by Uboho Bassey
The Uyo Book Club monthly reading session has come and gone, but its echoes will reverberate for much longer. Held Saturday, May 25th at the Shakespeare Hall of Watbridge Hotel, the event started at 4:00pm. The anticipation was high, and the proceedings did not disappoint. It turned out to be the largest turnout the club had ever seen!
The esteemed attendees included Professor Peter Umoh, former Executive Director of NDIC, and Dr. Martin Nde, the Guest of Honour, who travelled all the way from Port Harcourt. Alongside them were Mr. John Udo, the former Registrar of Uniuyo and Akwa Ibom State University, Ms. Mary Uduk, the former AG. Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr. Celestine Mel, a chattered Banker turned writer, Stella Edemekong – the book reviewer, Mr Utibe Ukim of Xcel FM, authors, students, teachers, and members of the Book Club.
Walking into Shakespeare room, what you’d see would be a sea of heads, people seated, bent over a conference table laden with hundreds of books, stretching from one end of the hall to the backdrop, framed by a large poster advertising the book of the month, THOSE TEENAGE YEARS by Ekaette Umoh. This was the DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) moment, during which attendees would grab any book and read for the next hour.
At 5:00pm, Dr. Udeme Nana, Founder, Uyo Book Club, gave his opening remarks. Welcoming everyone to the gathering, he took the opportunity to commend the sponsors of the May session, *MediaFuse DENTSU Nigeria, for choosing to allocate a part of their Corporate Social Responsibility budget to promote the culture of reading through the Uyo Book Club. He appealed to other corporate organizations in Akwa Ibom State and the country at large to follow that example. Dr. Nana described MediaFuse DENTSU Nigeria as one of the leading firms in the marketing communications sector in Africa.
Have you ever been hounded in your thoughts about the “could have – would have – should have” questions in life as you grew up into adulthood? You might likely find the reflections mirrored in this book. THOSE TEENAGE YEARS written by Ekaette Umoh will catapult you back to the past when as a teenager, all you cared about were your circle of friends “FFF” – an acronym for ‘Friends for Food’, your school provisions, your dreams for the future, what you would study to become, and the burgeoning love interest of puberty. What would help you if hindsight wasn’t waiting at the end of your musing?
In the captivating and thought-provoking book, “Those Teenage Years” by Ekaette Umoh, readers are taken on a nostalgic journey back to their own adolescent years. As the pages unfold, the author skillfully captures the essence of teenage life, where the weight of responsibilities and the pursuit of dreams collide with the innocence and curiosity of youth.
Through vivid storytelling, Umoh explores the universal experiences and emotions that define this transformative period. The book delves into the intricate dynamics of friendship, as readers are reminded of the bonds forged during those formative years. It also explores the pressures of academics and career choices, allowing readers to reflect on the choices they made and the paths they took.
The book reviewer, Stella Edemekong held the room in a thrilling narrative through the chapters of the book by highlighting some themes like evolving changes: recurring generational shift, being evocative, engaging, reflective, navigating seasons…past, present.. future; arriving at the popular Nigerian slang, “Adulthood is a scam.” She compares the book to “SO LONG A LETTER by Mariama Bâ” in its narrative style, commending the author for the font used in the book.
As the story unfolds, readers may find themselves contemplating the “could have, would have, should have” questions that often haunt people in adulthood. The author’s poignant storytelling encourages introspection and offers a fresh perspective on the choices people make and the impact they have on their lives.
The Author, Ekaette, did not hold back through Editi, though constantly reminding everyone that she was not the character in the book. She was not reticent in the exploration of the enigmatic realm of love and relationships during adolescence. Skillfully navigating the complexities of first crushes, heartbreaks, and the awakening of romantic desires; readers will find themselves transported back to moments when their hearts fluttered with anticipation and vulnerability.
“Those Teenage Years” serves as a gentle reminder that hindsight may not always be waiting at the end of our musings. However, through the shared experiences of the characters in this book, readers are reminded that it is never too late to embrace growth, learn from the past, and create a future filled with purpose and fulfilment.
The Shakespeare Hall was filled to capacity, and the interactive session was lively and engaging, interspaced with moments of laughter and excitement. Members and first-time visitors took turns to comment on the book, ask questions, and share their experiences. A major highlight of the event was the heartfelt rendition of the old but new national anthem, “Nigeria, we Hail Thee,” which united everyone in a spirit of brotherhood and pride in their native land.
The event was not just about discussions and reflections; it also had a philanthropic aspect. Many guest readers, including Professors Peter Umoh and Mary Uduk, Mr. John Udo, Mrs. Affiong Ibanga, and prominent figures such as the gospel singer Aity Dennis Inyang led by Dr Martin Nde and his wife, purchased hundreds of copies of the book for distribution to schools in the state. The guest of honour, Dr. Martin Nde purchased 100 copies of the book as a show of support.
Professor Umoh confessed that he had learned something new from a book he had picked up to read. He recommended that the concept of DEAR should be internalized by all bookworms. In a deft literary stroke that sent everyone into laughter, he reversed the DEAR into READ – “Read Everything And Drop.” You could read all you cared, but drop off the books thereafter! An apt and timely warning to visitors and members of the Club not to go away with any of the books on display at the Book Club.
Professor Umoh, who flew into Uyo to offer support and encouragement, emphasized that the author of the book, his wife of thirty-three years, was not motivated by monetary gains to write the book but by a desire to leave a lasting legacy. He advised the youths to carefully choose a spouse, as that singular decision will impact positively or negatively on their achievements. He urged young people to emulate her, as she showed that one could be flexible in life by changing professions and still achieve success.
For Mrs Ekaette Umoh the Author, Chemist, Banker, Fellow of Institute of Chartered Accounting, Consultant, General Manager, Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurship Development Center (LED); the evening was a roaring success. In her remarks, she expressed gratitude to her friends, family and colleagues for rallying around her at the session. She especially thanked her husband for being ‘The driving force’ behind her achievements in life. In advice to the youths, she cautioned them not to be pressured into wrong choices, particularly, in marriage as it would amount to living a miserable life, likening such experience to ‘a hell on earth.’
In his closing remarks, Dr. Udeme Nana praised the author for her excellent writing style, the font type used in the book and relatable messages, particularly in the context of pointing to how people could adjust to harsh economic times. According to him, ‘the world experienced hard times in the past and will always grapple with hard times’. He emphasized the importance of looking inwards and embracing agriculture as a means of self-help in the area of food sufficiency observing that the mother of the book’s main character showed creativity and industry when her family fell into hard times. Dr. Nana highlighted the fact that the Uyo Book Club was established to address the poor reading habit in Nigeria and promote a “Books economy” in the country. He called for support from Nigerians and stakeholders in Akwa Ibom State to ensure the success of the initiative.
He said, “we have a very large population and that provides a large market for books, but we must encourage readership at all levels. Readership will motivate Authors, Publishers would be in business, booksellers, Editors, Proofreaders, and operators in the Book ecosystem would be back in business”. Dr Nana also pointed out that the Book Club promotes intellectual Tourism as exemplified by the visit of Mr. Femi Adesina who travelled all the way from Lagos to read at the Club in April. Corporate organizations must support this initiative, he added.
At about 8:34 pm, Dr. Martin Akpan, the in-house orator of Uyo Book Club, took the microphone. A medical Doctor himself, he has authored two books, one of which is used in the university. He avers that the brain is not compartmentalized and careers in the sciences do not limit the creativity of writing. He ended his thank you message with the quote attributed to Francis Bacon (1561-1626) who was an English philosopher, statesman and science pioneer : *”Reading maketh a man.”
For those who missed the event, the entire program was streamed live on the Uyo Book Club’s Facebook page, allowing people to catch up on the discussions and immerse themselves in the literary atmosphere.
And if, you have ever found yourself pondering the what-ifs and reminiscing about the joys and challenges of adolescence, “Those Teenage Years” is a captivating and inspiring read that will resonate deeply with your own journey of self-discovery.
The echoes of this memorable reading session will continue to reverberate, inspiring more people to embrace the joy of reading and the power of books as a catalyst for personal growth and societal development.
The Uyo Book Club has proven that with passion, dedication, and the support of like-minded individuals and organizations, the culture of reading can be awakened, made to flourish and transform lives.
Readers are Leaders.
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