Loud Ovation As Lagos Student, Ebube Ugodim Unveils 3 New Books

For making Nigeria, Lagos and Anambra State proud, a 12-year old girl, Ebubechukwu Stephanie Ugodim, received a standing ovation as she unveiled 3 new books. 

The public presentation of the books, which took place at the event hall of Magrellos, 72 FESTAC Link Road, Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos, on Sunday 17th October, 2021, drew a large crowd consisting of family members, fellow students, school administrators, friends of the parents, Nnobi indigenes as well as the members of the All Hallows Old Boys Association. 

The Chairman of the occasion, Ichie Casmir Anyansi, in his remarks, commended the parents of the girl for supporting and allowing her to express her passion in writing while encouraging the young author, Ebube, to maintain focus and the sky will be her starting point.  

In their speeches, the School Head Teacher of Lin Davies and the Principal of Beacon Light School, expressed how proud they were that the young author is their product.

Her class teacher, Miss Vera Agbidi, disclosed that Ebube is very brilliant and well behaved and is turning out a big role model for other children. She also commended her parents for giving her the encouragement. 

Speaking on how she came about her new books, Ebube said that being an avid reader, her writing emanated from imaginations and visualising the content of what she read.

“I just liked reading and now I have added writing to it” she said. 

Ebube Stephanie Ugodim narrated that it was during the Covid-19 lockdown that she began to put down her thoughts on paper and she continued culminating in the books she has come up with. 

While giving insight into one of her works “Refugee, she said she tried to highlight how human trafficking affects the life of a child and the need for all hands to be on deck in order to nip it in the bud. In” The Broken Home”, Ebube posited that every challenge in marriage has solution and efforts must be made to keep the family unit together no matter the challenges. The 12-year old author tried in “Alexander The Sickler” to inform that being a sickler is not a death sentence after all. Ebube encouraged any child diagnosed with sickle cell to know that it is not the end of the road. She said that a sickler can catch a vision, pursue same and with determination, courage and faith realise what he or she had set out to achieve. 

Disclosing her future plans, the young author, Ebube, said that she is looking forward to writing a book, which will be scripted and acted as a film. 

A visibly elated Mr. Pius Ikechukwu Okpaladim, the author’s father, said he had to give her all the support seeing that she was passionate about expressing her thoughts in writing. He advised parents to always take interest in what their children are doing and offer advice where necessary. 

The high point of the event was the public presentation of the 3 books followed by the launching by dignitaries present. 

Ebube, born on 9th February, 2009, in Calabar, Cross River State, to Mr. Pius Ikechukwu and Sylverline Chika Okpaladim from Nnobi, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, is presently a student of Beacon Light School, Abule-Ado, Lagos.