“The Funeral Fire”: Jude Ndukwe Honours Prof. Luke Eyoh of UNIUYO with Book Presentation

One of the graduates of the 1998/1999 set in the Department of English, Mr Jude Chijioke Ndukwe, returned after many years of graduation to honour one of his lecturers, Professor Luke Eyoh in a modest but beautiful occasion of book presentation.

The event, which attracted the presence of lecturers from within and outside the Department, was held at the Language Resource Room of the Department of English, Faculty of Arts, University of Uyo (Town Campus), Uyo, on Tuesday, November 11, 2025.

While presenting his book, “The Funeral Fire: Poems,” in honour of Prof. Eyoh, Jude Ndukwe said that every graduate groomed by the Department of English of the university would always have reasons to return to thank and appreciate the lecturers who moulded them to become who they are in life’s endeavours.

He said that he would remain eternally grateful to a number of his lecturers in the Department for having invested their time and energy in mentoring him to excel in several engagements throughout his life and career.

Ndukwe made particular reference to Prof. Luke Eyoh, who he said has not only contributed immensely to his intellectual depth, but whose agreeing to write the foreword and help edit the book without any hesitation was highly motivating, adding that “his contributions to the book make the book even more ‘bookish’.”

While formally presenting the book to Prof. Eyoh, the poet reiterated that he came from Abuja to Uyo to express his gratitude in person to the Professor of English Studies for his unwavering support and mentorship.

Also speaking, Mr Akan Emah, who was Ndukwe’s coursemate at the university, commended him for the book, saying that it was time graduates from the Department learnt to value those they had as mentors.

According to him, “We tend not to value what we have… In life, we must learn to value what we have. When you sit down in a panel, board meeting, or in the midst of people as a graduate of the University of Uyo and share ideas or opinions, people are usually amazed. They can’t help but ask where you were schooled. When you tell them it is the University of Uyo, they are left even more amazed. It is then that one realises the value of where we are coming from.

Mr Emah thanked Prof. Eyoh for having been a father and mentor to his set and many generations of graduates after them.

He suggested the idea of coordinating former students of the Department to institute an academic award in honour of Prof Eyoh’s legacy in the Department of English.

Responding, Prof. Luke Eyoh said that he was overwhelmed by the outpouring of such encomiums on him by his former students.

He said, “This is a surprise to me… God rewards every good deed, no matter how long or short. There is no law against rewarding any good deed.

“This is the first divinely arranged show of gratitude from anyone we have trained… I am happy Jude has come to do us the honour,” he said in an emotion-laden voice.

While extolling Ndukwe for his creativity, Prof. Luke Eyoh prayed God to honour him just as he has come to honour his former lecturers and alma mater. He concluded by promising to take part in the distribution of the book in Uyo and possibly beyond.

In his contribution, Prof. Friday Okon said that most graduates of the Department tend to forget where they were groomed.

“The Department is a very great one when considering the people we have groomed and where they are today. We have attracted respect not only to the Department but also to the institution as a whole. Others will equally come to realise that they need to look back to where they were groomed,” he stated.

While commending Jude for his decision to travel down to appreciate Prof. Luke Eyoh in person, Prof. Friday Okon called on all graduates from the Department to mobilise themselves and pool resources together to give back to the Department.

On his part, Dr Bernard Dickson, while hailing Jude for the work, called on the different sets of graduates from the Department to work out practical ways of partnering with the Department to move it further forward.

Others in attendance were Prof Effiong Ekpenyong of the Department of Foreign Languages, Dr Imoh Okon, Dr Rebecca Usoro, Mr Uwem Iwat, Mr Kufre Egharevba, among others.

Highlights of the event include prayers led by Professors Friday Okon and Effiong Ekpenyong, followed by group photographs.