By Regina Igwebuike
Mr. Michael Ezenwata, founder of The Authors Guild International, has officially presented his book “The Great Dicta of Michael Ezenwata” to the public.
The event took place at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) State Secretariat, Godwin Ezeemo International Press Centre, Awka on April 29.
The Chairman on the occasion, Prof. Ken Nwuba, a lawyer, said that educational prowess is superior to money, emphasizing that education pays more than anything.
Prof. Nwuba encouraged the intellectuals to begin to market the idea of promoting their intellectual prowess, as it would help to shape and change the future.
According to him, “this is our chance”.
He expressed disappointment that most graduates could not write simple sentences correctly.
“Get our people to know that their liberation revolves around education; good education wipes away ignorance, poverty, others.
“Let’s begin to consciously train ourselves, our children, and friends in godliness. When we begin to pursue the things of this world from that perspective, crime will come down.
“Because we are not throwing guns, our people in the university would go into cultism and kill their fellow students, using their heads to play football.”
Prof. Nwuba decried what is happening at Abakiliki Street, Awka, where prostitution is the order of the day.
He, then, commended Mr Ezenwata, describing him as a man of ideas.
The Book Reviewer, Associate Prof. Emma Nwobu, said: “The Great Dicta of Michael Ezenwata” -21st-century edition, is a collection of 100 properly articulated wise sayings, a must-read for all.
Associate Prof. Nwobu while describing Ezenwata as a great writer, noted that investing in education is very important even as he urged all to encourage writers to do more.
“Ezenwata passes the message across the board, touching our psychological mind, home, society, and every aspect of life through selected words.
He said that the author used simple expressions to write the book, passing the message to all families, encouraging all to pick a copy before leaving, even as he recommended it for schools and libraries.
Nwobu also urged the author not to be discouraged, explaining that one day he would be recognized, and advised him to leave money, “money is devil and evil.
“It is the knowledge that you acquired that would make you what you will be in the future.
“It is the knowledge that your children acquired that would make them excel and be recognized across the world.”
The book reviewer enjoined all to treat their enemies as they should treat their friends and by so doing, acquire more respect and reverence from them.
“When your enemy is fighting you and you keep quiet, he will think that you are weak, immediately you challenge, you create more problem.
“So you can stay away and be quiet as if you don’t know anything, that person will say this is a very nice person, tomorrow he would respect you and there will be peace, happiness and life continue.”
The Reviewer also cited dictum 69: The world is like a plain sheet of paper and we individuals inhabiting it are like uncountable pens struggling to create one’s own impression on it.
According to him, the situation in which we find ourselves in today in this country requires that one must struggle because we have been abandoned by the society and government, therefore, don’t relax, move on, one day you will survive in whatever you are doing”.
Prof. Nwobu said that the book contained everyday realities of life, believing that the book will go worldwide, urging all to nurture God’s gift in them and make it fruition.
Earlier in a welcome address, the Author, Mr Ezenwata, commended and thanked the guests for honouring the invitation and describing their presence as a morale booster for him to forge ahead in his second nature (writing).
Ezenwata said that it took him 28 years after the 1994 publication of the Great Dicta of Michael Ezenwata, another collection of 100 quotable quotes, to produce the one he was presenting.
According to him, the quotes are not only legendary, educational, provocative and inspiring, but deeply spiritual, capturing the real essence of life.
“The quotes also provide escape routes to numerous challenges facing man in society he finds himself.”
Ezenwata explained that quotes of this nature were very imperative and instructive as they have the capacity to inform the uninformed, educate the uneducated, embolden the weak, console the depressed, empower the less privileged, and direct the visionless.
He said that he had decided to offer to the society, particularly the society where he lives some encouraging words to make them see a reason to move on with life.
He, therefore, urged the government at all levels to aim at promoting reading culture in society, award scholarships to the best essay writers, and equip libraries, and others.
Ezenwata while welcoming Gov. Charles Soludo on board, enjoined him to synergise with writers, journalists and media practitioners in the state to facilitate his administrative vision.
Some dignitaries that graced the event include the Mothers of the Day Prof. Nneka Nnorom, Mrs Gloria Obiora-Ibezim, Mr Tony Nezianya, former SSA to Gov. Willie Obiano on Media.
Others were Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Chairman, State NUJ and HRM Igwe Benjamin Okeji of Omasi.
