On this page earlier, we had discussed the wonders of books. Books are a mysterious creation. Wisdom is hidden in books. Ideas are transmitted through books. Without books, knowledge will be limited; because what anybody knows will die with him. They wouldn’t be shared.
Forget about the digital age where transmission of information is at the touch of the button. In the beginning it was not so. For some of us who still love, not only to open books, but to have a feel of them, books still remain the most effective and the smartest carrier of knowledge.
Imagine what would have happened to history without books. Simply imagine a world without books. It would be an empty world; a world filled with empty shelves; and paraded by empty heads. Books make life sweet; allow ideas to flow; and enable knowledge to be shared.
Just before I continue, let me share with you some words of wisdom by Professor Abletor Sedofia of the University of Ghana. You are free to disagree or agree with him:
“Academic excellence is overrated! Did I just say that? Oh, yes, I said it. Being top of your class does not necessarily guarantee that you will be at the top of life. You could graduate as the best student in Finance, but it doesn’t mean you will make more money than everybody else. The best graduating law student does not necessarily become the best lawyer.
“The fact is that life requires more than the ability to understand a concept, memorise it and reproduce it in an exam. School rewards people for their memory. Life rewards people for their imagination. School rewards caution, life rewards daring. School hails those who live by the rules. Life exalts those who break the rules and set new ones.
So, do I mean that people shouldn’t study hard in school? Oh, no, you should. But don’t sacrifice every other thing on the altar of First Class. Don’t limit yourself to the classroom. Do something practical. Take a leadership position. Start a business and fail. That’s a better Entrepreneurship 101.
“Join or start a club. Contest an election and lose. It will teach something Political Science 101 will not teach you. Attend a seminar. Read books outside the scope of your course. Go on missions and win a soul for eternal rewards…
“Do something you believe in! Think less of becoming an excellent student but think more of becoming an excellent person. Make the world your classroom.”
Isn’t that beautiful? The respected professor says we should dare to read books outside our scope of study. One of such books could be the 1, 128-page publication presented in Abuja last week. It is titled: Law Making, Good Governance and Administration of Justice in Nigeria: Essays Written in Honour of Senator Effiong Bob, is authored by 53 Nigerians; out of which 52 are lawyers.
The well produced book is edited by Francis Ojeih and Frank Oniekoro of the Nigerian Law School, Enugu. The formal presentation of the book featured a select audience of men and women of repute. Apart from the colourful presence of Akwa Ibom women who danced and thrilled the cheering crowd, every other person present was either a senator or professor of law and scores of lawyers and judges.
Bob, who is presently the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Benin, is a product of the 1983 Class of the Law Faculty of the University of Lagos, and 1984 Class of the Nigerian Law School. He was a two-term senator until 2011.
Obla, SAN, one of Bob’s classmates, moved the crowd to both tears and laughter as he recalled with humour his journey to the university where he met Bob. He told the audience how Bob used to travel in a night bus from Akwa Ibom to Lagos, spending two nights on the way as the bus always had a tradition of breaking down on the way.
An old student of UNILAG and Bob’s classmate, simply identified as MPK, said this in a message to all of Bob’s classmates after the events: “Mi lords, ladies and gentlemen, good morning to you all. I was at Sheraton Hotels yesterday at the book launch of the big book in honour of Senator Bob…I am glad I did. I am sure many of us in Abuja are getting used to Senator Bob…the host extraordinaire….You know you will be fed very well…& exotic drinks provided but yesterday suggested another dimension to the life of this man…
“The successful Nigerian public official is very arrogant, difficult, dismissive, condescending, unapproachable, demanding very rude. So, to find it easy to deal with this very embodiment of accomplishment is impressive to me. He is simple, accommodating, friendly, non-threatening and open. He was described, to my hearing, as amiable. He sure is.
“The book itself is a measure of the man…big dome…If you are afraid of big books; this one will frighten the devil out of you. But relax, as books go this one has friendly print, beautiful sentence structure; very easy to read.
“(Bob) is an extraordinary public servant who is showing the world that you don’t have to show your value…as a success story by the arrogant display of the plumage of the peacock…or the snarl of a Tasmanian devil or the deadly aggression of a puff adder.
“No, Senator Bob is a man of few words. His fleshy face is ever in perpetual dance with smile and laughter. What a man!”
Books! What a sweet company to keep.
