The kinsmen, church and family members, friends, staff, students, alumni and other well-wishers gathered at Abak in Akwa Ibom State to celebrate a distinguished academic, Prof. Aniefiok Jackson Udoudo, writes Southsouth Bureau Chief BISI OLANIYI.
Staff, students and alumni of the Department of Linguistics and Communication Studies (LCS) of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) in colourful aso-ebi, took off from the front of Radio UNIPORT at 8:30 a.m. on April 10 this year in two coaster buses, one for the staff, while the other was for the students, and they headed for Abak near Uyo, the headquarters of Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
The elaborate event was the professorial thanksgiving of a renowned scholar and brilliant gentleman, Prof. Aniefiok Jackson Udoudo, the Head of UNIPORT’s LCS Department, who was recently elevated to the prestigious rank of a professor.
The journey from the Garden City to Abak was through the Port Harcourt-Aba-Umuahia-Enugu Expressway that is being reconstructed and expanded by the Federal Government, while the movement was a bit slow, in view of the bad spots and diversions, until drivers of the buses turned to the right at Ukwa Junction, traversing Ukwa West and Ukwa East LGAs of Abia State to link Akwa Ibom State, through the road to a privately-owned Obong University, near the Ikot Ide hometown of the accomplished scholar in Ukanafun LGA of Akwa Ibom State.
The journey continued with a link to Abak/Ikot-Ekpene Expressway at Afagha Obong Junction, near the Ukana Ikot Ntuen hometown in Essien Udim LGA, of a former Governor of Akwa Ibom state, Senator Godswill Akpabio, whose administration actually dualised the strategic road.
The choice of Abak for the thanksgiving and reception is to make the venues easily accessible for the guests from far and wide, considering the fact that Prof. Udoudo’s Ikot Ide hometown and Abak are 20 kilometres apart.
On arriving Abak, the team from UNIPORT and other eminent personalities then moved to the Church of Christ at No. 18, Ebom Avenue, Off Abak/Ikot-Ekpene Expressway and joined the renowned scholar for the well-attended thanksgiving inside the befitting edifice.
The officiating minister of the church, described as the pillar and ground of truth, Evang. Utibe Ibanga, urged people to always trust God, be humble and to remain focused.
The cleric said: “We thank God for having elevated our brother to the rank of Professor. He is a good man. The very humble, simple and approachable Prof. Udoudo has been my role model since the day he sat me and my colleagues down and advised us on how to remain focused in life, embrace quality education and be determined to succeed, while trusting God.
“I am so proud of Prof. Udoudo whom God gave a compatible wife, also from a humble background, and four promising children, who are also serious with their studies. Prof. Udoudo and his wife grew together from grass to grace and from nothing to something. Successful people are persons with happy families.
“If you want God to lift you up in life, please always sincerely humble yourself, without pretence or eyeservice. God is a rewarder of people who diligently seek Him. Learn to continually trust God.”
Immediately after the church service, guests of the distinguished scholar then moved to the beautifully-decorated Independence Hall in Abak, for the elaborate reception and launch of Prof. Udoudo’s autobiography, titled: “Lifted by the Mighty Hand.”
Independence hall, at a busy junction of the roads to Uyo, the nearby capital of Akwa Ibom state; Ikot-Ekpene; and Eket/Ikot-Abasi/Oron, was the location of Abak Correctional Centre (prison), which the administration of Akpabio, now the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, demolished for being at the centre of the city, and relocated it to another part of Abak, thereby giving way to the highbrow event centre.
The celebrator, while being majestically ushered into the expansive hall, was accompanied by his wife, Mercy, whom he described as his good friend, a confidant, a co-traveller and a great supporter of his every step, as well as the four children: Mbuk Annette, Obongenyene, Abasioboro and Unyimeabasi, consisting of two males and two females, all grown-ups and described by their father as his friends and advisers, with whom he is always sharing his thoughts and stories of his life.
The reception was chaired by a former Speaker of the 6th Session of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Tonye Emmanuel Isenah, who was accompanied by the Executive Assistant to Bayelsa Governor, Senator Douye Diri, on National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Matters, Suoyo Kelvin Appah.
Isenah, in his remarks, described Akwa Ibom state as his second home, in view of having many reliable, trustworthy, caring, honest and dependable friends from the Niger Delta state, while urging Nigerians to always identify with persons who are celebrating, thereby trusting God to attain greater heights in life.
An eminent Professor of Political Communication and Media Studies of the University of Uyo (UNIUYO) in Akwa Ibom state, where the celebrator had his Doctorate, Prof. Nkereuwem Udoakah, said: “God has been faithful in His promises to those He has ordained for greatness, even as those persons must exhibit some level of hard work.”
Prof. Udoakah noted that the UNIPORT’s don had been very close to God from his childhood, stressing that whatever he (Udoudo) is today is a sheer manifestation of God’s love towards him.
Since childhood, Prof. Udoudo wished to be a teacher, a career which God has made to be a reality in his life.
Lifted by the Mighty Hand, a fourteen-chapter autobiography of Aniefiokuwa (who knows the world’s dynamics?) portrays his humble beginning, from “nowhere” to a level that can be described as “somewhere,” especially for having poverty-ridden childhood with illnesses, but God miraculously healed him.
The brilliant and intelligent young Udoudo could then not able to get admission into secondary school, because his parents were living in poverty and ignorance, thereby moving to Port Harcourt, after learning tailoring at Umuagbai, Ndoki in Oyigbo LGA, also in Rivers state, which he believed would be his means of livelihood, thereby becoming “Small Tailor,” between 1975 and 1978, but he managed to enrol with a night school, which enabled him to take GCE “O” and “A” Levels examinations, in less than three years.
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In a welcome address at the reception by Udoudo’s family, presented by the firstborn, Mbuk Annette, a lawyer, the outstanding scholar was described as a peacemaker, who separates friendship from work, a loving and cherishing husband and father, whose life had taught them how to do what they could to positively touch the lives of others.
Mbuk Annette said: “Our father has taught us how to love everybody, including those who may hate us. He has not at anytime told us who his enemy is. He is a lover of God and a selfless servant, who does not have room for the lazy. Indeed, our father is an epitome of humility and a lover of quality education.
“Our father had a very low birth and he went through many rough sides of life. The good thing about his growth is that the grace of God follows him anywhere he goes. Most of his life history is covered in his autobiography: “Lifted by the Mighty Hand.”
“Our father has one weakness, which is that he is a very strict and principled person. We, his biological children, are very happy having him as our father. We will forever want to be his children, if there will be life on earth, after this life.”
The Acting Vice-Chancellor of UNIPORT, Prof. Stephen Okodudu, in the congratulatory message which he personally signed, on behalf of the Senate, staff and students of the Federal Government-owned higher institution, applauded the head of the university’s LCS department on his selfless service and commitment to duties.
He also congratulated Udoudo on his new and well-deserved promotion to the rank of Professor in the university, which he described as an eloquent testimony to an unparalleled stewardship and services rendered to humanity and the quality of research he conducted over the years.
UNIPORT’s acting vice-chancellor said: “I am particularly proud to be associated with you for your total commitment, hard work and dedication to duties. I join your family, friends and well-wishers to rejoice and celebrate with you on this and other milestone achievements.
“It is our prayer that the Almighty God will endow you with more wisdom, good health and strength, as you continue to contribute to knowledge, national development and service to humanity.”
The Dean of UNIPORT’s Faculty of Humanities, where LCS Department belongs, Prof. Kingsley Owete, in his goodwill message, stated that the unique achiever’s elevation was a testimony that the divine hand of God was upon his life.
Prof. Owete said: “Your humble disposition and dedication to duties as an academic staff of the faculty have endeared you to both staff and students, who expressed spontaneous joy, when the news of your promotion to the rank of Professor was broken at the faculty.”
The representative of Ukanafun/Oruk Anam constituency of Akwa Ibom state in the House of Representatives, Unyime Idem, who is the Deputy Chairman of the House’s Communications Committee, described Prof. Udoudo as a good ambassador of Ukanafun in particular and the federal constituency in general.
The lawmaker representing Ukanafun constituency in Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Dr. Charity Ido, noted the hard work, dedication, perseverance, passion for teaching and learning of the great intellectual, thereby describing him as a diligent mentor, while declaring that his promotion was a reward for hard work.
The Chairman of Ukanafun Local Government Council, Pastor Godwin Inyieng, stated that the promotion of their illustrious son to the pinnacle of his career was not a mean feat, but a practical demonstration of his commitment, diligence, patience, steadfastness, endurance, discipline and responsibility.
Ukanafun Elders’ Forum (UEF), through its Chairman, Rt. Hon. (Obong) Eno Akpan, pointed out that their wonderful ambassador’s elevation was a reward for hard work, resourcefulness, sacrifice, humility, and above all, submission to God as the Alpha and Omega of all things.
UEF said: “We pray that you gird your loins and protect this new position with all your might, in conduct and character, even as we pray God to imbue you with wisdom, ingenuity, strength, courage and sound health to hold this trust in absolute confidence and loyalty.”
The Chairman, Governing Council of Saint Annie Christian Schools, Obio Ndot, Oruk Anam LGA of Akwa Ibom State, Ambassador Aniekan Johnny, said Prof. Udoudo, a member of the schools’ governing council, had changed his name, by God’s grace and mercy, from a “Mere Small Tailor” to a “Great Celebrity Professor,” thereby making many students of the schools, in their uniform, to honour him at the reception with a special performance.
The accomplished scholar appreciated the love shown him and the support to make the thanksgiving, reception and book launch successful.
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