By Hadiza Isyaku Abdulsalam
In a bid to promote literacy and creativity in Zaria, the Zazzau Literary Society has opened the floor for Zaria youth to embrace collaboration and build a friendly ecosystem for the Arts and creative industry in Zaria.
Aminu Aliyu Yantagwaye, the first president of the Zazzau Literary Society, mentioned this in a statement following the grand unveiling of the Zazzau Literary Society with the theme: “Collaborative Ecosystem in Zaria: Where We Started, Our Current State and the Future We Are Looking At,” which took place on January 4, 2026, at IDACECD, in Zaria.
Speaking during the event, the chairperson of the Zazzau Creative Writer’s Clubs, Dr. Haruna Muhammad, who is also a lecturer of psychology at Ahmadu Bello University, narrated how arts and intellectual discourse started in Zaria.
“This gathering reminded me of the golden past, specifically twelve years back when we started the Zazzau Creative Writer’s Club at Shehu Idris LGEA primary school in Babban Dodo, Zaria City, where we used to have a cross-section of intellectuals coming together to cross-fertilize ideas on a weekly basis,” he said.
Earlier, the Royal father of the day, Maga Isan Zazzau, Dr. Bashir Ibrahim Dabo, urged the Zazzau Literary Society Team to collaborate among themselves to bring more positive initiatives in Zaria and pledged continued support to the development of the Zazzau Literary Society, which emphasizes the commitment of the Zazzau Emirate Council in promoting youth-led initiatives.
In his remark, Dr. Abubakar Ayuba of the Department of African Languages and Culture, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, related the beginning of creativity in Zaria to the time of Emir of Zazzau Alu Dansidi, who happened to be a poet. He reflected on the life of the emir through some lines from Alu Dansidi’s poems.
The founder of Startup Zaria, Malam Ila Ibrahim Baffa, together with a popular climate activist in Zaria, Muhammad Sani Ibrahim, opened the floor for discussions with their commitments to supporting the creative ecosystem in Zaria to the best of their capacities.
Speaking during the event, Dr. Aminu Hayatu from Bayero University Kano commended the efforts of the Zaria youth and urged the Zazzau Literary Society to maintain the tempo through exploring the rich cultural heritage and the long-standing tradition of Zaria.
Other dignitaries who attended the Grand Unveiling include the Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria Zaria Chapter; Malam Yusuf Aliyu, Special Assistant to the Kaduna State Governor; Malam Bello Aliyu Hayatu, and the popular Zaria Activist Ishaq Alhassan Qauran Mata, Alkalin Pambeguwa Mal Aliyu Muhammad Ahmad, Head of the Department of Journalism and Communication Studies, Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic Zaria; Malama Khadija Sulaiman, and the immediate past Head of Department of Electrical Engineering, Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic; Mal Zayyan Nuhu.
Dr. Saminu from Pharmaceutical Sciences Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, the co-founder of the Zazzau Creative Writer’s Club, Malam Ishaq Ibrahim Mighty, The representative of Poetic Wednesday’s initiative, the representatives of the Bright Future private tuition Zaria, Teacher Temitope Baheedou Dauda from Demonstration Secondary School Kongo, Chairman of the Association of Hausa poets Kaduna State chapter, Shamsuddeen Hamza, and many creative minds around Zaria also attended.
While making her comments, the Public Relations Director of Zazzau Literary Society, Hadiza Isyaku Abdulsalam, outlined the activities of the society which include monthly workshops, book chats, open mics, mentorship programs, arts exhibitions, trainings, among many other capacity-building activities.
The mentorship and development director of Zazzau Literary Society, Malam Sani Ahmad Bamalli, appreciated everyone and prayed for a safe journey back to everyone’s respective destination.