Harrison Essien [UYO] - At a time many Nigerian youths devote themselves to insulting their leaders and elders in the name of politics, with others roaming the streets in search of white collar jobs, a 25 year-old girl in Akwa Ibom State, Miss Idongesit Lawrence Udoh, has used her writing skills to stardom.
She's today a millionaire, having written three books 📚, whose copies are selling like hot cakes across the country.
Her first and second anthologies, "Behold He Comes" and "The Revealed Glory" were published when she was in Senior Secondary Three.
At the public presentation of her latest work, "My Dear Diary" in Uyo today, Idongesit was celebrated by literary giants and other intellectuals from the University of Uyo.
Among them Dean, Faculty of Arts, Prof. Inyang Udofot, Director, Pre-degree Studies, Professor Ini Uko, a Mass Communication scholar, Professor Mbuk Mboho and wife, an agriculturalist, Prof. Ini Akpabio, a legal luminary, Justice Godwin Abraham, as well as the Dean, College of Permanent Secretaries in Akwa Ibom State Government, Dr. Nestor Udoh, his wife, Imaobong and Mr. Ini Okon, Principal of Ritman College, Ikot Ekpene, alma mater of the author.
"My Dear Diary" which comprises 102 poems, chronicles the writer's daily experiences as a secondary school student.
Born in 1990, Idongesit Udoh, a native of Ibiakpan in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, is a final year student of English at the American University of Nigeria, Yola, Adamawa State, one of the best private universities in Africa.
She's the fifth child of the late Dr. Lawrence Udoh, onetime Permanent Secretary and Professor Imelda Icheji Lawrence Udoh, a professor of linguistics at the University of Uyo.
Big, bold, beautiful Idongesit won the first Art Prize for Cross River State in the National School Arts and Essay Competition.
What makes her unique and different from others is that, apart from being a poet, she's also a great dancer, choreographer and video director.
Her English is polished and can make a young man to propose to her.
In her remarks, Prof. Inyang Udofot, who is the President, Forum of Women Professors, described Miss Udoh as a role model to Nigerian youths and asset to the country.
She said she was proud of the 25 year-old girl for dedicating herself to her academic pursuit, at a time there was a loss of reading culture among young people and the art of writing and publishing in Nigeria.
The university teacher blamed parents for neglecting their role to enforce reading habit in their homes.
Prof. Udofot described reading as
a fundamental building block of learning, which enhances the general development
of man and his society.
a fundamental building block of learning, which enhances the general development
of man and his society.
Another academician, who also spoke at the event was the Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr. Nestor Udoh.
He regretted that instead of engaging in reading to acquire knowledge, skills and attitude for self development, many Nigerian youths were devoting much of their time to watching films, operating computer and chatting with friends on the social media, especially Facebook.
Dr. Udoh, while quoting an English author, Francis Bacon, said reading makes a man, adding that no nation can develop, without its people developing the right reading culture to develop the mind to be informed, thoughtful
and constructive, with better understanding of issues, events and situations.
and constructive, with better understanding of issues, events and situations.
A literary giant, Prof. Ini Uko, on her part, paid tributes to the mother of the author,and professor of linguistics, University of Uyo, Prof. Imelda Udoh, for her efforts at laying a solid foundation for her children, by motivating them to read and become responsible citizens in the society.
The book "My Dear Diary" was reviewed by an Associate Professor of English, University of Uyo, Luke Eyoh, Ph.D., a man described as English Dictionary.
He gave kudos to the author, Miss Idongesit Udoh for discovering her talents in writing and putting it into proper use for posterity.
The book launch was a source of inspiration to many students of Communication Arts, Linguistics and English at the University of Uyo, those of Ritman College and Cornelia Cornelly College, Uyo, who came out in large numbers for the event. Aidee Dara Umo.
Some of them who spoke with me, said they have been motivated to cultivate the spirit of reading and writing books, like Idongesit Udoh has done.
#AkwaIbom
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