A Harvest of Books, As Albert Wisdom Launches 4 Titles Today
Etete Enideneze writes on A Harvest of Books, As Albert Wisdom Launches 4 Titles Today
What we know and keep to ourselves goes with us, but what we put in book outlives us. Thus, whoever drinks from the deep well of knowledge should also contribute to it. This is especially so, for scholars, and in the academia where the maxim, “Publish or perish” determines career progression and recognition.
More so, writing and publishing will forever remain useful for the advancement of humans and society despite the dominance of the Internet, World Wide Web and other new media technologies. After all, these technologies have rather eased research, publishing, distribution and access to online and offline versions of books by a vast number of persons in any location at unparalleled speed.
The information and knowledge economy cannot thrive fully without ideas published by professionals and academics, even though Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the rave of the moment.
Against these backdrops, experts and scholars including budding authors in various disciplines have continued to feed the reading public with works of various kinds, online and offline.
Dr. Albert Wisdom, a young author has taking the gauntlet to contribute his quota to the deep well of knowledge from which he has been drinking and still drinks.
The Yenagoa-based Okaka-born technocrat and scholar has on his stable four new books for public presentation and launch.
They are Poverty and Unemployment in Bayelsa State: Challenges and Panaceas; Personalities in Yenagoa Local Area: A Selection of Profiles and Services; History of Obunem-Epie Festival and Epie Kingdom Development as well as Historical and Contemporary issues in Epie-Atissa Nation (second edition).
In the book, Poverty and Unemployment in Bayelsa State, the author draws from his background in the social sciences, student unionism, labour and community development activism in anlysing the Siamese problem with focus on Bayelsa and as they also concern Epie-Atissa, host of the state capital. He identifies the causes of unemployment and poverty, and proffers solutions.
The second book profiles personalities who have made marks in their private endeavours and have also contributed to the political, economic and social development of Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa and Nigeria. It documents their lives and achievements to inspire present and future generations.
In the third book, Albert takes interest in narrating how the Obunem-Epie Festival came about, the actions by the women protesters in 1958 against the British colonial government in the then Eastern Region, as well as aftermath of the protest.
It also interogates extent of development in Epie Kingdom, the role of traditional institutions, as well as Epie Kingdom Development Organization (EKDO), which he is an executive member, while marshaling measures for progress of the people.
Historical and Contemporary Issues in Epie-Atissa Nation, now in its second edition adds to literature provided by a few indigenous and non-indigenous scholars who have researched and documented the history of Epie-Atissa as a nation with its distinct ancestry, language and culture.
Interestingly, Dr. Albert not only adds perspectives, but has also included latest developments in the ethnic group and the state, up to the time of publishing the new edition.
As Dr. Ibiba Sasime, the history scholar (now late) wrote in the foreword to the first edition, Dr. Albert’s foray into domain of history, affirms his passion in researching and documenting past and contemporary developments in Epie-Atissa.
The young scholar does so by backing his reports with existing literature, artifacts, oral traditions and interviews with custodians of the ethnic group, which are basic methods of historical inquiry.
A man with multidisciplinary grooming, Wisdom Albert holds Ignatius Ajuru University of Education Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Economics, with emphasis on Environmental Economics, an area he also practices as a health officer. His Master of Science (M.Sc.) is equally in Economics, from Niger Delta University (NDU). Also in his kitty are Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Economics (NDU), Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Public Health Administration, Imo State University IMSU).
He had earlier obtained Pharmacy Technician qualification, practised it, and later switched to environmental and public health aspects, which he has worked at high administrative levels.
Aside his new works, Dr. Albert is the author of Contemporary Issues in Epie-Atissa Nation (first edition), History of Okaka Community and the Genealogy of the Founder of Fankien Compound in Okaka Town and his Descendants.
He has to his credit, a number of conference papers and articles published in journals.
Wisdom is a member of various professional and social organisations.
The public presentation and launch of the four latest books from Dr. Albert’s stable, holds today, Saturday, December 21, 2024, at the conference hall of the INC, Ijaw House, along Sani Abacha Express Way, Yenagoa, 10a.m., with the cream de la creme of Bayelsa, Epie-Atissa and beyond expected to grace the event.
As an amiable and resourceful young man who has not only worked to develop himself, but also serving the low and high as well as society at large, Dr. Albert Wisdom deserves support in the launch of his new books.
