Ikuru Hails Kid Author’s Works

The Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engr Tele Ikuru has described book writers as agents of development who use their skills to spotlight problems and also proffer solutions for the interest of the society.

Engr Ikuru stated this last Friday in Port Harcourt while unveiling two books authored by twelve years old Mavi Val-Ugboma.

Represented at the function by a Permanent Secretary in the Deputy Governor’s office, Evangelist Eddy Oloko, Engr Ikuru said it is in the spirit of encouraging reading and writing that the present administrating had invested largely in education sector, and urged the youth always read.

According to him, by reading extensively, the youth could be positively influenced and have little or no time to think of crime.

Engr Ikuru, who expressed delight in the works of the kid author, stressed that it is a thing of joy that  little girl of her age could summon the courage to write books.

Reacting to a request made by the author in her address urging the state government to establish functional libraries in the schools across the state, the deputy governor said the government was thinking in such direction and that the libraries would be well equipped.

Evangelist Oloko, who promised to take her address the deputy governor, promised that the books would be exhibited in the forthcoming book fare.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, said little Mavi had made the state proud, and commended the parents for her wonderful upbringing.

The commissioner who was represented by the General Manager, Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, Mr Celestine Ogolo, said she had gone through books, and described Mavi as a rising star who would actualize her dream of becoming the likes of Wole Soyinka of the future.

Mrs Semenitari advised parents to always encourage their children to do best what they can and not force them to read parents choice courses as law, medicine, etc.

“Use Mavi as a symbol because the lord has shown what she is made of. Whatever she becomes tomorrow, the proficiency of writing can’t be taken away from her,” she said.

Noting that the books came at the right time when the present administration was concerned with the low reading culture, the commissioner expressed delight that at a time when youth were wasting their precious time on movies, little Mavi committed herself to book writing, and remarked that the sky would be her limit.

The commissioner particularly expressed joy that the books centered on moral decadence, laziness and criminality which are common problems affecting our present society, and urged others to emulate the kid author.

Proprietor of the Noble’s Academy where Mavi schools, Mr Bright Oluwosu, said Mavi has made the school proud, linking the success to the good training from the school, the parents and the girl’s determination to excel.

Speaking, the 12-year old author, Mavi Val-Ugboma, daughter of a director and deputy editor of The Tide Newspaper, Mr Valentine Ugboma, said the unveiling of the two books are a dream come through, stating that the idea was nursed a the age of seven, attributing her success to the state government policy non education.

She pointed out that she got inspired through the works of Nigeria’s writers like Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe and Elechi Amadi, adding that her “dream is to be one of the famous writers in Nigeria and the world at large.”

Chris Oluoh