Wife of the Bayelsa State hovernor, Justice Patience Diri, has encouraged youths to discipline themselves through reading quality literature.
She stated this on Monday during the unveiling of the book: “When Tomorrow Beckons” and the fundraiser for Spelling Bee Bayelsa, written by Dr. Ebidenyefa Tarilla – Nikade
The first lady commended the author for the courage and discipline she showed in writing the book, while restating her encouragement to young people to be disciplined through reading books.
”My father who was a journalist always encouraged us to read newspapers and good literature books during our days when growing up as teenagers.
”Books are unique and they shape memories that live forever than life itself; that sharpen the knowledge of the reader. Reading makes me to give the right judgement,” she said.
Also speaking, Amb. Godknows Igali, Chairman of the occasion, commended the author for her literary works which have brought to limelight that people with literary expression are very important in contemporary times.
He said that the book equally touches the Ijaw identity and who they are in the Niger Delta region, adding that young people should turn to writing about their origins as a people.
Author of the book, Dr. Ebidenyefa Tarila-Nikade, said that the unveiling of ‘When Tomorrow Beckons’ and the fundraiser for Spelling Bee Bayelsa was nothing short of a dream fulfilled.
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The author said that the unveiling of the book is a platform to raise funds for spelling Bee Bayelsa, which is a spelling competition for public and private primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa.
”We want to encourage children to develop interest in mentally rewarding activities, for us to be able to do that we have to create motivation and reward them adequately by financial rewards.
”This book is written to tell the narrative that the Ijaw people have a deep cosmology that guides their interactions and regulates their behaviors.
”It is to tell the world that we are beyond the struggle for oil resources, we are beyond the multidimensional poverty that they usually describe in this region.
”We are professionals, we have our norms, we have our taboos, we have our world views and rich cultural heritage. Our food dressing amongst others, everything is embedded in this work,” she said.
