Justice Patience Diri, wife of the Bayelsa State Governor, alongside other stakeholders, has called on young people to embrace discipline and cultivate a strong reading culture, stressing that knowledge, hard work, and integrity remain the surest path to personal growth and lasting impact.
They made the call during the unveiling of the book ‘When Tomorrow Beckons’ held at the Best Western Plus Hotel, Ox-bow Lake, in Yenagoa on Sunday.
The ceremony attracted leaders, writers, and literary enthusiasts who commended the author and emphasized the vital role of books in shaping ideas, preserving memory, and inspiring future generations.
Special Guest of Honour, Justice Patience Diri, wife of the Bayelsa State Governor, described the unveiling as more than just a literary event, but a celebration of knowledge, culture, and progress that resonates with the values of society.
Commending the author for her effort, Justice Diri, stressed the value of book which she said came at a timely moment, noting that literature preserves memory, sparks public debate, and inspires young people.
“When Tomorrow Beckons is a work that arrives at a timely moment for our society and those who care about ideas, culture and progress. I congratulate the author for the courage, discipline and generosity it takes to bring a manuscript from a quiet idea to a book we can hold and read.
“I love literature, I love books and I love to write. Books are unique, they travel farther than their authors and they live longer than their first readers. They preserve memory, sharpen public debate and give young minds something worthy to aspire to,” she added.
She urged students, teachers, and institutions to embrace the book, saying it provides clarity, balance, and lessons that make it useful for literature scholars and readers alike.
Ambassador Godknows Igali, who chaired the occasion, also praised the author for bringing her work to the limelight.
“The book touches on the Ijaw identity and who we are as a people in the Niger Delta. Young people should turn to writing about their origin as a way to preserve our history,” he said.
Author of the book, Dr. Ebidenyefa Tarila-Nikade, explained that the unveiling was also a platform to raise funds for the Spelling Bee Bayelsa competition, which targets children in primary and secondary schools across the state.
She said, “The Spelling Bee is to encourage children to develop interest in mentally rewarding activities. We plan to give financial rewards, educational materials, and, if possible, scholarships to participants.”
She further noted that When Tomorrow Beckons was written to promote Ijaw culture, stressing that the book shows the people’s cosmology, traditions, and values beyond oil struggles and poverty.
“It is to tell the world that we are strong people with our norms, our taboos, our worldview, and our rich cultural heritage. Our food, our dressing, everything is embedded in this work,” she said.
Dr. Tarila-Nikade also advised young writers to be intentional and disciplined in their craft.
“For you to carve a niche for yourself, you have to take time to engage in deep research in your area of interest and come out with something laudable that will be worthy of accolades,” she urged.
She encouraged young people to balance social media with serious reading and research, adding that consistent engagement with books remains the key to greatness.
