Umaisha - "New Nigerian Weekly has come a long way" (interview)
SUMAILA ISAH UMAISHA who is currently the literary editor of the New Nigerian Weekly is one of the pioneer staff of the paper. Our reporter, JOHN EWAOCHE GABRIEL, interviewed him, as the paper clocks ten.
NNW: Sir, when did you assume the role of the literary page editor?
UMAISHA: I assumed the role of literary page editor of New Nigerian Weekly, editing The Write Stuff in 2000, when Ibrahim Sheme, the Deputy Editor of the paper left to work with the Yar?Adua Foundation. But let me go back to 1997 when it all started. I was with the Hotline news magazine as Deputy Editor when Sheme invited me to the New Nigerian to assist in handling The Write Stuff which had just been created. The Write Stuff began in 1997 with three pages in the Friday edition of the New Nigerian. The column was moved to the New Nigerian Weekly when it was established in 1998. And since then, it has been thriving well, first under Sheme, and later under me who is editing it till date.
What was at the back of your mind soon after you started editing the page?
What has always been at the back of my mind even before I took over the editing of the pages is the need to promote literature in the North in particular, and Nigeria in general. I said the North in particular because in terms of literature, especially literature in English, the region is highly disadvantaged. By this, I don?t mean there are no writers in the North. In fact, there are very many writers in the North especially when you consider the number of writers writing in English and Hausa. The disadvantage comes mostly from lack of exposure. Even those who are renowned writers like Abubakar Gimba, Labo Yari, Zaynab Alkali etc don?t get as much publicity as their counterparts from the South. Promoting Northern writers and literature is the main reason for the creation of the column. And the fulfilment of this objective has always been my priority. My other priorities include encouraging budding writers through the publication of their works and reviews on their works.
How do you see New Nigerian Weekly pages in the promotion of literary works?
In terms of promoting literary works, I see the paper as a success. Due to the commitment of various editors that have handled the paper to the literary objectives I have earlier enumerated, the paper is today one of the most recognized in the country in terms of promoting literature. I get numerous phone calls, text messages and e-mails from people commending the paper for its literary coverage. And currently a student of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Hajiya Habiba Abbas, is doing her doctorate degree on literature in the North with The Write Stuff as case study. So, I feel very proud of the editors particularly the current editor, Malam Zakari Adamu, whose leadership style makes it possible for me to put in my best.
You won two awards since you started editing this page, can you give us specific dates for the awards and why you were so honoured?
There are actually four awards, if you include the small ones like the New Nigerian Reporter of the Month (2000) and the Merit Award by the Kano State chapter of Association of Nigerian Authors (2001). But of course, the big one so far is the Literary Journalist of the Year Award (awarded by ANA), which I won in 2004 and 2007. I am very excited about these awards because that of 2004 was the maiden edition of the prize and the second one was quite unexpected, having won the previous one barely three years earlier. This comes as a result of The Write Stuff?s consistency in promoting literature. In this regard, therefore, I wouldn?t say that the honour belongs to me alone, but the New Nigerian, the Managing Director and the editor who provided the enabling environment for me to perform. I won the awards due to their cooperation and encouragement.
How do you see New Nigerian Weekly at 10?
At 10, the New Nigerian Weekly has come a long way not just in terms of years of its existence, but in terms of the achievements it has recorded so far under the various editors, Malam Mahmud Jega, Mr. Tawey Zakka, and especially Malam Zakari Adamu. If paper continues with such vibrant news coverage, features, etc, the sky will not be the limit but its foot mat.
(c) Published in the New Nigerian Weekly edition of 23/2/08.
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