Fifteen minutes of fame is the proverbial moment one's shiny star of elation and celebration burns and keeps burning before it fizzling out. But for the quartet of Eugenia Abu, Ahmed Maiwada, Prof. Tunde Adeniran and Abubakar Gimba, their literary stars keep shining and blazing new horizons day-by-day. The month of June saw them being feted by literary enthusiasts, friends and family so much that these modest individuals sometimes demurred at the cascade of praises showered on them.

It all started with the continuation of Eugenia Abu's reading tour of her book In the Blink of an Eye, hosted and sponsored by her friend and former colleague at NTA and member Federal House of Representatives Hon. Abike Dabiri. The author's spouse, Mr. Thompson Abu, welcomed all to the event and paid gratitude to those who have stayed with the cause, always honouring the call to come and listen to the author read. This was followed immediately by the songbird Rachel's highly elevating and inspiring pitch, which calmed the mood ready to receive the offering of passages from the book.

Nike Coker of NIGCOMSAT came in as guest reader reminding the guests of the author's versatility as a writer. Her practised tone and rendition gave them a new understanding of the passages as those who had copies quickly flipped through to read along with her. The author came next; her performance laced with humour on the 'remote control' wars that go on in our homes regaled the gathering as it left them in bouts of giggles and laughter.

The duo of Story Teller and Bemsa proved to all why they were amongst the crop of Abuja's finest artistes with their performance which left the audience asking for more. During the comment sessions Hon. Abike Dabiri reiterated her resolve to continue supporting the author and other reading revival projects. In his own words Dr. Wale Okediran commended the author on what he called the longest running book promotion by any Nigerian author in recent memory. The Minister of Education (1) whose mandate includes persuading Nigerians to read again as the Chairman of the National Action Commitee Dr. Jerry Agada went down memory lane to recount his familiarity with the author and her spouse. He said the Education Ministry was poised to help turn the fortunes of Nigeria's ailing reading culture.

There were further readings and interludes from In the Blink of an Eye. But on the whole the smiles of contentment on the faces of the guests that evening of June 24th was overt, it was indeed a testimony to the success of the reading.

Eugenia Abu's event was also a lesson in branding and management for Nigerian writers and artistes. Her outfit that evening was provided by Etnik Moda, venue support was given by Protea Hotel Maitama, and was powered Amethyst.

Next, the Association of Nigerian Authors, Abuja Branch on the 26th of June decided to roll out a series of events at one sitting. These events were the flagging off of the Read Campaign in the Federal Capital Territory, the marking of TFA at 50 (It was first published in June 1958). Flagging off the Read campaign the Minister of State for Education I and Vice President of the Association of Nigerian Authors, Dr. Jerry Agada, remarked that it is essential that reading is brought back to the fore of not only the Nigerian child, but it should be made to become once more the interest of every Nigerian. Dr. Agada later read from a passage of his collected essays a passage where he advocated for a raise in the Teachers Salary Scale presently the reason for the collision between the NUT and the Federal Government. He said as a teacher he was on the side of the NUT and was working very hard to see to the resolution of the present deadlock for the common good of all. Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, Registrar of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) was later honoured when he was presented a gift copy of the cerebral anthology of West African Verse collected by D.I Nwoga, he Christopher Okigbo's Heavens gate from the passage but not before he confessed to have sneaked out of a meeting which Dr. Agada was chairing, not knowing that the Minister would later join him at the event.

The guest reading was led by the Host -the General Manager of the Nicon Luxury Hotel a literary enthusiast who was also marking his birthday. He read a humorous engagement from Amos Tutuola's Palm Wine Drinkard. This was followed by Prof. Tunde Adeniran ex-Minister of Education and ex-Nigerian Ambassador to Germany. Whose sombre voice took the audience from the Rhine River in Germany across the malaise of the nation and the search for redemption. This was also followed by a reading by Lawyer and activist Ahmed Maiwada from his new collection Fossils. Maiwad established and gave a verdict on the danger of a broken home, from the cover page to the selected he rendered, he opined that life in Nigeria both for the individual and collective has become the type obtainable in a broken home. With his engaging metaphors, twists, and word plays he left audience stunned in reflection after his recitals.

The last of the triad of events was the duo of Abdullahi Ismaila and Ezekiel Fajenyo's painstaking work which finally came to fruition with the public presentation and launching of the book A Perspective on the writings and philosophy of Abubakar Gimba. The event at Gidan Matasa brought together the subject's admirers and friends to witness the dissection of the attributes that has made him one of Nigeria's most prolific writers. The Chairman of the occasion Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman described the author as a humble man who despite having risen to the pinnacle of his career remains humble, accessible, and humane. The reviewer of the book and Chairman Editorial Board of Newsline Newspapers Mr. Olu Jacobs hit the bull's eye when he said Gimba's writing was hinged on the eternal fight between good and evil, arrogance of ignorance. His philosophy he said was deeply rested in Islam; the language of the writer he commented has consistently been accessible to all, for the author believes that Secondary school children should be able to read his books without the perpetual glance at thesauruses and dictionaries. In the Speech by Exekiel Fajenyo one of the co-authors, he reminded the gathered audience that Abubakar Gimba represents a special breed whose action and inactions has helped shaped lives. Fajenyo remarked that time has passed since their oeuvre on the subject in 1994 titled the writings of Abubakar Gimba which chronicled four books of the author. This had grown up 12 books ranging from prose, poetry, essays and journalese. It is this development that represents a unique growth of African literature.

The anchorman of the programme, B.M Dzukogi then invited the Deputy Governor Hon. Ahmed Musa Ibeto who was representing the Chief Servant Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, paid encomiums on the author. He went ahead to launch the book with 1 million Naira on behalf of the government of Niger State, and then 500, 000 on behalf of himself. He also pledged the State's commitment to purchase copies for all secondary schools and tertiary institutions in Niger State.

For the quartet of Eugenia Abu, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, Ahmed Maiwada, and Abubakar Gimba, all of whom to my mind are still yet to encounter their finest hour are far from being tired in churning out inspiring creative writings. As such many garlands of fetes shall indeed keep coming their way.