Dr. Bukar Usman Foundation has again enriched the readers’ world by churning out more new books to round off the year. The Foundation, established as an enduring platform to extend gesture of goodwill to the needy members of society in all manner of circumstances and as far as her resources can carry, has been a succour to generations of talented youths, individuals and organisations with diverse limitations.
Running under the chairmanship of the erudite researcher, story teller, author and retired permanent secretary in the presidency, Dr. Bukar Usman, his contributions towards the growth of African literature is considered immeasurable.
No fewer than four books that the Foundation has added to the reading public probably to meet the yearning aspiration of her fans as the year is running to an end, especially to the indigenous literature, has been described as a mile stone in the literary world.
Though the media and group-sponsored conferences have been dealing with issue of restructuring over time especially among the political elite, no one has ever come up with a book on this matter. Dr. Bukar Usman, renowned pacesetter has churned out a book on this topical issue.
Entitled Restructuring Nigeria: An Overview, he responds to some of the critical questions raised by many stakeholders. In doing this, the guru identifies over 30 contentious questions, and without name-calling and use of intemperate language, logically counter them one after the other. The 125-page book is potable, creatively designed, neatly bonded and reader friendly.
Another book, My Public Service Journey: Issues In Public Policy Administration In Nigeria, is the author’s expository work on the Nigerian public service. Bogus and appealing, it narrates the journey of this public servant who rose through the ranks to the pinnacle of his career, serving with distinction as director general/permanent secretary in the presidency during the last 11 years of his 34-year civil service tenure. The book is largely the judgement of an insider peeping into the chambers of the public service from the outside.
For those who know what he stands for in Nigeria’s art community, the veteran journalist, author, and film director, Ben Omowafola Tomoloju has created a niche for himself through his prowess as a cultural ambassador of note. This time, he has surprisingly distinguished himself with the latest book he wrote in Yoruba language, in collaboration with Dr. Bukar Usman Foundation. Entitled Ogorun-un Itan Lati Ile Yoruba, the book accounts for, as the name implies, 100 folklores from Yoruba land. This indigenous literature has been found to be exclusively unique and enriching, as it contains salient stories that have not been published before.
Published along with the three titles is another 266-page book in Hausa authored by Khalid Imam titled Falsafar Bukar Usman ( Bukar Usman’s philosophies). It contains 23 songs by three different Hausa song artists mainly extolling the virtues of Dr Bukar Usman as an individual and the Dr Bukar Usman Foundation. The songs were composed between 2013 and 2019.
Ogorun-un Itan Lati Ile Yoruba, published in Yoruba under the sponsorship of the Dr. Bukar Usman Foundation has a counterpart to be published next year in Igbo under the title: Nchikota Akuko-ifo Ndi Igbo containing Igbo folktales, also collected by Dr. Bukar Usman Foundation but written by a separate author.
To date, Dr. Usman, the award winning author and president of the Nigerian Folklore Society (NFS), has written about 25 books in English language, ranging from folktales to security and public service. He has also written 17 books in Hausa language.
Originally published in Independent
