Thumb Up For Uche Nworah For Successfully Presenting His Latest Book To Nigerians

There is no denying the fact that Nigeria is richly blessed in human capital so much that hardly is there a body of knowledge that a Nigerian has not studied or specialized in, at least, up to bachelor’s degree level. Unfortunately, not many of these professionals see the importance of documenting their knowledge through book publishing as that would have made it possible for the knowledge to be shared.

Against the foregoing backdrop, it is little wonder that many development challenges are common across the country, but the solutions to them are usually not handy as books or rather knowledge that would have made the challenges solvable are usually not seen in bookshops. In fact, salient knowledge in various fields of human endeavor which most Nigerians acquired from Ivy League educational institutions across Europe and America are hardly brought to bear in solving critical challenges such as security issue as they never get adapted to books for replication, and as such the essence of such knowledge are lost and forgotten.

At this juncture, it is expedient to ask, “What is the difference between those who make progress by documenting and sharing their knowledge with others and in the same vein bringing solutions to bear on challenges in every facets of life and those who fall behind by ignorantly keeping acquired knowledge to themselves?The answer cannot be farfetched as those who shared knowledge have being described by Pablo Picasso in a quote thus: “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away”, and those that do not share knowledge have being admonished by an anonymous author that “If knowledge is not documented and shared, it does not benefit anyone.”

Analyzed from the foregoing explanatory perspective, it is expedient to concur with Samuel Johnson that “Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information upon it”.

Having said much in this context, there is no denying the fact that Safety of journalists in the last few years has been of concern to not few Nigerians, and it is against thisbackdrop that the book, “Media Practice And Security Challenges In South -East Nigeria authored by Dr. Uche Nworah should be sought after by both Journalists and non-Journalists as reading and assimilating it will go a long way in keeping people informed, particularly now that Nigerians have known where they find information about security challenges in the east as the book has being launched today. The reason for the foregoing recommendation cannot be farfetched as the author provides some practical suggestions on what the various stakeholders; including the government, security agencies, non-state actors, media practitioners and others can do to mitigate the challenges. There are suggestions on what media practitioners can do to protect their staff, and bridge the revenue gaps arising from insecurity and general economic challenges.

According to Chidorum Nwakanma, a communication consultant, journalist and educator who reviewed the book, “The compact treatise examines issues of the environment of practice, security considerations, welfare, and professionalism. The book offers survival tips for managers as well as reporters in the various stations and media organs on navigating the current rough waters. It is a moving story and an evolving area. Media Practice and Security Challenges in the South-East should stir robust conversations around both the media and the associated issues of insecurity in the region including leadership, the role of non-state actors, the vision and goal of the region and conflict resolution. A bold start”.

As gathered, the one hundred and fourteen page, five chapters and three bonus chapters book explore media roles in the face of security threats, especially in the south east geopolitical zone and provides insight into other media- related discussions.

Speaking at the event, Governor Willie Obiano, represented by the Managing Director of the National Light Newspapers, Sir Chuka Nnabuife, said the new book is the twelfth published so far by government aides under his administration, with three of them coming from the ABS alone, adding that the topic of the new book provides further insight into the media angle to security threats especially in the region.

Speaking during the launch of the book in Awka on November 25, 2021, the Chairman on the occasion and member representing Njikoka Constituency Two at the Anambra State House of Assembly, Sir Pete Ibida traced Chief Nworah’s antecedents back to their high school days at the College of Immaculate Conception (CIC), Enuguand noted that his early orientation helped groom him into an achiever, and added that having authored two books in the space of one year, he has thrown a major challenge to academic researchers.

The Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Professor Charles Esimone, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Professor Joseph Ikechebelu, in his remarks, described the book as a product of deep experience that is meant to educate and transfer the author’s viewpoint to others.

The unveiler of the book and convener of ‘Nzuko Umunna’, Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo, said the book is handy, and a reminder of the need for Ndi Anambra to reclaim their stake as the intellectual bloc of the country.

Reviewing the book, a Professor of Poetry and Postcolonial Literature in the Department of English, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Professor Chike Okoye, said the titles of each chapter of the book tackled crucial independent topics, and observed that Dr. Nworah’s simple approach to each issue, his teacher-styled elucidation, collaborative viewpoints and the depth of the work generally, portrays his experience and humaneness and recommended the book to everyone.

Ostensibly throwing light into the book, Nworah said publication of the book was a way of contributing to developing issues in communication through research, noting that as the head of a media outfit in the south east, firsthand observation of series of security situations that occurred within the region recently form a broad insight for both academic and professional learning.

Anambra State Head of Service, Barrister Harry Uduh, the Chief Executive Officer of Awka Millennium City, Chief Chimmy Ogbuebile, Chairman of Daily Times Newspapers, Sir Fidelis Anosike, members of the academia, media practitioners among others attended the book’s public presentation.

At this juncture, it is expedient to urge Eze Udo to accept my thanks and congratulations on the successful presentation of this informative book, and given the knowledge it will imbue in people as the deep knowledge that is inherent in it are shared from now onward. I think the book will be inspirational for everyone that reads it, and imbue them with instructional and guiding knowledge.