It is no accident that Minna is popularly referred to as the Literary Capital of Northern Nigeria. This is not unrelated to a number of meritorious factors including the truth that many literary giants were born in, or hail from Minna.

The above is why His Excellency, Gov Mohammed Umaru Bago has informed the Secretary General, Nigerian National Commission of UNESCO in Abuja and the Director General of UNESCO in Paris of the objective of the Niger State Government to apply to the world organisation to designate Minna as a City of Literature, 2023.

This was followed after Prof. Mohammed Kuta Yahaya had earlier this week had briefed the Governor on the efforts of the Hill-Top Creative Arts Foundation to enlist Minna as the second city in Africa to become designated as a City of Literature because of her century-old literary heritage.

Many famous writers including Cyprain Ekwensi, Ben Okri, Abubakar Imam, Zik of Africa, Ojukwu, Abubakar Gimba, Mamman Jiya Vatsa and a lot of others were either born in Minna or near Minna which has made Minna one of the largest producer of teen authors in Nigeria and boast of the biggest teen arts festival in Africa.

In his message delivered by Dr. Murtala Bagana, the Special Adviser on Special Duties, the Governor stated that, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) had gotten Hannah Trevarthen who is the Director of Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature in Ireland to mentor the initiators of the Minna bid, “we are at the final stage of submission. As the Governor of Niger state, I hereby respectfully request for endorsement to be a member of UNESCO Creative City of Literature”, the Governor said.

The Secretary General, Dr. Olagunju Lateef, welcomed the idea and promised the commission’s support.

Abdullberqy U Ebbo

Special Adviser to the Governor

(Digital communications)

June 20, 2023.