By AUGUSTINE AKPAN

Last weekend, tributes rained torrentially from eminent personalities, associates and mentees on legendary scholar, teacher, Public Relations expert and social crusader, Dr Udeme Nana, as he clocked the diamond age of sixty.

Dr Nana, a Chief lecturer at Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic and progenitor of the Book Club Initiative in the State, turned 60 last Saturday, 12 April 2025 and was roundly celebrated at a special birthday symposium organised in his honour by Abak Book Club.

The special celebration featured the formal presentation of one of Dr Udeme Nana’s new books entitled “Musings of Yesteryears”, that the author said greater part of the contents of the book were drawn from the collections of literary writings he wrote when he was just barely 16 years of age in St Patrick’s College, Calabar.

The diamond birthday anniversary celebration, afforded leaders of thought, associates and mentees the ample opportunity to celebrate the impacts that the Ini-born iconic scholar, pacesetter and teacher has had on the society based on their personal encounters with him.

Alluding to the motto of the defunct West African Pilot Newspaper “Show the light and the people will find the way”, former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah whom, Dr Udeme Nana served as Director of Press Affairs/Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs between 1999-2007, in his goodwill message saluted Dr Nana’s efforts in creating impacts in the society positing that he has “in several directions and several difficult ways…shown the light and several people have found the way”.

Obong Attah who hailed Dr Nana as a notable wordsmith and one whose gift with words shone through quite early in life, praised him for not covering it with a bushel but rather putting it on a lampstand to illuminate the way for others, declaring that his pioneering role in the “establishment of several Book Clubs within and outside our state has helped to rekindle the reading culture among our youth”.

Also celebrating Dr Nana, the Oku Ibom Ibibio and President General, Akwa Ibom State Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers, His Eminence, Ntenyin Solomon Etuk, in his goodwill message, described his six decades of life as “a significant milestone full of inspiring chapters”, reiterating that as a “scholar, veteran journalist and writer, Nana has impacted on lives and the society generally”.

The Oku Ibom Ibibio who described Dr Nana as a diligent professional with impressive academic record who has “served both Governor Victor Attah and Governor Godswill Akpabio between 1999-2008 as well as being appointed by the State government to head Akwa Ibom State Secretariat of the 2014 National Conference in Abuja”, congratulated him on attaining Diamond jubilee and wished him more fruitful year ahead.

On his part, the Chairman of Ini Local Government Area, Hon. Inibehe Umah, who described Dr Udeme Nana as an illustrious son of the soil, said his “Diamond Jubilee is a celebration of life steeped in scholarship, service and uncommon passion for societal advancement” adding that as a renowned media scholar, communication expert and Public Relations guru, he has consistently distinguished himself both at the state and national stage bringing honour to Ini LGA.

Other prominent personalities, intellectuals and book enthusiasts such as Sir S. U Akpan, Member Representing INI State Constituency, Hon. Lawrence Udoide, Rt Hon Justice Ita Mbaba OFR, PJCA, Professors Linus Asuquo CEO of Nigerian Metarlugical Development Center, Jos, Trenchard Ibia, Ini Udoka, Emem Bassey CMD UUTH, Senator Ekong Sampson, Mr Victor Eyo and a host of others in their goodwill messages all attested to the humongous impact that Dr Nana has created in the society via his love for scholarship and promoting reading culture among the youth across the State.

Responding to the honour done him, the celebrator, Dr Nana appreciated everyone that celebrated him and added that he has been fired up to do more in the years ahead.

He stated that if he was ever afraid of criticism, that now he has become an elder statesman by virtue of turning sixty, he has broken free from such fears and ready to now bare his mind on critical issues that affect the growth of the society without fear.

He also made a commitment to ensuring that he ‘will die empty’ as he is ready to let out all the talents that God has endowed him with without bottling up any.

Highpoint of the birthday symposium included: the review of the book by Prof. Joseph Ushie, Professor of General Stylistics and Literary Criticisms, University of Uyo, donation of books to the Abak Division Library by the celebrator, Dr Nana and cutting of birthday cake to mark the Diamond Jubilee of the wordsmith.