By Idongesit Ashameri

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Launches Book, Awards Scholarships Through Late Wife’s Foundation

Idongesit Ashameri

A retired Professor of Ethnocommunicology, Desmond Wilson, has called for a collective commitment to tackle Nigeria’s challenges.

Prof. Wilson made the call during the celebration of his 75th birthday and the presentation of his latest book, “Communication Nuggets in Private and Public Spaces,” at the University of Uyo’s TETFund Auditorium.

Wilson, who also used the occasion to announce scholarship awards to deserving students from tertiary institutions through The Elizabeth Des Wilson Scholarship Foundation, expressed gratitude to the Prof. Akpan H. Ekpo Center for Public Policy, the organizers of the event, and all who attended.

Turning to a pressing concern, the Don observed sadly that excitement for books is declining in Nigeria due to the nation’s challenges. He therefore charged everyone in attendance to make a difference by committing to making Nigeria a better place from whatever corner they find themselves.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the occasion, Senator Ekong Sampson, represented by Prof. Etete Peters, applauded Professor Wilson’s unwavering integrity. “Prof. Wilson is a man of unwavering integrity. When you can conduct yourself in a very transparent manner, people will be so proud of you,” he stated.

Unveiling Professor Wilson’s new book, the Paramount Ruler of Eket, Edidem E.C.D. Abia, noted with a touch of humour that uncovering the book was like searching for treasure. “You have to dig very deep before you find gold or diamond,” he said.

The book reviewer, Professor Peter Esuh, Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, presented the 291-page book to the audience, calling it a vital compendium of wisdom for modern life. “A nugget is a precious metal, something you would not be able to do without,” Prof. Esuh declared.

Delving into the book’s content, Prof. Esuh highlighted its practical nature, covering everything from writing abstracts and memoranda to understanding propaganda and artificial intelligence. To underscore Wilson’s originality, he posed a question to the audience: “How many of us know the difference between feedback, feed-forward, and Wilson’s own ‘feed front’?”

Professor Herbert Batta, Head of the Department of Information and Media Studies, had earlier described the celebrant as “the Professor of Professors, our mentor-in-chief, builder of captains of industry, and our icon of ethnocommunicology in Africa.” He noted that the event was a fitting tribute to a scholar whose work has shaped the field for over four decades.

In a lecture on Wilson’s academic trajectory, Prof. Batta traced the origins of a visionary who was part of the young founders of the School of Communication Studies 42 years ago. He detailed Wilson’s groundbreaking work in cataloging the intricate systems of indigenous Nigerian communication—from instrumental modes like hydrophones and symbols to demonstrative modes like music and ballads, and even the profound realm of extra-mundane communication involving incantations. This scholarly labour, Batta argued, was not an exercise in nostalgia but a vital mapping of cultural DNA for the modern, digitized world.

He elaborated on the scholar’s groundbreaking M-E-L-D-S model for African communication policy, which is predicated on communication for Mobilization, Education, Liberation, Development, and Self-actualization.

Batta emphasized that Wilson’s work seeks to liberate the African mind. The goal, he said, is to free it from “the emotional, psychological, and ideological clogs that stifle the vision of society and overall actions in a dynamic world.”

Batta, a Professor of Science Communication/Media, concluded from his critical analysis that the Don has always recognized the centrality of communication in the development process, particularly for the Global South.

Adding a personal dimension, Professor Effiong Johnson shared reasons for celebrating Wilson’s character. “He’s one person who believes that right is right and wrong is wrong, no matter who is affected,” Johnson said.

He also highlighted Wilson’s constructive approach to criticism. “He can criticize, but constructively, and part of that construct is that he would propose solutions to correct the situation.”