Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has said that the state government will continue to fund the Kaduna Book and Arts Festival (KABAFEST) because of its critical role in the promotion of reading culture and learning.
Sani spoke while declaring open the 5th edition of KABAFEST, a gathering of literary enthusiasts, publishers, authors, readers, booksellers and other stakeholders in the book ecosystem in Nigeria and beyond. The festival was founded in 2017 by Lola Shoneyin.
He said “KABAFEST remains the only state – funded festival in Nigeria, if not in sub – Saharan Africa. As a state government, we are proud to be the major partners in this great initiative.
“I commend the organizers of KABAFEST for sustaining this event which has evolved into a beacon of cultural excellence and intellectual exchange, assembling talents from across Kaduna State, northern Nigeria and beyond.
“The Kaduna Government will continue to fund KABAFEST because of its critical role in the promotion of reading culture and learning.”
The governor paid a special tribute to the wife of his predecessor Hadiza El-Rufai for her remarkable and inspiring efforts and “as someone that has sustained and driven its activities for the last five years.
“At a personal level, I wish to express my gratitude to Her Excellency for undertaking to work on a book detailing my formative years, family life, career/business, years of activism, and foray into politics.”
Uba Sani also disclosed that his administration has made provision for 100 students to take advantage of the Kaduna State Book Grant which offers them the opportunity to spend N20,000 on books in the festival bookstore.
“Also, our administration is investing in upgrading and upscaling both physical and e-libraries across the state. This, we believe, will create an enabling environment for reading and learning,” the governor added.
At the ceremony, Governor Uba Sani presented KABAFEST’s Lifetime Achievement Award to Helon Habila, the author of four globally acclaimed novels, the first Chinua Achebe Fellow at Bard College in New York and currently a Professor of Creative Writing at George Mason University in Virginia, USA.
