By Anietie Usen
As the UN SDG, Africa Chapter unveiled my new book, VILLAGE BOY, across the continent yesterday, to mark the UNESCO World Book & Copyright Day, I stepped out with Uyo Book Club, UBC to various schools/book events; and this is how we rolled in the backyard and native home of the thrilling book.
In Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom State, UBC armed with VILLAGE BOY highlighted the celebrations with visits to schools where exciting reading sessions by enthusiastic students were a delight to watch.
I was practically mobbed by hundreds of radiant students at the Nigerian Christian Institute, NCI, one of the “Ivy League” secondary schools in the State. Such a happy and brilliant group of students, they bombarded me with questions about the book, journalism and village life. At some point I was “held hostage” by those who demanded my autograph as a ransom. I guess I signed some even on the back of their exercise books. These are natives of the cyberspace and I wasn’t surprised to notice their excitement about autographs.
Earlier in the Raffia axis of Ikot Ekpene, Dr. Udeme Nnana, a media scholar and president of UBC had led his team of book lovers from UBC to the Holy Child Catholic School, Ikot Esetang, Uruk Uso, where they were dazed by animated village students, who couldn’t hide their love for VILLAGE BOY.
The orphans and less-privileged among them particularly loved the story of grass-to-grace and zero-to-hero in VILLAGE BOY. They wanted me to come back for a special session with them. They appealed to me and all philanthropists to make the book available to every student. “This book gives me hope”, one of them was heard saying out loud.
The experience was so touching, a journalist-member of the UBC and volunteer teacher at NCI recommended a regular schools’ outreach to inspire more students willing to explore their potentials and fulfill their destinies. “I want to move a motion for the constitution of Schools Outreach Committee for UBC (The World Book Day is not enough)”.
For me, this was a very emotion-laden day to remember. So happy VILLAGE BOY is already touching lives and making a difference.
Special thanks to UNESCO, UNIC, UN SDG Book Club, African Chapter, Dr. Udeme Nnana of UBC, Mfon Fortella Ebebe, Nkeneke Tom Akpan Efo, Nseabasi Valentine, Precious Augustus, Esther Anni and all members of UBC.