs envied his leaving:
He is now a candidate of paradise
Like Ja'afar and Albani
Dr, our greetings to the duo.

While resting in peace
Keep enjoying the fruits 
of your trees and our prayers.
Should we not behold
That Sheikh's exit
Is prologue to doomsday?

(C) Bello Sagir Imam 2016.

INTERVIEW: LINGUISTICS WILL FOREVER REMAIN AS THE MOTHER OF ALL PROFESSIONS- VINCENT

Being committed to serving you in the maximum way in the blogsphere, this time, as it's customary with Learning Never Ends (LNE), it brings to you a fresh but rare interview with another success story from the Linguistic world. He is no other person than Comrade Owoh Ugochukwu Vincent. He is a Linguist and a student leader. He is interviewed by Bello Sagir Imam where he unveils so many vital issues as regards to Linguistics and student leadership, that address the most frequently asked questions by both initiated and uninitiated persons in the field. He further argued that, in his eyes, till doomsday, his discipline will remain relevant to all other disciplines. Enjoy:

LNE: Sir, in just few words, can you tell us about yourself?

VINCENT: Ok thank you. My name is Comrade Owoh Ugochukwu Vincent. A Linguist, studying at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State. And by His grace I'm presently the National President of Linguistics & Languages Students Association (NALLS)nig.

LNE: What does NALLS offer and to whom?

VINCENT: Ah, this is a good question. NALLS nig is a national students Association for Linguistics and Languages students in Nigeria. NALLS nig fights for the interest of its members and promotes Linguistics and Languages professions in Nigeria.

LNE: What is Linguistics?

VINCENT: Linguistics is the scientific study of Language. In addition, Linguistics studies all aspects of Language from its formal structural properties to the way it is used, as represented in the brain. Linguistics as a field of study endeavors to describe and explain the human faculty of Language.

LNE: What are the branches of Linguistics?

VINCENT: Wow! Linguistics as a course has the following four branches:

1) General Linguistics, generally describes the concepts and categories of a particular language or among all language. It also provides analyzed theory of the language.

2) Descriptive Linguistics describes or gives the data to confirm or refute the theory of particular language explained generally.

3) Micro Linguistics is the narrower view. It concerns internal view of Language itself (structure of language system) without relating to other sciences and to how to apply it in daily life. Some fields of Micro Linguistics are as follows: a) Phonetics (b) Phonology (c) Morphology (d) Syntax (e) Semantics (f) Pragmatics (g) Discourse Analysis.

4) Macro Linguistics is the broadest view of language. It is concerned with external view of language itself relating to other sciences and how to apply it in daily life. Some fields of Macro Linguistics are as follows: (a) Stylistics (b) Developmental Linguistics (c) Historical Linguistics (d) Language Geography(e) Evolutionary Linguistics (f) Psycho Linguistics (g) Socio Linguistics (h) Clinical Linguistics (I) Neuro Linguistics (j) Biolinguistics (k) computational linguistics and we also have (l) forensic linguistics and others. The latter helps in the detection of crime and terrorism, as it is used by America and other developed nations. Nigerian security too can use it in their fight against terrorism and all other forms of crimes.

LNE: In brief, how did Linguistics come into being, historically?

VINCENT: Thank you for this interesting question. In ancient civilization, Linguistics study was originally motivated by the correct description of classical Liturgical language, notably that of Sanskrit grammar beginning in about the 6th Century BCE, or by the development of logic and rhetoric in ancient Greece, leading to a grammatical tradition in Hellenism beginning around the 4th Century BCE. China also developed its own grammatical traditions. Traditions of Arabic grammar and Hebrew grammar developed during the middle Ages, also in a religious context. Thank you.

LNE: What are the merits and the demerit (if there is any) of studying Linguistics?
VINCENT: Good. In my opinion there are lots of merits of studying Linguistics. Here are some of them:

1) it gives one the opportunity to know how words are formed.

2) it broadens ones mood of expressions because you can play on words and syntactically arrive at the meaning intended to pass on.

3) It gives one the link to other fields of study and to cap it all, Linguistics is arguably, the mother of all other professions and will forever remain as such, as no profession can exist without using language which is the tool of Linguistics. For me, the only demerits on this is that you will only know little about other professions. Thank you.

LNE: What are the direct relevance of Linguistics to our society?

VINCENT: There are so many relevance of Linguistics in our life. One, there is what we call Discourse Analysis, which is the field that examines the natural use of language in everyday use, which includes, gender differences, gestures, language and politics, among many others. Secondly, there is what we call Languages in contact which happens when cultures are exposed to different languages. In some cases, they may borrow words and sometimes new language emerge. Thirdly, Meaning which tells us how people understand the actual meaning behind the things we say. Then language in the social context tells us a lot about what we know about a language and its importance in society

LNE: Is Linguistics a Social Science? If yes, what are its relationship with other Social Science courses?

VINCENT: No. Linguistics is a purely a science. It's the scientific study of languages. Thank you.

LNE: How marketable is Linguistics?

VINCENT: Very marketable because Linguistics have links with every field of study. A Linguist has a place in the media house, in the hospital, in the law court, in the embassy etc so a Linguist can work in any parastatal of choice.

LNE: What are the interrelatedness between languages and Linguistics?
VINCENT: Nice question! We already know that Linguistics is a scientific study of language. Ok, from different viewpoints, as a science, linguistics can be divided into several branches. As a science, linguistics must fulfill some scientific prerequisites. First, it must have a subject mater. Language is said to be a subject matter of linguistics. As a subject matter, a language must be clearly and explicitly defined. Finocchioro defined a language as a system of arbitrary, vocal symbols that permit all people in a given culture, or other people who have learned the system of that culture, to communicate or to interact.

LNE: What can you say about learning Linguistics in Nigeria? Compare and contrast it with that of other African and Non African countries.
VINCENT: Learning Linguistics in Nigeria is very necessary and important. This will help the Nigerian government to keep records of the various native Languages spoken across the country and in the other words there will be a preservations of culture of the people. In comparism with other African country, in my opinion I will say that the study of Linguistics in African countries is still on the same pace because record of Languages spoken in Africa are not recorded and as such most of her Languages are lost. Presently, most of African Languages including Nigeria are going into extinction but in contrary to that of the developed countries of the world where the study of Linguistics is highly observed and the procedure of Language recording is on the high pace that the histories of Language development is documented unlike her African counterpart that had no history of her Language.

LNE: Probably, the most asked question by the fresh students of Linguistics in Nigerian universities, especially immediately they were admitted, is that: 'Does studying Linguistics means studying English, or Hausa, or Ibgo or Yoruba, or English or Arabic or French, or some of these together or perhaps all of them?', in other words, 'will one graduate with B.A Linguistics Hausa or B.A Linguistics English at the end of one's studies?'. What can you say about this, Comrade?

VINCENT: It's not. Studying Linguistics is all about knowing the components that build up Language of the world and also the relationship between one language and the other. Like we have the language tree, here. We now have the mother Language and the sister languages. Studying Linguistics will also expand your knowledge to play on word because of the syntaxzology knowledge. Example of what I mean- I advised him to try not to be too trying. You find out in this concept we have 'try' in two places but having different meaning. This is the work of Linguistics, its not about having just a knowing on a particular language like English, igbo , French etc. So with the knowing of Linguistics you can absolutely analysis any language you come in contact with. But at this juncture I will advise every Linguistics students to have a knowledge on any Foreign language of your choice like French, chiness etc. this will promote you much more in the labour market. Though its also possible you graduate with B.A Linguistics Igbo, or Hausa depending on your programme and the university in which you study. Thanks.

LNE: Comrade, some students assert that university primary assignment i.e studies is in opposition with student unionism. Do you concur with the assertion. Then How do you reconcile between the two?

VINCENT: No I don't concur on the opinion that the University primary assignment is in opposition with students unionism. My reason is as follows: first the University programme is peramant, a students who gained admission into an institution is expected to obey the Universities rules and regulations so in this view every students Unionism should work in line with the programme of the university because without the university you are not recognized. And if student is already committed to his studies, his involvement in student unionism will in no way harm his studies, it will instead give him several advantages during and after his graduation. Thanks.

LNE: What can you say about the blog: 'Learning Never Ends' which is on: www.bellosagirimam.blogspot.com?
VINCENT: Yeah. Its really a welcome development to see in the history of Linguistics world that a Linguist developed a site as this. With this blog issues facing the discipline can be showcased here in the blog and be discussed to provide answers to them. I believe that this blog will really go very far and become popular among Linguistics students in Nigeria. Thanks.

LNE: What is your last massage, especially to your non-linguistics readers?

VINCENT: This is really interesting, yeah I would give this message to my non-linguistics readers and also to my Linguistics readers too. First of all it's very important that everyone should have little knowledge about Linguistics because it will help you know that your language is your identity, so you shouldn't lose your language and it will assist you to have the knowledge to know how language is preserved. Thank you very much my famous Linguist, Comrade Bello Sagir Imam from Beyero University Kano for this notable interview that is gird to promote Linguistics profession. Ok take good care of yourself brother. You will go places.

LNE: Sir, this blog can't thank you enough, and it gives you three powerful gbosas. Gbosa! gbosa!! gbosa!!!

'Learning Never Ends' will soon, God willing, interview Comrade Owoh Ugochukwu Vincent on the fast approaching national linguistics conference that will host representatives of students of the course from all the Nigerian universities and colleges, to be held in Abuja, and post here. Just stay in touch with the blog: 'Learning Never Ends' for satisfying your reading flair.

Thanks for the reading!
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

BUK GRADUATES ITS PIONEER LIGUISTICS STUDENTS By Bello Sagir Imam

As the year 2015 climaxed, the Linguistics Department of Bayero University Kano (BUK) graduated its pioneer B.A. students, ever produced by the nestling department. It is said that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a step. The grandaunts’ four-year academic sojourn was capped up with a send-off party organized by the Linguistics Students Association (LINSA), on Sunday 20th of December, 2015, held at the Parliamentary chamber of Bayero University Students Union Government (SUG). The occasion was graced by personalities such as the Head of the Department, Lecturers, students, as well as some family members and friends of the students. The event kick-started with prayers by Malam Jamilu Saleh Abdussalam, the departmental secretary.

Lecturers led by the Head Of the Department (H.O.D) spoke one after the other and offered some pieces of advice to the grandaunts that will face new challenges of life, after passing out and integrating into the larger society.

Addressing the gathering, the H.O.D, Professor Mukhtar Abdulkadir Yusuf, implored the young Linguists to, in the spirit of 'forgive and forget' forgive who might have offended them in their process of learning. He concluded by urging them to be honest, saying that 'honesty', 'is the best policy'. On their part, Prof. Aliyu Musa and Prof. Danladi Yalwa emphasized on the need for the celebrants to embrace honesty in whatever they do and wherever they find themselves, while, the Departmental Examination Officer, Dr. Tijjani Almajir, linked his admonishment on the popular saying that, 'beggars must not be choosers' meaning, warning the graduates against life of greed and being too ambitious, by only emphasizing on getting white collar jobs. A female lecturer, Malama Zahra'u Ibrahim Waya called on them to be patient and enduring in their life undertakings, while Malama Maimuna A. Isma'il preached that they should be God fearers in whichever position they happen to attain. Malam Tahir Abba highlighted that Linguistics is a leading course to Medicine, Law and other fields of studies as they couldn't do without language. He added that the graduates should be able to defend their certificates through their conducts. In his comments, Prof. Hafiz Miko, thanked Allah for making the department what it is today, recounting his experience, being the first Level Coordinator in the Department. He said the task of graduating the students was a herculean one, but with the help of God, all was now history. Mal. Yahaya 
Muhammad Ahmad
 reitrated what his earlier colleague said. All the academics speeches were in line with the twin qualities boldly inscribed in the certificate of every graduate of the institution and they are 'Learning and Character.' Malam Isa Muhammad Inuwa, summed up all the comments made, urging the graduates not to be enticed by the ‘get rich quick' syndrome. He concluded by drawing the attention of the graduates, to always prove themselves as Linguists, by trying to express themselves fluently in English and in any other language, whether in speech or in writing, as they won't be forgiven by the laymen in the larger society when they become deficient in language, be it their first or second.

While responding on behalf of the graduating students, Muktar Adamu Aliyu, expressed an ocean of thanks to all their lecturers for molding them into Linguists. Also speaking, Sani Dauda shared with the audience his experience while at BUK, which included how the university offered them admission into Linguistics, as against LLB for which they have earlier applied.

He testified that at the beginning, they had no idea what Linguistics was all about, wondering whether it was Hausa, English, Arabic etc. Also commenting, a female student, Binta Rabi'u Muhd, aka 'Maman Linguistics' expressed her pride as graduate of Linguistics, stressing, she would remain as such wherever she finds herself. She expressed her ambition that she would be the first, from her colleagues, to register for M.A in the department. Their former Class Captain, Muhammad Muazu, asserted that his gratefulness to their lecturers was beyond mention. He concluded by seeking for an apology from whomever he might have wronged throughout their studies.

Finally, the new executives of the Linguistics Students Association (LINSA) were sworn in. As it is usual with such gatherings, the DJ adjusted his volume, playing the latest music in town and some graduates danced to the tune, to show their happiness. This entertainment occurred as the staff members of the department departed for group photographs with the graduates.Amidst the entertainment, the attendees enjoyed themselves by feasting on the delicacies. The historic occasion was closed with prayers.

Bello Sagir Imam is a member, Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Kano State Branch and a level 300 student of Linguistics Department, BUK.
belsagim@gmail.com/0805768003/www.bellosagirimam.blogspot.com

(C)Bello Sagir Imam 2015.

2015 AUGUST'S EDITION OF CREATIVE WRITERS' FORUM OF THE ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIAN AUTHORS (ANA), KANO STATE BRANCH

The American Corner of Murtala Muhd. Library was filled to the brim by established and budding writers, university dons, as well as other literary enthusiasts for witnessing the monthly Creative Writers' Forum of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Kano State Branch's August 2015 edition where poems, short stories, articles, plea and travelogue by various writers were presented, followed by audiance comment to which the presenters responded amidst avalanche of photographs shot by some audience and rounds of applause at reasonable intervals which embellished the August's literary gathering.

The Literary session took off at exactly 11:00 AM with Bello Sagir Imam as the chairman of the occasion assisted by Badamasi Aliyu Abdullahi aka 'Maximum Bodmas', the Coordinator of ANA Kano. Having invoked divine Providence, the presentations which were splitted into two sessions began. More than ten entries ranging from poems, short stories, plea and travelogue were presented in all. It included 'Ten Poems' presented by Malam Isma'il Bala Garba, a lecturer of English And Literary Studies Department, Bayero University Kano (BUK).

The 'Ten Poems' is a collection of ten different poems presented by the poet at Ayowa Writers' Workshop in U.S.A, which includes 'Both Together And Each Alone'. This poem eulogizes Yehuda Amichai, an Israeli friend of the presenter. Here is an excerpt from the poem below:

'The dawn is slicing night in half above-
Come, and we will set out for half way love.
Just the two of us will camp, before the park is opened.
Certainly everything can still be changed.
Both of us together and each alone.

My love, it appears, has changed me
To sweet crumbs of cookies that was sour dung
I come to you gingerly, and I stumble.
Accept me. No dark angels fall.
For we are both together. Each is alone.

'Watering The Trees' and two other poems were presented by Dr. Faruk Sarkin Fada, a lecturer of Micro Biology Department, BUK. The poem won Daily Trust's 'Poet of the Week' of June 20, 2015. This poem satarizes the sixteen years of fruitless democracy we had in Nigeria. The excerpt:

A nation of trees
With drying branches and fallen leaves
Hit by droughts, 16 years they lived

For blight and hunger, the masses leave
For killings and burnings, all the residents flee
To safety domains in search of peace...

And the last stanza reads:

Now the rain has come to water these trees
To revive their branches and regain their leaves

Logophile was presented by Badamasi Aliyu Abdullahi. The poem expresses the poet's love for words. The excerpt:

'Once upon a time in the island of words
I fell sick because of the love of vocabs
To the hospital I was taken in haste
The doctor diagnosed me in depth
A vocabulary deficient patients he said I was
He grabbed my card and prescribed some notes
His prescription astounded my friends
Books, pamphlets, dictionaries, and thesaurus
Were my capsules, tablets and syrupy medications'

Pilot Muhammad Rufa'i Jega and Dr. Ammar Rabiu are Primary three pupils of Hanan International College Kano. The former presented a plea entitled: 'An Appeal To ANA' while the later presented a very short travelogue entitled: 'My Visit To Dubai'. The appeal reads:

'My fathers, elder brothers and wonderful and powerful writers. I'm very happy to be with you in this august celebration of writing and writers.

On behalf of all my fellow children, I appeal to ANA to create a kids' section for us. We are the future and we are your legacy so, please do not forget us.

The travelogue reads:

Life in Dubai is expensive, eg taxi from here to our house you pay 50 Dirhams (3000). There are big hotels in Dubai. There is power supply all the time. We went to Dubai by Ethopian Airline in the morning on Wednesday. Dubai is a small city, it is not like Kano. But it is very beautiful and they did the change in ten years only.

Doohemba Gwa presented a short story entitled 'My Illuminator' which is an excerpt from 'The Diary of The Corper Across the Benue River'. It illustrates the notion that every one of us as human beings, no matter how virtuous we might be has a demon in us; meaning the good and bad side of our lives. The excerpt:

'As I sipped directly from the bottle of beer, I let my mind traveled back in time to the first moment I had my first sip of beer. I was only fourteen then when I, in the company of my mates scrambled the school wall and went for an adventure. True, background and upbringing conceal our true self; that experience taught me that. I was like a virgin land waiting to be explored; a spring waiting to be discovered. That night, my second personality was born. This very one that sat in a night club on a weekend Friday enjoying the scenario I was surrounded in.'

The writers that also presented fantastic entries are: Hussain A. Hussain, Ibrahim Yahaya Adam, B. Balarabe aka 'Nigerian Man', Aliyu Abul Hussain, and Ammar Femoh Sesay. Others are: Zaharaddeed Ibrahim Kallah, the writer of the new novel, 'The Right Choice', and Almustapha Iliyasu aka 'Amidido' the Secretary General of ANA Kano.

The international poet, Mal. Ismail Bala Garba offered some excellent tips for becoming a successful writer to the audience. This was vividly especially to the upcoming writers who listened with rapt attention. He emphasized that as a writer it's a must to: 'Read and read much more than you attempt to write. Read it out to yourself. Read in your natural way. Write and present seldom. Be a self critique', etcetera.

The Author of Microbial World: A mysterious journey (science fiction): Faruk Sarkinfada PhD, on his part just like Logal Peasal Smith, talked about the fraternal relationship of writers and creativity where he said: 'The sustainability of ANA Kano Creative writers' forum over the last 2 decades, demonstrates that Creativity never dies. It is a naturally acquired instinct that could only be improved upon, but not taught.

'In the past, the joy, inspirations and anxiety generated during the monthly presentations go beyond a mere symposium lasting for 2-3 hours. Participants often spend a longer period brainstorming and cross fertilization of ideas after every symposium. Perhaps, such interactions should extend to our homes and working place.'

On creativity, he professed: 'Creativity is just like a naturally acquired provision for a traveler on a journey but could not reach his destination if not guided; its like a traveler with adequate provision in an open desert, but lacks a guide. Young aspiring writers therefore need to be mentored by the seasoned and experienced ones to guide and help shape their focus and quality of their outputs.'

The forum was equally graced by the presence of the Coordinator, American Corner, Murtala Muhd Library Kano, Mal. Nura Mudi and Dr. Nura Abdullahi, a lecturer of Islamic Studies and Shari'ah Department Bayero University Kano (BUK), among others.

The literary forum rounded off at exactly 2:00 PM after the closing prayer. Group photographs were shot and all the attendees dispersed to their respective destinations.

(C) Bello Sagir Imam 2015.
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