BM Dzukogi

Baba Muhammad Dzukogi known as BM Dzukogi, is from Bida, Niger State. He attended the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, specialising in Physical and Health Education (PHE). Born in 1965 to parents who didn’t attend any Western school and into a family of four, where he is the second. 

BM Dzukogi’s activism in literary art, mentoring and youth affairs has dwarfed his area of specialization with a resounding national prominence. He is known as the father of Nigerian teen authors.

 A former National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Authors and pioneer Director-General of Niger State Book Development Agency. Dzukogi, a Teacher, Mentor, Poet, Philosopher, Sports Administrator,  Father and Grandfather, has steadily and diligently walked himself into the hearts of Nigerian young writers as a detribalised leader and role model. Some of his profound contributions to Nigerian society and literature are:

He founded the Hill-Top Creative Arts Foundation (HCAF) for teen artists in 2004 with over 20 branches in Nigeria, including Bayelsa, Ogun, Osun, Lagos, Oyo, Kwara, Nasarawa, Abuja, Kogi, Kaduna, Kano, Taraba, Gombe, Bauchi, Plateau, Kebbi, Sokoto, Katsina, Yobe and as well as in Lapai, Kontagora LGs of Niger State. The foundation has a mentoring facility in Minna, Niger State, where young people converge for mentoring in art, citizenship and leadership. 

The Blue Resolution Initiative (TBRi), promoting good governance and accountability in Niger State, is his brainchild. He inaugurated the Nigerian Teen Authorship Scheme (NTAS) which has published over thirty (50) teen authors in Nigeria to own books in the last 19 years. 

Dzukogi founded the Nigerian Festival of Teen Authors (NIFESTEENA) in 2017, which has metamorphosed into HIASFEST (Hadiza Ibrahim Aliyu Schools Festival), Africa’s largest teen arts festival. It is an annual N20m project in Niger State, attracting schools from around the country, sponsored by Alh. Bala Abdullahi Kwatu and the Aliyu Trust Foundation. It is a brand from Niger State to the world.

He also founded the Nigerian Writers Series (NWS) of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), patterned after the defunct African Writers Series. He established The Nigeria Review (TNR), an online Journal for reviewing books; Literature Voices (LitVo), an online Journal exclusively for interviewing writers worldwide; and Polarsphere Media Limited, publishers of teen authors in Nigeria. Similarly, he is the draughtsman for the Annual Schools Carnival of Arts and Festival of Songs (ASCAFS), which ran for 22yrs in Niger State before folding up as well as being the draughtsman MBA International Literary Colloquium in honour of the former governor of Niger State which attracted Wole Soyinka, Odia Ofeimun, Joachin Chisano, Pius Adesanmi to Niger State from 2011 to 2015.

Dzukogi is the author of many books across poetry, short stories, aphorisms, essays, and children’s literature: Midnight Lamp (Poetry), published 1996; These Last Tears (Poetry), published 1997; Mystery Stones (Children’s Story), published 1999; Teacher Dangana is a Cheat (Children’s Story), published 2008; Jamilu the Reader (Children’s Story), published 2005; Potholes in my Dream (Collection of Short Story), published 2007; Sex is Beautiful (Essay on Sexuality Education), published 2008; Young Couple Young Home ( Family Life Essay), published 2010; Being True To Himself (Collection of Interviews), published 2012; and Seclusion (Personal Quotes), published 2015. There is hardly any writer with a tremendous impact on Nigerian teen authors than him. The central focus of his themes revolves around man, environment and creativity. 

In 2012, he suggested the creation of the Niger State Book Development Agency. He became its Pioneer Director-General and the pioneer Chairman the Northern Nigeria Writers Summit, founded by the 19 chapters of ANA in 2008.

Dzukogi has received the Highest Niger State Productivity Award for Literary Excellence (2010) and Gani Fawahemin National Prize for Impact on Society, among other numerous awards. 

BM Dzukogi is married to Malama Khadija Abdullahi Sakiwa with five children and grandchildren.

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