By Daniel Tyokua
A book, The Paths That Take Us, was on Saturday launched in Abuja to promote writing and reading culture among the youth.
The book which centred on enlightening Nigerians, especially the young minds on the strongholds of knowlege written by Aliyu Baba-Ari from Yobe state, chronicled the insecurity challenge in the North East.
Speaking at the public presentation of the book, Governor of Yobe state, Mai Mala Buni described writing and reading as a basic tool that will serve as a catalyst to broaden frontiers of knowledge across the country.
Buni who is also the chairman Caretaker Extra-ordinary Convention Committee of All Progressives Congress, (APC), regretted the poor reading culture among most Nigerians.
The Governor, represented by retired Brig. Gen. Abdulsalam Dahiru (rtd), enjoined all Nigerians to embrace writing to enable them tell indigenous stories the way it ought to be told.
He encouraged the author to strive hard to write many more books that would serve as a source of encouragement to younger generations, at such a time the traditional culture of reading and writing is gradually going into extinction.
“it is very difficult nowadays to see someone reading a book. I commend the author for his doggedness, resilience and sacrifice that made him succeed in expanding the frontiers of knowledge.”
Earlier, Chairman of the occasion and Former Permanent Secretary of then, the Federal Ministry of Power and Steel, Malam Abubakar Mamu emphasised the need for every Nigerian to contribute toward addressing security challenges facing the North East, pointing out that security challenge in one region, should be a thing of concern for all well meaning Nigerians.
However, the author” The Path That Takes Us” Mr Aliyu Baba-Ari, said his desire and inspiration to write the book was borne out of his zeal to tell the story of the North East by the people of the region.
On her part, a retired Director of FCT Secondary Education Board and mother of the author, Mrs Yelwa Fatima Baba-Ari, expressed her delight over the feat of her son as a writer
“The book written by my son is a firsthand account of what has been happening in the North East in the last decade. We experienced losses, disappearances and so on. She said.
