•Inoyo urges application of knowledge to build viable society

By IMÓ ETIM

The Uyo Book Club joined other book lovers, the world over, to mark the World Book Day in Uyo, last Saturday.

The event, held at Helemah Events Centre, saw an array of book lovers, authors, students and scholars converging to mark the day.

Founder of Uyo Book Club, Dr Udeme Nana, in his remarks, challenged the youths to nurture reading as a virus and help make it to spread like an epidemic in the society.

The scholar admonished them to adopt the DEAR strategy (Drop Everything And Read) and infect their family members, school mates, friends and acquaintances with reading culture, noting that reading would refine their sensibilities and make people to become better enlightened citizens in the society.

The Uyo Book Club founder and Communication Scholar stressed that one could not run a successful democratic system of government without enlightened citizens.

On his part, the Advisor of Inoyo Toro foundation, Mr Udom Inoyo, who served as the Chief Reader on the occasion and read from the book “The Tipping Point”, by Malcolm Gladwell, pointed out that his first reading of Gladwell’s work opened his eyes to the fact that little things can actually make a big difference.

Mr Inoyo noted that the book reminds people that their thoughts, products, messages and behaviours can actually spread like virus if three agents were present, namely: ‘The law of the few’, ‘The Stickiness Factor’ and the ‘Power of Context’ with lessons that “word-of-mouth was still impactful today and can create an epidemic. It could be positive or negative; and is also predicated on who is carrying the message.”

On the stickiness factor, Mr Inoyo pointed out that an idea must be memorable and capable of moving one to action to spark epidemics and that if students’ attention were captured, they could easily be taught with understanding, as such, “new ideas must be memorable, actionable and irresistible in all circumstances.”

On the power of context, Mr Inoyo pointed out that Gladwell used the broken window theory to analyze that: “If a window is broken and left unrepaired, people walking by will conclude that no one cares and was in charge, and that sooner, more windows would be broken.

“Given the endemic corruption, crippling poverty, unemployment, absence of social services, banditry, kidnapping, cultism, drug addiction, we should critically think ‘outside the box’ to find bespoke solutions.

“We should reflect on conditions and circumstances enabling these challenges and our respective roles in cementing them. We should stop the finger-pointing if we are to build a viable society,” Mr Inoyo said.

Other notable personalities who graced the event included Rt. Hon Ekong Sampson, Mr Anietie Usen of the Village Boy fame, Mr Celestine Mel, Ini Ite – Ubong and author of Ekong Nke, Liberty Bassey. Schools, teachers and members of the Book Club, amongst others, also graced the event.

The Apostolic Faith Secondary School, Ikot Enwang, Ikot Ekpene, won the quiz competition and went home with a trophy and cash prize.

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