A young talented writer, Miss Okpali Isioma Jane has launched two of her books, with titles, “The Other Side of Friendship” and ”A Test of Time.”
The launch was held recently at the Agbor Community Center, Ime-Obi, Agbor in Ika South Local Government Area.
In his welcome address, Mr. Tony Unouka, the chairman of the occasion appreciated everyone for honouring the call for the book launch, as a sign of encouraging her and other youths.”I want to use this opportunity to welcome our Commissioner for Education of Delta State, Hon. Barr. Chiedu Ebie and Hon. Okoh Festus, member representing Ika South House of Assembly and others for honouring this occasion.
Barr. S.O.A Gbenoba, reviewed the author’s biography. Okpail Isioma Jane, hails from Agbor in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State. She did her primary and secondary education at Knowledge Island Nursery/Primary School, Mary Mount College and Holy Infant International Secondary school, all in Delta State. She is currently an undergraduate of English and Literary Studies at the Delta State University, Abraka.
Dr. Onyeamaechi Ugboh, a lecturer in the Department of English and Literary Studies at the Delta State University Abraka, who reviewed the two books, “The other Side of Friendship and ‘A Test of Time.” He commended Jane for her ingenuity in writing two books at once. The other side of friendship portrays a young girl, Chidinma, who has a great dreams and will-power to achieve them with the support of her parents but she was influenced and deceived by the friends she followed. “The kind of friend you follow determines who you are?” He admonished the youths to know the type of friends they keep,” not because of their beauty or handsome but watch out for their characters and if they have same vision with you.
Continuing, he also reviewed, the second book, A Test of Time, which is about Obiora, the protagonist, who had all he wanted, never dreamed of pain, but eventually suffered, because of the trusted friend, who turn to be his enemy. I ‘m not in any way condemning trusting a friend, but we should know the friends we trust. He added that, all these are part of our challenges in life, which is the prevailing issues jeopardizing our life.
Also on the review of the books, the Commissioner of Education of Delta State, Hon. Barr. Chinedu Ebie, said that the book is a reality of life, which will help us to extricate in our friendship in life and he pointed out that some friends are egocentric in nature, but we should be sensitive to know when they come around us. I articulate with the writer, that this book is a life experience which we will all must be careful of the friends we keep.
In a brief speech on the books’ theme by the author, Okpali Jane, on the other side of friendship is a theme of evil communication, corrupt good manner, and parental responsibility toward their children on the friends they keep. And on the test of time, we must be careful of who we trust, because an enemy stab is better than a friend’s slap. She added that it is better to learn by knowledge than by experience. I thank you all for coming, to the books launch.
Hon. Okpali Simon, the father of the author, who spoke with Ika Weekly reporter, said, I am delighted that my daughter is a writer. “I knew, she will be great in life from her childhood, and I was not surprise, she wrote two books at once. I thank God for giving her the wisdom and we are proud of her.