PROFILE: Zaynab Alkali– Northern’s First Female Novelist

-

 By Victor Olubiye



Prof. Zaynab Alkali, born in Borno on February 3, 1950, is the first female novelist from Northern Nigeria. A graduate of Bayero University, she holds a PhD in African Literature.  


She taught at major institutions including the University of Maiduguri and Nasarawa State University, where she became Dean of Arts.  


Married to Prof. Muhammad Nur Alkali, she is a mother of six and author of books like The Stillborn and The Virtuous Woman.  


She won the ANA Literary Prize in 1985 and remains a literary pioneer in Nigeria.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

FEATURE: A Town That Never Stopped Giving — Ife Odan’s Long Wait for Governor Adeleke’s Attention

-
Image
 By Victor Olubiye Nestled in the heart of Osun State’s western region lies Ife Odan — a town once known for its robust agricultural contribution, now left in the shadows of neglect. For over ten years, the town has watched its roads deteriorate, its healthcare weaken, and its schools fade, all while continuing to feed the state through unrelenting farming efforts. The resilience of Ife Odan is undeniable, but its patience is wearing thin. The people of Ife Odan believed change had finally arrived in 2022, when they threw their political weight behind Senator Ademola Adeleke’s gubernatorial bid. It wasn’t about party loyalty; it was a vote anchored in hope — a belief that Adeleke’s message of “people-first governance” would bring long-awaited development to their doorstep. But nearly three years into his administration, the town is still waiting. From cassava to maize, yam to leafy vegetables, Ife Odan’s fertile lands continue to supply Osun State’s markets despite minimal governme...
Read more

FEATURE: Origin Of The Word "OBA(KING)"

-
Image
By Victor Olubiye The word "Ọba" is a pure Yorùbá word meaning "he who sits over or lord over." It was Ọ̀rànmíyàn that introduced the word to Benin. The word can be divided into two morphemes: Ọ and BA. Ọ as a prefix signifies the word refers to a being. For example, ọ-kùnrin - male. ọ-ká - that which coils up, referring to a specie of snake that coils up - Gabon viper. Ọ-ya - that which breaks its bank and flows uncontrollably, name of Yorùbá goddess of river Niger. This same ọ-rule exists in nouns that are formed from possessive relation with something. For example: ọlọ́jà, ọlọ́rọ̀, Ọlọ́run, Ọlọ́yọ̀ọ́, ọlọ́fà, ọlọ́ya, ọlọ́ba, Ọlọ́wọ̀ etc.  No wonder it is only in Yorùbá language that the word means anything close to rulership. In Benin, it is not even a NOUN as one would expect it to be. They themselves claim it means "to shine." meaning it was originally a verb turned noun. It is only in Yorùbá language that the word is a noun ab initio. Historically, t...
Read more

DOCUMENTARY: A Founder Of Kambole Town In Togo Was A Hunter From Ile-Ife

-
Image
 By Victor Olubiye Kambolé (also called Camboli or Kaboli) is a historic town in Tchamba Prefecture, about 90 km east of Sokodé in central Togo. With a population of around 50,000, it is known today as a key trading hub for nearby farming communities. The people speak Ede Nago, a dialect of the Manigri-Kambolé variety. The origins of Kambolé trace back to between the 14th and 17th centuries when a renowned hunter from Ilé-Ifẹ̀, known as Ọ̀dẹ Amọn, left Nigeria in search of safer lands due to unrest back home. A direct descendant of Odùduwà, Ọ̀dẹ Amọn’s name means "the famous or well-known hunter" in Yoruba. His journey took him through places like Idjiho in Nigeria, Savè and Igbomakoh in what is now Benin Republic, moving alongside the Ouémé River. He and his companions eventually settled temporarily in Katankou. One day during a hunting expedition in the forests of Katankou, he discovered a beautiful clearing and named it Òkè Gengele ("Hill" in Yoruba). Venturing f...
Read more

PROFILE: The Genius That Was Made to Rewrite WASSCE After Scoring 9 Distinctions

-
Image
 By Victor Olubiye Meet Sarki Abba from Kano State Nigeria, the genius that was made to rewrite WASSCE after scoring 9 distinctions. In 1984, 16 year-old Abba, a student of Science Secondary School Dawakin Tofa, scored 9 distinctions (8 A1s and 1 A2) in his West African School Certificate Examination( WASSCE) equivalent of today's West African Senior School Certificate (WASSCE) Exams.  Examination authorities in Lagos didn't believe Abba made those excellent scores without cheating. The authorities provided a car that took Abba to Lagos in order to retake the exam.  Abba was made to take the 9 exams in a duration of 3 days, under heavy supervision. After marking the rescheduled exams, he scored 9 A1s (the only ‘A2’ he had in English Language before the retake, now became ‘A1’). Faced with shock, the authorities apologized and instituted the National Merit Award. And, rightfully, Sarki Abba was the first recipient of the award.  In 1989/90 school session, Sarki Abba ...
Read more

The Ogun River (Odo Ogun)

-
Image
    By Victor Olubiye   The Ogun River (Yoruba: Odò Ògùn) is a waterway in Nigeria that discharges into the Lagos Lagoon. Ogun State of Nigeria is named after the river.    The river rises near the towns of Sepeteri and Shaki in upper Oyo State at coordinates 8°41′0″N 3°28′0″E and flows through the rest of the state into Ogun State and eventually into Lagos State where it discharges into the Lagos lagoon at the towns of Isheri and Owode onirin. The river is crossed by the Ikere Gorge Dam in the Iseyin local government area of Oyo State. The reservoir capacity is 690 million cubic metres (560,000 acre⋅ft). The reservoir abuts the Old Oyo National Park, providing recreational facilities for tourists, and the river flows through the park. The Ofiki River, which also rises near Shaki, is one of the Ogun River's chief tributary. The Oyan River, another tributary, is crossed by the Oyan River Dam which supplies water to Abeokuta and Lagos. In densely populated areas t...
Read more

FEATURE: Mass Communication Department;Crude oil of Ospoly

-
Image
By Victor Olubiye    The Mass Communication Department at Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, established in 1981 alongside with the institution when it is still a Satellite Campus of The Ibadan Starting with few Lecturers like Mr.T.A Durojaye,Mr.Bamikefa.   Over the years, the Mass Communication Department has grown to offer both National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) programs, equipping students with the necessary skills and knowledge for careers in journalism, broadcasting, public relations, and other related fields. The department is part of the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology, which houses departments such as Computer Science and Office Technology Management.    To begin with, the Mass Communication Department at Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, continues to uphold the institution's mission of producing middle-level manpower in the fields of Information and Communication Technology, among others. The department remains committed ...
Read more