Adamu Idris Manarakis

Adamu Idris Manarakis was born in Kpakungu, Minna, Niger State, on 6th May, 1988 to Alhaji Idris Muhammad Bida and a trader, Hajiya Sa’adatu (Yannagi). 

Manarakis had his elementary education at Limawa Model Primary School, Minna. He gained admission into Ahmadu Bahago Secondary School, Minna, where he obtained the Junior Secondary School Certificate in 2005 and proceeded to Government Technical College Eyagi, Bida, for his SSCE Certificate in 2008. He earned a Certificate in Education from the Niger State College of Education Minna in 2011, and he finished his first degree from the Federal University of Technology, Minna, in 2018 from the Department of Industrial Technology Education. He bagged a PGD in English Technology from Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) in 2021 and is currently studying for a master’s Degree in Linguistics with NSUK. 

He loves affinity with students, especially primary school pupils. He has taught at Medal Model School, CAC, Hossana N/P School, and Kowa Schools Minna. He also taught at Government Girls Secondary School, Old Airport Road, Minna and was a visiting lecturer with the Minna Institute of Technology and Innovation. He works with Prestige 91.7 FM Radio Minna as a Nupe news broadcaster and presenter.

He took an appointment with Niger State College of Education Minna as a Resource Person, lecturing Nupe Language Students on pro-bono service from 6th October 2021 to date.

Manarakis established the first Nupe Language School in Minna, which began on 19th November 2016. He inaugurated a branch in Bida as a Centre on 1st October 2017. Also, he founded a Nupe Language Institute in Niger State situated at Kowa Schools, Minna, called the Indigenous Languages Learning Centre (ILLEC). ILLEC is the only of its kind in Niger State. He has ventured into publishing the first online Nupe Newspaper, converting edition to hard copies, available from August 2020 till date. 

Manarakis started writing in 2008. He wrote an unpublished Mathematics Workbook for Junior secondary schools, Basic Technology, and later wrote for Nursery Pupils. He titled the Books Basic Arithmetic and Basic English Skills. He joined the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) in 2010. He is the brain behind ‘Nipping the Nimble’ (An Anthology) and was the Co-Editor of ‘The Race of a Chameleon’ (An Anthology). He also wrote a book titled Ndagi Be Nnagi, Marriage Doesn’t Stop Schooling, and Kayan Mata, a culture-scientific exposition of ladies.

Manarakis’ greatest strength in writing is in his native Nupe Language, where he published the First Nupe Mathematics book titled Enyabagi Nupe with Words and Numerals in 2018, Nupe Ta – Nupe Grammar I in 2018, Edited Nupe Short Stories Ecingi Nupe Tashiru (Anthology), Nupe Poems Soko Deke (Anthology), Tribute to Etsu Yahaya Abubakar (Anthology), The 13th Etsu Nupe’s Brief History, and Yogo Nna Zakama, etc.

Currently, he is working assiduously on some other titles in Nupe: Cincin Mi Be Labi, Marriage after PhD, Death Took Over, Pen is My Investment, Pen is in Pain, Teacher Yekondunu My Mentor, Soko a Kpa, Eye Lashi Soko a, Nupe Dictionary, Nupe Documentary and Nupe Grammar & Vocabulary Volume II, Among many others.

Apart from his first language, Manarakis partially speaks Hausa, Arabic, Yoruba and English. He has travelled to several places in Nigeria, including Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Kano, Kaduna, Kebbi, Edo, Lokoja, Kwara, Jos, Bauchi, Enugu and FCT, among many others.

He is an active member of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Niger State Chapter. Manarakis has many honours; he is the Secretary General of Ena Yegborolo Nya Nupencizhi Minna and the Director of the Indigenous Languages Learning Centre (ILLEC), Minna.

Manarakis has organised many Nupe Language Workshops across the country at Limawa School, GGSS Old Airport Road Minna, BSS Minna, Chanchaga Community Bida, LSS Lafiyagi Kwara State, Kaduna and Nupe Training Scheme BiTNuTS for Bida Teachers in 2023.