CITAD, Partners Train Young Poets on Art of Poetry
By Mustapha Salisu
The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), in partnership with Creative Spark Foundation and Fombina Imprints, has organized a 3-day practical workshop on the fundamentals of poetry.
The training, themed “Poetry Nitty-Gritty,” started today (Thursday) and will conclude on Saturday, May 12, 2024, at CITAD’s Kano office.
In his welcome address, CITAD’s Executive Director, Engr. Y.Z Ya’u, explained that the Centre values creativity and poetry is seen as a field where creativity can be deployed.
He added that CITAD works to identify young people to use their voices to demand for accountability, democratic reforms, good governance, and to express demands of the society for sustainable transformation.
Ya’u urged participants to pay attention and tap from the facilitator’s wealth of knowledge for judicious utilization, and hoped that at the end of the training, beneficiaries will be able to use their skills to identify a good poem and drive for societal change.
On his part, facilitator of the workshop, Mr. Emman Usman Shehu, from Creative Spark Foundation and the Director of the Institute of Journalism (IIJ) Abuja, revealed that what informed the workshop in Kano is his passion for ensuring Northern voices are heard in the literary space of Nigeria.
He explained that poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities, in addition to, or in lieu of its apparent meaning.
He added that the whole idea of the workshop is to mix theory with practical, and that for one to be a serious writer, he needs to have a notebook, be an observer, as well as a researcher, among other resources.
PRIME TIME NEWS reports that at the end of the workshop, CITAD admonished participants that the best poem will be published and printed by Fombina Imprints, providing a platform for participants to showcase their talents and share their creativity with a wider audience.
