It was a convergence of the crème de la crème of the book community in Akwa Ibom State, as Uyo Book Club April 24, 2021 launched to the world the maiden edition of its quarterly newsletter, The Brook.
The launch of the high-value publication happened during the Club’s April reading session and came in the wake of the 2021 World Book and Copyright Day, an occasion that witnessed the proclamation of Uyo as Nigeria’s Books Club City for the Year 2021.
Dignitaries at the Brooks’ unveiling ceremony included Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Idongesit Etiebet; Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Comrd. Ini Ememobong; Chairman, Uyo Local Government Area, Dr. Uwemedimo Udo; Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Prof. Nyaudoh Ndaeyo; and President, Books for Africa, Mike Essien, Esq.
Others included erudite scholar, PR expert and founder, Uyo Book Club, Dr. Udeme Nana; internationally celebrated journalist whose book ‘Village Boy’ recently selected as one of the United Nation’s best book in SDG categories one and two, Anietie Usen; Proprietor of Topfaith Group of Schools, Dr. Emmanuel Abraham; Akwa Ibom State Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations Practitioners (NIPR), Nsemeke Udo Akpan; and erstwhile AKS Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Israel Umoh.
Unveiling the maiden edition of ‘The Brooks’, the Chairman of Uyo Local Government Council, Dr. Uwemedimo Udo commended the founder of the Club, Dr. Udeme Nana for initiating and driving such a lofty vision. He congratulated Uyo Book Club on its latest feat – hosting rights for first National Convention for Network of Book Clubs and Reading Promoters in Nigeria (NBRP) slated for September, 2021, recent proclamation of Uyo as Nigeria’s Book City for 2021, as well as the emergence of ‘Village Boy’ (a brainchild of the member of the Club) as best of five selected books for UN SDG’s 2021 award.
“I want to thank you for the honour done to Uyo , capital city of the state by showcasing it in positive light in your publication and activities. I want to particularly congratulate Uyo Book Club for its recent feats and for reviving the book culture. I am a book lover and I like knowledge. Money is good; but knowledge is better!” Dr. Udo noted.
On his part, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Prof. Nyaudo Ndaeyo, represented by Prof. Ntiaobong Ekong, expressed delight that Uyo Book Club was offering a brilliant alternative to the now ubiquitous drinking clubs and other nocturnal clubs around town, calling on all lovers of books, knowledge and the good things of life to join Uyo Book Club.
In their separate remarks, the Information and Strategy Commissioner, Barr. Ini Ememobong represented by Akparawa James Edet and his counterpart in the Education Ministry, Mrs. Idongesit Etiebet represented by Dr. Anietie Ikot, congratulated Uyo Book Club for putting Akwa Ibm State on the world map and pledged to support the lofty initiatives of the club to the glory of Akwa Ibom State.
Proprietor of Topfaith Group of Schools, Dr. Emmanuel Abraham was represented at the event by Annie Sunny Udo, who coincidentally is the Editor of The Brook.
Speaking earlier, the founder of Uyo Book Club, Dr. Udeme Nana stated that the launch of the maiden edition of the Club’s quarterly newsletter, ‘The Brook’ was another avenue to showcase the Club and take Akwa Ibom to the world. He hinted that plans were underway to have copies of the newsletter used as in-flight journals for Ibom Air and distributed to all countries’ embassies in Nigeria.
Dr. Nana commended the contributions of all members which he noted, culminated in recent feats and urged more members to read and write more than ever before, adding that Uyo Book Club is ready to provide the platform and network to celebrate intellectual offerings.
As though to add fillip to Dr. Nana’s call, the award-winning author of ‘Village Boy’, Anietie Usen shared a story of how his book got nominated for the award. He revealed that the book was nominated by a first-time member of the Uyo Book Club who saw a copy during the February edition of the Club’s reading session. He publicly named the lady , Mrs. Mfon Ebebe, a teacher of English Language at Nigerian Christian Institute, Uyo and celebrated her and Uyo Book Club for creating the pedestal for ‘the big lift’.
Uyo Book Club is an intellectual hub of lovers of books and knowledge who meet and read in Uyo every last Saturday of the month.