Arts, literature competition for IDP children billed for May 27

Poet and literary activist Halima Usman has launched an initiative designed to use literature and arts as a means of integrating children of internally displaced persons into the society. The programme, “Voices from the Camp: Literature and Arts as Tools for Reintegration of IDPs” will come up at 10am on May 27, 2016 at the […]

Poet and literary activist Halima Usman has launched an initiative designed to use literature and arts as a means of integrating children of internally displaced persons into the society.
The programme, “Voices from the Camp: Literature and Arts as Tools for Reintegration of IDPs” will come up at 10am on May 27, 2016 at the National Centre for Women Development and the Art and Craft Village, is a competition aimed at showcasing the literary and artistic talents of the internally displaced children in the hope of earning sponsorship to pursue their education.
The competition, which will feature arts, poetry and prose, will also have a segment tagged: “Creative Peace Building and Reconstruction interactive session,” in which the children are expected to share their experiences during the insurgency.
According to Mrs. Usman, who is organizing the event under the auspices of Halima Factor Initiative, “All hands must be on deck to help these displaced people get fully reintegrated into communities. We must also ensure that they return to school otherwise we will have another major challenge to cope with when the war against insurgency is over. Therefore I believe, as our brothers keepers, we must all contribute to help the IDPs as well as toward national development,” she said.
During the competition, the children are expected to present original work of arts, poems or short story on the following topics: The need for peace; the dangers of terrorism; the importance of education; and on their experience during the Boko Haram attacks or in the IDP camps.  Halima Usman, is the winner of the Head of Civil Service Poetry Award and has embarked on several projects in Nasarawa, Gombe and the FCT titled “Turning Poetry to Action” in partnership with some corporate bodies, with the aim of making people solution providers for themselves.
Well-meaning Nigerians interested in contributing to sponsoring the children’s education are encouraged to do so.