AUTHOR / WRITER OF THE MONTH:

AUTHOR / WRITER OF THE MONTH:

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1964  to a family of five children, Sefi Atta attended  Queen's College, Lagos, Millfield School, England and graduated from Birmingham University in 1985. She also trained as a chartered accountant.  Her father Abdul-Aziz Atta was the Secretary to Federal Government and Head of the Civil Service until his death in 1972, and she was raised by her mother Iyabo Atta.


In 1994 she moved from England to the United State with her husband, Gboyega Ransome-Kuti, a medical doctor, and son of Olikoye Ransome-Kuti. Sefi who currently lives in Meridian, Mississppi, founded the Lagos-based production company Atta Girl supports Care to Read. A program she initiated to earn funds for legitimate charities through staged readings.  While working as a CPA in  New York, Atta began to write. She graduated from the creative writing program at Antioch University, Los Angeles in 2001. Her short stories have appeared in literary journals such as World,  Missisipi Review and Los Angeles Review.  Her books have been translated to several languages.


Nigerian-born Sefi Atta’s short stories have appeared in journals like Literature Today, Los Angeles Review and Mississipi Review and have won prizes from Zoetrope and Red Hen Press. Her radio plays have been broadcast by the BBC. She is the winner of PEN International's 2004/2005 David TK Wong Prize and in 2006, her debut novel Everything Good Will Come was awarded the inaugural Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa

 

 Novels

•  Everything Good Will Come, (Interlink Books, 2005 ).
•  Swallow, (Interlink Book, 2010). 
• A Bit of Difference, (Interlink Books, 2012).

Short-story collections
News from Home, (Interlink Books, 2010).


Radio plays 
Some of her radio plays are:

• The Wake, Smooth FM, Lagos
• Makinwa's Miracle, BBC Radio
• The Engagement, BBC Radio
• A Free Day, BBC Radio

Stage plays
Her stage plays includes:

•  The Cost of Living, Lagos Heritage Festival, Terra Kulture, Lagos
• An Ordinary Legacy, The MUSON Festival, MUSON Centre, Lagos
• Hagel auf Zamfara, Theatre Krefeld, Germany
• The Engagement, MUSON Centre, Lagos.
• Among others.  

 Awards and Recognition

• Macmillan Writers Prize For Africa, shortlist, 2002.
• BBC African Performance, 2nd Prize, 2002.
• Zoetrope Short Fiction Contest, 3rd Prize, 2002.
• Red Hen Press Short Story Award, 1st prize, 2003.
• Glimmer Train's Very Short Fiction Award, finalist, 2003.
• BBC African Performance, 2nd Prize, 2004.
• PEN International David TK Wong Prize, 1st Prize, 2005.
• Caine Prize for African Literature, shortlist, 2006.
• Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa, 2006.
• Noma Award for Publishing in Africa, 2009.  

AUTHOR / WRITER OF THE MONTH.

Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani was born to Chief Sir Chukwuma Hope Nwaubani and Dame Patricia Uberife Nwaubani in Enugu, Nigeria in 1976, and was raised by both parents in Umuahia, Abia State, Eastern Nigeria.  Her debut novel, I Do Not Come to you by Chance, which was described by The Washington Post as “a lively, good-humored and provocative examination of the truth behind a global inbox of deceit”, won the 2010 Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best First Book (Afriaca), a Betty Trask First Book award, and was named by the Washington Post as one of the Best Books of 2009.The Times magazine described  the book as ''...a fast, fresh, often hilarious first novel, by one of the remarkably talented young African writers who are rapidly making everyone else look stale.” Publishers Weekly described Nwaubani’s novel as “highly entertaining”.  Nwaubani is the first contemporary African writer on the global stage to get an international book deal while still living in her home country.


ABOUT THE BOOK
I Do Not Come to You by Chance is set in the intriguing world of Nigerian e-mail scam, the book tells the story of a young man, Kingsley, who turns to his Uncle Boniface for help in bailing his family out of poverty. Boniface—aka Cash Daddy—is an exuberant character who suffers from elephantiasis of the pocket. He also runs a successful empire of email scams. But he can help. It is up to Kingsley to reconcile his passion for knowledge with his hunger for money, and to fully assume his role of first son.

CHILDHOOD AND EDUCATION
At age 10, Adaobi Tricia Nwauban left home to attend boarding school at the Federal Government Girls College, Owerri. Nwaubani secretly dreamed as a teenager of becoming a CIA or KGB agent. She earned her first income from winning a writing competition at the age of 13. She was fortunate to have the first female African writer to publish a book, Flora Nwapa as her mother's cousin. This may have helped in jump starting her writing prowess as she did not study Journalism at the university. Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani studied Psychology at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria’s premier university.

CAREER
As one of the pioneer editorial staffs of Nigeria’s now defunct NEXT newspapers, established by Pulitzer-winning journalist, Dele Olojede,  Nwaubani was the editor of élan, the fashion and style magazine of NEXT. She was later appointed to the position of opinion editor. According to Wikipedia, Nwaubani is the first writer in the history of world literature to capture the 419 scams phenomenon in a novel. She is also the first African writer to get an international publishing deal while still living in her home country. She does not have any formal writing training.

In 2012, Nwaubani was selected as one of 15 emerging leaders in government, business and civil society from across West Africa, to attend a ‘Leadership for Change’ training program sponsored by the Private Investors for Africa (PIA). Managed by the African Leadership Institute (AfLI), the program aims to create a network of “world class, pan-African, high potential, emerging leaders across all sectors, working in partnership as catalysts for change in Africa”. She lives in Abuja, Nigeria, where she works as a consultant.


AWARDS
Awards received by Adaobi Tricia Nwabuani includes:

• 2010 Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best First Book (Africa)
• 2010 Betty Trask First Book award
• 2010 Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa finalist
• (Quadrennial) 2012 Nigeria Prize for Literature shortlist
• Washington Post Best Books of 2009

OTHER WORKS

• Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani has done extensive writings that were published in many dailies both home and abroad. These include :
• Where Bad News is No News, New York Times (May 2010).
• Nigerian Tribalism: A  Personal Love Story, Guardian (September, 2010).
• My Degree is Better Than Yours, Premium Times (October, 2012)'
• In Nigeria, You're Either Somebody or Nobody, New Tork Times, (February 2013).
• Igbo Burials: How Nigerians Will Bid Farewell to Achebe, BBC (May 2013).
• And many others.

MY SONGBIRD CAN DANCE

By Novelist Vigil Chime

STORY SYNOPSIS

MY SONGBIRD CAN DANCE is a story written in three parts. Book 1 tells the story of a Nigerian family living in New York City in the present day. Nathaniel and Anne Ofordilli came to America to pursue the American Dream. However, after the couple was blessed with two daughters – Ada and Rachel – the dream turned into a virtual nightmare. The stresses of being immigrants in a foreign country soon overwhelmed them and the marriage collapsed.
Nathaniel immediately remarried, to a white woman who bore him four sons. His joy of sons eclipsed his two daughters and in time, he learned to forget about the girls. Anne, on the other hand, did not remarry, and because her daughters’ father abandoned them, she went out of her way to spoil her children, in particular Rachel who was only 6 years old when her father left the family.

The psychological trauma of her father’s abandonment has crippled Rachel’s emotional development, to the point she only dates older men who are in essence her sugar daddies. To make matters worse, she dropped out of Columbia University, one of the most prestigious schools in America. She prefers to hang out in nightclubs then returns late at night to sleep all day. At 25 years old, she has held no job in her life because her mother and her sugar daddies support her.

The story, then, almost exclusively focuses on Rachel. An irresponsible life can only go so far, so hers begins its downward spiral when she walks in on her man with another woman. Rachel nearly kills the woman if not that her boyfriend intervenes. Despondent, she returns home to find that her mother has changed the locks on the door. Anne has finally had it with her useless and lazy daughter and implores Rachel to go out into the world and make something of herself.

Hurt to be cast out on the same day she caught her man cheating, Rachel ends up at her best friend’s home. Because the best friend is worried about Rachel messing with her own boyfriend, she eventually asks Rachel to leave. Hurt again, Rachel has nowhere else to go but her father’s house. She asks him if she can stay with him and his family, but Nathaniel categorically refuses to let her in.

Feeling unwanted and unloved, Rachel determines to commit suicide by jumping off a cliff. Standing on that cliff and thinking about the mess she’s made of her life, Marcus Peyton, a 42-year old black American, comes upon her and is immediately smitten with the gorgeous dark chocolate beauty. Marcus does not know if he should comfort her or leave her be. In the end, he decides to intervene and ask her what’s wrong. This will prove the worst mistake of his life.

He assumes she is African because she looks like one. Rachel allows him to believe this – going so far as to make up a story of being from a poor village in Nigeria. Now in America, she is poor and wretched and an illegal alien. In fact, she was fired from her job and now has no place to go. Marcus invites her to be the nanny of his two small children. Rachel accepts the job offer on the spot since she has nowhere else to go. But Marcus’ motive for bringing her under his roof is to take advantage of her sexually. His wife, Yvette, is too distracted by her addiction to drugs to be mindful of her husband’s lust over the young nanny.

Rachel soon discovers Yvette’s drug problem and tries to help the woman kick the habit for the sake of her marriage and her children. In the meantime, Marcus is still making advances towards Rachel and Rachel is doing her best to ignore him. She is trying to be responsible and do the right thing, just like her mother wanted.

Since Marcus will still not leave her alone, however, Rachel decides to leave the household. She informs the family she is quitting, effective immediately. She is trying to locate her suitcase in the basement of the house the night before she is to leave when Marcus enters to help. He discovers drug items beside the suitcase and well assumes the filthy material belong to Rachel.

Rachel has no choice but to admit to him the drugs are not hers but his wife’s property. Angered she would be lying about his wife, Marcus snaps and attacks Rachel. Hearing all the noise, Yvette enters to see Marcus beating the girl to near death. She does not intervene to rescue Rachel, believing her husband would beat her too if she confesses to the drugs. Yvette walks out, leaving Marcus to continue assaulting Rachel. He does not stop with just the beating. He stands over her and urinates on her. Rachel feels the slime of his urine pouring all over her head and face before she blacks out into unconsciousness. This is the end of Book 1.

After she recovers from her injuries, now in Book 2, Rachel determines to destroy Marcus and Yvette, too. But it’s how she does it that proves without a doubt certain individuals on this earth should never be crossed. You the reader cannot anticipate how she does it. You will not see it coming. But at the end of Book 3, you will be left stunned and horrified.

Here’s how she does it. Marcus is remorseful for how he treated her and begs her forgiveness. She agrees to forgive him on one condition – he has to believe her that Yvette is a drug addict.  They set a trap where Yvette is caught by Marcus about to inject herself with heroin. Angered that his wife would lie about her drug use, which led to him beating up Rachel in the first place, Marcus sends Yvette to a drug program to clean up. This is Rachel’s first plan of vengeance against Yvette – remove her from the house. Next, she takes over the woman’s husband by beginning an affair with her. Marcus, foolishly, believes Rachel has truly forgiven him. She has not.

The biggest challenge for Rachel is Marcus’ destruction, both professionally and emotionally. He is a theater director, and has written the greatest play of his career. He originally cast Yvette his wife in the lead role. In fact, the theater in which the play will be produced is the couple’s. They liquidated their savings to purchase the theater. But Since Yvette is now a drug-user, Marcus has to find someone else to take her place. Because she is already sleeping with him, Rachel convinces Marcus to cast her in the role. Against all sensible advise by everyone near him, Marcus does this.

When Yvette returns from drug treatment, now Book 3, she discovers that Marcus has given her role to their nanny and that the nanny is now sleeping with her man! Yvette cannot take these realities and goes mad. She runs away from her family and relapses into hardcore drug use. She will not be heard from again.

On opening night of the play, Rachel sets into motion the greatest role of her life. Instead of performing like a true and brilliant actress, she performs like an inexperienced one – this in full view of New York City’s finest people and politicians. The critics cannot believe how bad she is and destroy Marcus’ career in scathing reviews that will be published the next day.

Rachel does not stop there. She burns down the theater by literary setting it on fire. She corners Marcus in a room and confesses everything she has done to him ever since he nearly killed her by beating her. Worst, she says to him, it was his literary pissing on her that really drove her to madness. Incensed beyond reason to have been so duped, Marcus resorts to kill her on the spot.

He chases her down a very busy street. Rachel dashes across the street. Marcus is not mindful of the speeding cars as he attempts to equally cross. He is hit by a car, and is rendered a cripple. He will spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair, without his wife and kids, wondering why in the world he ever stopped that day to find out why that stupid girl was crying on that cliff in the first place. He should have minded his business and left her there.

CHALLENGES: The Path to Growth

 

By Matthew Ujah-Peter

Very few adults will ever boast of never having to go through  potential spirit-breaking hard times. Many times it seems as though one is specially singled out to be tortured by life such that it might even seem like  the entire creation had conspired against you, with the endorsement of the Creator Himself. At such times, it may also seem as though your very existence was a crime. And as if that is not enough, fellow humans might even insinuate that you may be reaping a harvest  from a wicked seeds you have sown in the past . This mostly takes place when one decide to chose a path in life that goes against popular practice. The moment you make up your mind to walk the path of honesty and honorable conducts you have signed up for leadership and therefore all eyes will be on you. You will be subjected to criticism and even ridicules. If your desire is to stand out and make a difference in life then stand and brace up for challenges. They will come in droves. Great men attracts them. Challenges  gravitates towards great people as problems gravitates towards their solutions.

What do you think? Do you think it  should take an easy ride to the top? Every one would be there. Challenges  are path to the top. Avoid them and you avoid opportunity get to the top. The problem you solve proves your worth and ushers you to an advanced stage. This same principle holds true in every sphere of life. At work, on the job, in business, in academics, etc. This is why people look up to those who have experiences in life's matter. This is also the reason why employers prefer applicants with certain levels and years of experiences. You can not discount experience. It is a major key in life. God Himself uses people with experience, hence He needed to train Moses for forty years. He needed to train the twelve disciples for a time before entrusting the Gospel to them. We go only to people we believe or perceive to have insight in certain issues due to experience for advice. When trouble surface in people's life they look to others with experience for tips and advice. The challenge you run away from conquers you. Until you conquer a height you can't climb it. Until you climb it you won't go higher. Until you go higher you won't be noticed by those who need you.

It is not compulsory that every one who under goes hard times must overcome. Many have under gone and gone under forever. But you undergo for the purpose of overcoming. No victory had ever been without a fight. Winning involves fights and fights involves struggles, pains and bruises and even wounds in many cases. No great hero is exempt from potential soul-crushing trials. Don't pity yourself and don't solicit for one. Don't blame anyone or the devil, for that matter. ''If life throws a knife at you, catch it by its handle'', says a wise man. Few great men have it handed to them on a platter. Great characters and quality of spirits and minds are formed in the furnace of fiery trials and storms. In his autobiography, the late Oral Robert once said, ''Every body who has something of value must be tested in the forge of the fire''. How true! Let me say it in another way: there are treasures in you that won't come to the open if storms do not blow your way in life. Storms of life comes to blow off the lids that covers your hidden potentials.

The oil of grace and beauty that the pressures of life will press out out of you will lie bury in you forever if there are no such experiences. When you go through storms, fire, hell or high waters, you will loose somethings. The storms will blow away those people in your life that aren't helpful. The fire will burn away those shackles that binds you. The hell will take away those shortcomings that limits you. The waters will carry away those dead weights that hinders you. Trust me, the experience may not be sweat but you will be glad you went through. God is the Alpha and Omega. He knows the end from the beginning. If He is with you, you will land safely and profitably.. The things and people that remains with you after all the experience are those that really belongs to you. At the end of it all you would have successfully built up the muscle of your faith. 

If difficult assignment comes to you, don't dodge it. Accept it, it will expose you and promote you. Take it head on. Move from the task you have become comfortable with to a more challenging one. You will experience growing or ''growth pains''. But don't quit. Attempt things that the common man fears to attempt. Go and climb a mountain or move one today. Stretch out for something greater than you and your potentials will stretch. Take on a giant. Refuse to wrestle with your equal. Train yourself with tougher opponents. This is the paths to to the top.

READING CULTURE IN NIGERIA

Written by Matthew Ujah-Peter

Reading is a continuous self-education. And as the saying goes, readers are leaders. But are Nigerians reading?  The media and the general public had many occasions lamented the poor reading culture among Nigerians as well as the disappearance of public libraries. Authors and publishers often cried aloud about the problem of piracy in the country, and the apathy of Nigerians towards reading. Many opined that the case had almost gone beyond remedy and others concluded that this accounts largely for the poor quality of education in our public schools evidenced by the poor results coming out from WAEC in recent years. On his part, the Poet Odia Ofeimun described the education system as ‘’...an education system which give poor education to poor people in order to keep them poor and unmobilisable’'

When you attend any of the book expo or book fair organized by some institutions and organizations in the country you will be amazed and disappointed at the low turnout of people in such events. Every year the Lagos Television (LTV), the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), the Christian Bookseller Association ( CBAN),  Committee for Relevant Art  (CORA), The Nigerian Book Fair Trust  (NIBFT),  PARAFINA and recently, the Rainbow Book Club, Port Harcourt, organize  book cantered events like Book fairs,  Art and Book Festivals, Book Expo, etc. But how many Nigerians make out time out of their ‘’busy schedule’’ to attend these and savor the arrays of books on display? The lack of interest and apathy shown towards such events here in Nigeria is a clear testimony to the fact that most Nigerians do not place much value on books and reading. There has always been low turnout in most of these events compared to such events in other climes.  A good example that comes to mind is the Miami book festival which draws out a very large crowd from all walks of life every year. The Miami Book Festival has had among its attendants such notable dignitaries as the present president of the United States among others. Back home public awareness is still very low and attendance is also painfully low as most of these events are attended only by a few. Book shops are rarely patronized by most Nigerians and libraries are seen as a place for those studying for examinations and researchers. Indeed the level of interest shown by the average Nigerian towards books and reading still leaves much to be desired.

President Jonathan and Prof. Soyinka

 Prominent Nigerians, the media, educationists, parents and other well-meaning Nigerians had at several occasions decried the weak reading culture in Nigeria, the disappearance of books in public libraries, the dearth of books in public libraries as well as the demise of school libraries and government’s unwillingness to tackle these crises with a sense of urgency. Most experts opined that it is doing irreparable damage to our socio-economic life unless certain drastic steps are taken to remedy the situation and fast. It was against the backdrop of this problem that the President,  Dr. Jonathan Ebele Goodluck flagged off his own personal crusade against the poor reading culture in Nigeria when he launched the ‘’Bring Back the Book ’’ Initiatives on 20^th December, 2010 at the prestigious Eko Hotel, Lagos. The occasion attracted the presence of such notable prominent literary giants as the Nobel Prize laureate professor Wole Soyinka, the eminent Poet Odia Ofeimun, the president of the Association of Nigerian Authors, Jerry Agada and several top Government functionaries. 

For an event which was designed to promote books and reading culture it seems more like a day to have literary giants converged in a single location with 400 children from about 20 schools from across the city of Lagos. Such great African writers as John Pepper Clark, Helon Habila, Seffi Atta, among others, where also present at the launch of the President’s ‘’Bring Back the Book’’ initiatives which also featured the president taking turn with the Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka to read from the popular works: Chike and the River by Chinua Achebe, and ‘Ake’ by Professor Wole Soyinka respectively, while the guest and the children listened with rapt attention. This occasion also afford the President the launch of his own book, ‘’ Conversation with my Friends on Facebook’’. 

The launch of this initiatives by the President which was widely hailed and applauded by both the media and prominent Nigerians was meant not only to bring the declining reading culture in our national life to the front burner of public discourse but is also an open challenge to corporate bodies and individuals as well as writers, authors, publishers, schools and all stake holders to put in their resources to making reading culture a part of our national character for nation building. It has gone down to history that President Goodluck Jonathan was the first president to identify with a campaign to revive and develop a reading culture in Nigeria but it is what comes of it after the launch of this worthy campaign and the initial euphoria  that counts ultimately. There had being numbers of other pet projects and government initiatives that were launched with pumps and pageantry in the past but none survived the test of time. I shiver to imagine that this too could go into oblivion like others before it.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     It is now more than two years now since the launch of the President’s ‘’Bring Back the Books’’ initiatives and the initial euphoria is gradually waning. Obviously a lot of national issues that require more urgent attention tops the list of what the government is doing and should do and...Yes, the government cannot do everything.  A whole lot of national issues such as terrorism, unemployment, insecurity, power, etc ranks higher among issue of national concerns. These are issues that require urgent solution hence, are more pronounced in the minds and consciousness of the citizenry and the nation’s decision makers. No one will have time to read if the nation is in crises or if his life is in danger.  Many people will tell you they do not have time to read, which is true. The imbalance in the economy, the uncertainties in the polity the daily grinds that the average Nigerian goes through to make ends-meet and lots of other things peculiar to developing nations like ours all conspired to make the average man on the street lose taste for for such thing as books or reading. These and many other socioeconomic issues contribute mainly to the declining reading culture in Nigeria. This means it did not start today and will surely take some time and a highly concentrated effort to remedy.

THE PROBLEM OF PIRACY

While there’s general outcry against the weak reading culture in Nigeria, piracy is another malady that plague the industry but require another heavily concerted effort to tackle. Authors and publishers had cried out on occasions that the problem of piracy negatively affected the economic viability of their profession but one could not help but ask ‘’just who are the pirates selling the pirated books to?  It is a bit of an irony that while on one hand there is low reading culture in the country on the other hand the problem of piracy holds sway. The Nigerian book market is full of books by foreign authors both reprinted and original print copies as well as locally published books with most by authors who engaged in self-publishing. This makes it very difficult to distinguish between actual pirated copies and those reprinted under permission from the original publisher and or authors. The question again can be asked ‘’if Nigerians are not reading who are the consumers of these (pirated) books.

  
SOLUTION

Organisations like the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA), organisers of the Lagos book and Art Festival, (LABAF), Nigerian Book Trust, organisers of the Nigerian International Book Fair (NIBF), CBAN, PARAFINA, Rainbow Book Club, Port Harcourt, and a host of others are working round the clock to revamp the dwindling culture of reading in our nation. CORA had even gone ahead to take advantage of the President’s pet project by taking it up on itself and taking steps in fashioning out implementation document that could guide the President and his team in the quest to encourage reading culture as well as placing literacy and book at the center of our national development agenda (see the Guardian news paper, pg 53, Jan, 12, 2011).

A number of literary organizations have over the past few years sprang up in major Nigerian cities such as Abuja, Port Harcourt and Lagos. Established by well meaning and notable Nigerians literary pillars these organizations organize reading sections featuring works from popular Nigerian writers and authors.  These organizations includes but not limited to the Foxhole, a notable literary reading place on Maryland Crescent, Ikeja, Lagos, Terra Culture, Lagos, the Abuja Literary Society (ALS), Rainbow Book Club, Port Harcourt, among others. These literary reading places had hosted authors like Uwem Akpan, Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani,  Chimamanda Adichie, Prof. Femi Osofisan, Odia Ofeiman and a host of others.

 Making these events more popular through constant publicity and also making them  family affairs where children and young people can participate in larger number would further help to inculcate a vibrant reading culture in our youths and children. You can never tell when you ignite a love for literary works in the mind of a child. Book stores and publishing houses as well as Book Clubs can also organize mini fairs and book exhibitions in our schools on quarterly or yearly bases to take books to those who cannot go to books. Publishers can sponsor events like reading contests for schools or organize such clubs in schools.

CHALLENGES FOR WRITERS AND AUTHORS

Books take you beyond time and space. Reading challenges and agitates your mind. It shifts your paradigm and places before you a possible and preferable future and re-orients your mentality. This is why in places like America certain state Department is charged with the task of getting the best writers and film makers together and challenge them to imagine a possible and better future. In line with this their literature and films also create heroes and story lines weaved around heroism and a preferable and a possible future and ways of life. The purpose is to constantly challenge and agitate the minds of book readers and those who watch the films to aim towards higher and nobler way of thinking and living. They use their literature and films to propagate, project and preserve their culture and also sell what they call ‘’the American Dream.’’ Thus through films and Literature America has successfully indoctrinate the world with her gospel.

Nigerian (and African ) writers and authors owes it as a duty to their readers and audiences to create in their works  not just a mirror reflection or image of the stark and grim reality of African society and the societal ills that we have become accustomed to but to be more futuristic in their works. Their stories can paint for us a picture of a preferable future. Thus it is not out of place to have an African version of screen heroes like superman.  Heroes that younger readers and audiences can admire and aspire to. it ought to be so because whereas we can only complain and cry to the government to solve the problems on ground, our literatures can help create the blue print or templates for the development that we all yearn and cries for. Repeating and reinforcing the negative picture that are already in existence in people’s mind won’t be productive.

Everybody wants the government to do something to solve the ills on ground but those who can write can paint the picture of the preferred and possible future in our films and literature. There are enough psychological and emotional pains on ground to depress the soul and retard the mind of its creative and imaginative functions. It is unfair to give what is to be a means of entertainment to the people with the flavor of diabolism and negativism. Since books and movies are means of entertainment and education, flavoring them with negativity and evils will only help to make these ills look normal and by the time the message is passed it will be too late to correct it.  ‘’Yeah, but we cannot shy away from the realities...’’ you might argue. Granted! The bad news is our children are reading and watching them. For most of them their innocent minds on their own cannot ever begin to imagine some of these negative societal vices that the films and literature portray. Most of them get their idea about these ills first hand from films. And from tender age their virgin minds has had access and insight into the world of evil through books and movies before they actually witness it physically.  

One may again argue that the west also depicts violence and vices through their literature and films.  Yes, but must we follow them all the way? Of course we have enough sense to know when we can to longer go all the way with them. Haven’t they shown us enough better ways to do things? Who say we cannot be world leader in something positive? And who say that we cannot project the nobler aspect of our cultural values, such as the rest of the world would give anything to have? Who say it is an impossible thing to export our great culture to the rest of the world through our literature and films. Believe me the world is waiting for that. 

Our children can and should be encouraged to aspire to something nobler and honorable than what we presently have. We must challenge their imagination to think better and creatively positive. Who are the present models kids look up to? Who are the models young people aspire to in our nation today? While there may be none or few of such role models and heroes in our society to emulate by our kids and young people, might it be impossible to create one through our literature and films, just like the Americans have created in theirs, such as Spider man, Superman, superwoman, batman, etc? These characters had come to become synonymous with acts of heroism.  Could it be that these are mere benchmarks for us? Could it be that we can do something better? Who are the heroes in our literature and films that can challenge the imaginations of our young people towards acts of bravery and heroism? Who is creating heroes in films and books for our young people?

READING AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY

The Pacesetters Series

I  was still in secondary school when the pacesetter series where being read by students but even as at that time it was already in its declining days in readership. Students were not reading it for exams. Today literature in school is only for examinations and after the exams no body read again. When young people read it is romance novel (popular among young ladies) and motivational and business books among the young men. This is an indication that young people are hungry and are yearning for the ideal life. Those looking for true love found it in foreign romance novels. Those looking for success find it in motivational and business or self-help books. Those looking for ideal relationship and good marriage found them in self-help book that teaches about dating tips and successful marriage and relationship. 

 This is accounts for the reason why most bestselling authors today are preachers, motivational writers and business experts. Why? Within the pages of their books they project a preferable and possible future for their readers. About 7 out of every 10 book buyers today are buyers who buys business books or self-improvement / motivational books this is so because these are the only kind of books in this country that paints and project a better and preferable future into the minds of their readers. There are those who say the things that are thought in such books don’t work in Africa and so ignores such books. Others give excuses after excuses why they don’t read. Lack of time tops such excuses.  Prominent ministers and preachers have from time to time encouraged and challenged their flocks to take books and reading very seriously for ‘’...people perished for lack of knowledge’’, as declared by the Scriptures. 

A new army of readers are emerging and mostly from among some of these congregations as more people are beginning to discover the benefit of reading as a result of consistence encouragement coming from the pulpit. However, the majority of the citizen sees reading as a waste of time. Most young people would rather read the sport pages or get hooked up to social online network  than read books. As efforts are being made by the government, organizations and individuals to revive the ailing reading culture in Nigeria our attention should be focused on the teaming population of young people. The national census figure revealed that the average age of the Nigerian population is 17 years. The story that tells is that the youths constitute a larger number in the Nigerian population. it should also be noted that making reading appealing and interesting to young people will require that fun, adventure, rewards and not fear of failing an examination, must be woven into every effort and attempt at wooing them into imbibing the culture of reading.

OPON IMO: a Great Leapforward at e-Learning System

Writen by Matthew Ujah-Peter 

The Android 4.0 PC Tablet: 'Opo imo'

A major problem plagueing the Nigerian education system is the general low performance in major examibniations such as the West Afriacn Examination Council Senior School Certificate  (WAEC / SSCE), The National Exam Council (NECO) Exams, JAMB, etc. In the bid to stem this problem, the Osun State Government has launched and distributed free-of-charge to its secondary school students a tablet of Knowledge (Opon Imo). Designed in the form of a mini iPad, Opon Imo is a portable touchscreen Android powered e-learning device. 

Osun State students with 'Opon imo'

This is the first of its kind in Nigeria and it is provided by the state government to equip students with knowledge and make it easier for them to pass school leaving certificates examination. It is a standalone, educational, multimedia e-learning content platform that comes with pre-loaded applications for WAEC and JAMB approved text books. The tablet was designed by Harvard University for the state’s exclusive use is a virtual classroom. This innovation is a great leapforward for the state’s effort at e-learning
The Android 4.0 PC Tablet has popularly known as 'Opon Imo' (meaning tablet of knowlegde) provides 3 major content categories; Text Books, Tutorials and Practice Questions which include audio voiceovers and video tutorials. It contains Dictionary, Bible, Koran and Health book. It also has development games such as chess, Sudoku and Tetris. With its 512MB of RAM and an internal storage capacity of 32GB  the tablet is preloaded with lesson notes in 17 subjects offered by students in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), National Examination Council (NECO), and Senior School Certificate in Education (SSCE). It also contains six extra-curricular subjects, including sexuality education, Yoruba history and Yoruba traditional religion.The current version of Opon Imo has Internet deactivated to prevent the distraction this may cause to students at this level of education.

The launch of a digital tablet of knowledge known as Ópon Imo’ by the Osun State government will boost learning from the old traditional method to digital learning across schools in the state, the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Grace Laoye-Tomori, has said at the launch of thje device in Lagos.

Mrs. Laoye-Tomori the Commissioner for Education in the state, revealed that the launch of ‘Opn Imo’ would save the state over N8.4 billion annually on conventional books which will now be distributed online to schools, via ‘Opon Imo’.She said over 40,000 past examination questions spanning a period of 10 years for private simulation practice, are all embedded in the digital tablet.

The gonernor and guests holding Opon imo at unvailing event

The state has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Chinese firm to establish a factory in Oshogbo , the state capital to mass produce the digital tablet. She explained that the state government was challenged by the low level of education in the state, which had lingered during past administrations in the state.

The device was first unvailed at the Zainabab Half Moon Resort, Ilesa, on the 3rd of June, 2013. Dignitaries who graced the occasion  include former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; Speaker of House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Aminu Tambuwal; Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; a  former FCT Minister, Mallam Nasir el- Rufai; retired General Alani Akinrinade; Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade; Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, among others.

In his address, and speech entitled:“Opon-Imo Enters the Stage'', The Executive Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola  said Africans would no longer accept the tag of a continent without hope or future, insisting that with the launch of Opon Imo, Nigeria and indeed the entire black continent has sent a signal of its arrival on the world stage of development.

With the laucnch of this innovative device with it attending benefits and with the presence of the dignitaries at the unvailing, it is hoped that this gesture will be replicated all through out the country and indeed through out the continent.

BRAINFRIEND EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE: A Majore Boost to Reading Culture in Nigeria Through Information and Communication Technology.

Written by Matthew Ujah-Peter

Nigerian Minister of Communications Technology: Mrs Omoboal-Johnson

Brainfriend is a locally designed  computer software package  developed in Nigeria by Cinfores Limited, an indigenous  ICT company which has over the years developed various educational solutions including  eCampus and Electronic Scholarship Management Information System (E.S.M.S.). Brainfriend is an educational package specially designed and developed to aid all students from UBE 1-9, senior  secondary school and post secondary school in their preparation for all major examinations. The software is a compilation of questions with their answers and concise explanations. Brainfriend comes in compact disc (CDs) format and also on the internet. The software which is computer based, contains questions, answers with explanations modeled after national examinations and screening tests, such as POST UTME, UTME, SSCE, NECO, recruitment and scholarship tests. It is an e-learning tool that guarantees excellent result when used consistently by students or teachers.

Nigerian Minister of Education: Prof. Ruqayyat Rufai

Containing over 40,000 questions covering the Nigerian examination curriculum in 42 subjects, the software is sure to expose students to a wider range of subjects. It also contain comprehensive questions and answers on effective and defensive driving, aptitude tests and ICT information. Brainfriend also contains useful study notes(e-notes) covering all the subjects. These e-notes will help the students in their studies and as well assist teachers in lesson preparation.

Already, the 2013 version of the software which features over 50,000 questions, answers and explanations covers over 40 subjects; over 15,000 theorems, formula and definitions, now includes technical drawing, computer science, food and nutrition, more flexible career counseling guide and lots more. It is also now available for mobile devices running on android with IOS and Windows Mobile version to be released by the middle of  2013.

All these accompanied with the new and exciting BrainFriend Mobile store promises to be the one-stop-shop for the revolution of education in Nigeria through ICT.

Before now, the Nigerian Union of Teachers, (NUT), Lagos State chapter and the Cross Rivers State government in partnership with IT&C networks have deployed the  Brainfriend software for teachers in the respective states and many more states are gearing up to follow suit.
 
Furthermore, it contains a guide for teachers and school administrators in line with the national curriculum. Another exciting feature of this timely software are the Brainfriend games. These games includes a board game called school life as well as a card game. Surely, Brainfriend is well researched software and is set to help improve academic excellence in the lives of Nigerian students. It is a package that has 100% chance of enhancing academic performance. It is easy and fun to use.

Already, the 2013 version of the software which features over 50,000 questions, answers and explanations covers over 40 subjects; over 15,000 theorems, formula and definitions, now includes technical drawing, computer science, food and nutrition, more flexible career counseling guide and lots more. It is also now available for mobile devices running on android with IOS and Windows Mobile version to be released by the end of Q2 2013.
All these accompanied with the new and exciting BrainFriend Mobile store promises to be the one-stop-shop for the revolution of education in Nigeria through ICT.
Before now, the Nigerian Union of Teachers, (NUT), Lagos State chapter and the Cross Rivers State government in partnership with IT&C networks have deployed the Cinfores Brainfriend software for teachers in the respective states and many more states are gearing up to follow suit.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/05/fg-okays-local-software-brainfriend-for-schools/#sthash.My9uuE9Q.dpuf

Already, the 2013 version of the software which features over 50,000 questions, answers and explanations covers over 40 subjects; over 15,000 theorems, formula and definitions, now includes technical drawing, computer science, food and nutrition, more flexible career counseling guide and lots more. It is also now available for mobile devices running on android with IOS and Windows Mobile version to be released by the end of Q2 2013.
All these accompanied with the new and exciting BrainFriend Mobile store promises to be the one-stop-shop for the revolution of education in Nigeria through ICT.
Before now, the Nigerian Union of Teachers, (NUT), Lagos State chapter and the Cross Rivers State government in partnership with IT&C networks have deployed the Cinfores Brainfriend software for teachers in the respective states and many more states are gearing up to follow suit.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/05/fg-okays-local-software-brainfriend-for-schools/#sthash.My9uuE9Q.dpuf

Already, the 2013 version of the software which features over 50,000 questions, answers and explanations covers over 40 subjects; over 15,000 theorems, formula and definitions, now includes technical drawing, computer science, food and nutrition, more flexible career counseling guide and lots more. It is also now available for mobile devices running on android with IOS and Windows Mobile version to be released by the end of Q2 2013.
All these accompanied with the new and exciting BrainFriend Mobile store promises to be the one-stop-shop for the revolution of education in Nigeria through ICT.
Before now, the Nigerian Union of Teachers, (NUT), Lagos State chapter and the Cross Rivers State government in partnership with IT&C networks have deployed the Cinfores Brainfriend software for teachers in the respective states and many more states are gearing up to follow suit.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/05/fg-okays-local-software-brainfriend-for-schools/#sthash.My9uuE9Q.dpuf

Already, the 2013 version of the software which features over 50,000 questions, answers and explanations covers over 40 subjects; over 15,000 theorems, formula and definitions, now includes technical drawing, computer science, food and nutrition, more flexible career counseling guide and lots more. It is also now available for mobile devices running on android with IOS and Windows Mobile version to be released by the end of Q2 2013.
All these accompanied with the new and exciting BrainFriend Mobile store promises to be the one-stop-shop for the revolution of education in Nigeria through ICT.
Before now, the Nigerian Union of Teachers, (NUT), Lagos State chapter and the Cross Rivers State government in partnership with IT&C networks have deployed the Cinfores Brainfriend software for teachers in the respective states and many more states are gearing up to follow suit.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/05/fg-okays-local-software-brainfriend-for-schools/#sthash.My9uuE9Q.dpuf

Subject Composition
1. Senior Secondary School

• Account /Book keeping
• Agricultural Science
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Commerce
• Christian Religious Knowledge
• Economics
• English Language
• Further Mathematics
• Geography
• Government
• History
• Literature in English
• Mathematics
• Physics

2. Junior Secondary School
(UBE 7-9 / JSS 1-3)

• Agricultural Science
• Business Studies
• CRK
• English Language
• Fine Art
• French
• Home Economics
• Integrated Science
• Introductory Technology
• Mathematics
• Physical and Health Education
• Social Studies

3. Primary School (UBE 1-6 /Primary 1-6)

• Agricultural Science
• Basic Science and Technology
• Computer Science
• CRK
• English Language
• French
• Home Economics
• Mathematics
• Physical and Health Education
• Quantitative Analyses
• Social Studies
• Verbal Aptitude
  Already, the 2013 version of the software which features over 50,000 questions, answers and explanations covers over 40 subjects; over 15,000 theorems, formula and definitions, now includes technical drawing, computer science, food and nutrition, more flexible career counseling guide and lots more. It is also now available for mobile devices running on android with IOS and Windows Mobile version to be released by the end of Q2 2013.
  All these accompanied with the new and exciting BrainFriend Mobile store promises to be the one-stop-shop for the revolution of education in Nigeria through ICT.
  Before now, the Nigerian Union of Teachers, (NUT), Lagos State chapter and the Cross Rivers State government in partnership with IT&C networks have deployed the Cinfores Brainfriend software for teachers in the respective states and many more states are gearing up to follow suit.
  - See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/05/fg-okays-local-software-brainfriend-for-schools/#sthash.My9uuE9Q.dpuf

The Manager, Business Development, CINFORES Limited, Mrs Jachi Briggs in a press conference  told Journalists that the endorsement was a landmark feat that certifies the software as an e-learning and examination preparatory tool, which should be adopted by schools, institutions, examination bodies and instructors across the country.

Similarly, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has also approved and certified the software. This is in line with the agency’s policy to test and ensure the quality of locally developed software, in a bid to make them meet the required global standards.

Other Packages from Cinfores
Apart from the Brainfriend soft ware, Cinfores has a range of other educational packages such as the eCampus, the Electronic Echolarship Management Information System (E.S.M.S.), eSkool and 9jaskool.

 For more visit brainfriendonline.com

THE MEASURE OF A MAN:

The Measure of a Man: 
A Spiritual Autobiography  
(Oprah's Book Club)
By Sydney Poitier









 
 With an accompanying book:
 LIFE BEYOND MEASURE:
 Letter To My Great-Granddaughter.        

"I have no wish to play the pontificating fool, pretending that I've suddenly come up with the answers to all life's questions. Quite the contrary, I began this book as an exploration, an exercise in self-questioning. In other words, I wanted to find out, as I looked back at a long and complicated life, with many twists and turns, how well I've done at measuring up to the values I myself have set." —Sidney Poitier

In this luminous memoir, a true American icon looks back on his celebrated life and career. His body of work is arguably the most morally significant in cinematic history, and the power and influence of that work are indicative of the character of the man behind the many storied roles. Sidney Poitier here explores these elements of character and personal values to take his own measure—as a man, as a husband and a father, and as an actor.
Poitier credits his parents and his childhood on tiny Cat Island in the Bahamas for equipping him with the unflinching sense of right and wrong and of self-worth that he has never surrendered and that have dramatically shaped his world. "In the kind of place where I grew up," recalls Poitier, "what's coming at you is the sound of the sea and the smell of the wind and momma's voice and the voice of your dad and the craziness of your brothers and sisters...and that's it." Without television, radio, and material distractions to obscure what matters most, he could enjoy the simple things, endure the long commitments, and find true meaning in his life.

THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

an autobiography  
By Chris Gardner  
Reviewed by Matthew Ujah-Peter                                                                                 

 This astounding true rags-to-riches story of a man who raised and cared for his son on the mean streets of San Francisco and went on to become a crowned prince of Wall Street will surely put electric charge in your nerves. This is the book on which the movie The Pursuit of Happiness - starring Will and Jaden Smith - was based.

Born February 9, 1954 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Christopher Paul Gardner’s grew up in the midst of poverty, alcoholism, domestic violence, sexual abuse and family illiteracy. Gardner lived with his Bettye Jean Triplett but never knew his father as a child. His mother taught him that in spite of where he came from, he could chart a path and attain whatever goals he set for himself.

Gardner joined the Navy out of high school and after discharge moved to San Francisco where he worked as a medical research associate and for a scientific supply distributor. Determined to find a career that would be both lucrative and fulfilling as a new father to son Christopher Gardner Jr., in 1981, Chris Jr.’s mother left and Gardner, despite his circumstances, fought to keep his son because, as he says, “I made up my mind as a young kid that when I had children they were going to know who their father is, and that he isn’t going anywhere.”

Fascinated by finance, but without connections, an MBA or even a college degree, Gardner applied for training programs at brokerages, willing to live on next to nothing while he learned a new trade. Gardner later earned a spot in the Dean Witter Reynolds training program but became homeless when he could not make ends meet on his meager trainee salary.....

START WHERE YOU ARE:
A motivational book by Chris Gardner. Life Lessons In Getting From Where you are to Get to Where You Want To Be. 

Gardner published his autobiography out of a desire to shed light on  the of determination, focus and hard work and to show that the harsh and tough realities of life do not have to define you. 

The movie: Puruit of Happyness, starring Willsmith and Jaden Smith