Creative writing has been described as the driving force and mother of all disciplines including sciences.

Professor Zainab Alkali, a renowed creative writer made this known at the flag off of the first Intellectual and Cultural Day of Center for Art and Indigenous Studies, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai.

Professor Alkali who spoke as a Guest Lecturer on the title, ” Creative Art Forms as Tools for National Development”, explained that creative art forms have been perceived as just academic disciplines only relevant within the four corners of a classroom, decrying that the creative art forms and humanities are being driven into shadows.

According to her, there is need to balance the excitement in technology with advancement in the creative art forms so as not to relegate the arts to the background.

Alkali, in the lecture tagged “Abubakar Gimba Lecture Series” also stressed that as societies evolve, art, like the sciences must evolve in order to contribute positively to national and global development adding that art must rank as on of the best sources of wealth creation by using the creative art forms as tools for national development.

She urged artists to take interest in leadership positions in government at all levels bring to bring to reality the messages they seek to communicate.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Convener and Director Center for Arts and Indigenous Studies, CAIS, Professor Sule Emmanuel Egya explained that the Center was established in 2021 to promote research, learning and development in the humanities to serve as a bridge between the researchers and community.

Professor Emmanuel Egya said the CAIS Intellectual and Cultural Day is in line with the vision to be globally recognized center for research, scholarship and training in artistic creativity and indigenous Culture.

He added that the CAIS Intellectual and Cultural Day is an avenue to bring the researchers and community together to share research findings, discuss crucial issues relating to society and development as well as stage the dynamism and relevance of indigenous traditions.

On his part, the Host and Vice Chancellor, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu affirmed that the CAIS Intellectual and Cultural Day is an event that will occur annually as part of the Center’s goal to close the gap between the university and the society.

The Vice Chancellor reaffirmed that the Management of the University under his leadership established the Center for Arts and Indigenous Studies, along with other six research centers in order to widen the scope of research activities in the university, noting that the IBB University is ranked one of the best universities in terms of research having earned an impressive number of National Research Fund grants and many international grants, fellowships and collaborations.

According to him the Abubakar Gimba Lecture which is part of the activities with the tilted Creative Art Forms as Tool for National Development is apt considering the role of creative art in the national development.

While declaring the Day opened, the Chairman of the Occasion who is the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Professor Abubakar Baba Aliyu said the day is set aside to honour the name Abubakar Gimba whose contribution to the literary world can not be overemphasized.

Professor Baba Aliyu affirmed that the name of Abubakar Gimba is a big one, urging the family to take care of it.

The Special Guest of Honour, Executive Chairman Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mal Muhammad Nami described Abubakar Gimba as finest mind and a model in literary world.

Represented by Director Communication and Liaison Departments Dr. Abdullahi Ismail, said Abubakar Gimba’s literary works remains one of the best that have been taught in this part of world, affirming that he never for once shot his doors for literature.

He added that Abubakar Gimba’s writing occupies the unique test of its own, lamenting that not much work has been done on him noting, that the title of the day was apt as there is always a symbolic relationship between art and nature.

The event also featured presentation of gifts, book chat with Zainab Alkali, performance Evening and staging of Abdullahi Ismail’s Emir Emeka.