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Tag: book

  • Macmillan’s night of literary feast

    Those who were at the recently concluded 11th Macmillan Literary Night will not forget their experience in hurry. The Agip Recital Hall, Muson Centre, Lagos was almost filled to the brim despite the time and day which the event took place, people crawled up and down the hall, searching for a better position where they could have a good view of the stage.

    The event was put together by Macmillan Nigerian Publisher as its contributions to finding lasting solutions to the challenges facing many Nigerians. It is also the publishing house’s own way of contributing to national development.

    The programme which has as theme; Fix it: The Nigerian Character, did not start as scheduled, commenced with a song which was performed by Jumoke Oke, titled: Iba (Homage). Oke did not just sing, but also danced incredibly to her rich cultural song which she performed with three other backup artistes who supported her on the stage with their angelic voices and dance steps.

    As the event went on, artistes, readers and authors were called to stage to perform and read poems including Norbet Young, a popular Nigerian artiste, who read a poem written by Segun Obe, titled: If I Fall for You. Others were Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, Joke Silva-Jacob, Tina Mba and Ihria Enakhimio.  The guest of honour was Prof. (Mrs) Grace Alele- Williams, while the event was anchored by Odia Ofeimun.

    Crown Troupe of Africa presented 6 dramas written by authors. Two of dramas are Fix it written by Promisca Anoni and Imagine written by Segun Adefila the leader of the group. While they were performing the dramas, phrases like “be your brother’s keeper not your brother’s killer and when good head wear good cap e go fine well, well,” could be heard. The dramas centred on the social decadence in the country, ranging from corruption, political menace, domestic violence, womanizing attitude of some Nigerian men, commercial church vendors, prostitution, in fact, the dramas cut across all the unspeakable acts and issues going on in the country as of now. The dramas were staged in order to prick the conscience of Nigerians and to let them know that Nigeria can only be fixed by no one but them. It can be deduced from these beautiful performances that Nigeria is truly a nation blessed with lot of talents. The Macmillan Literary Night was christened in 1999 with it first event titled: Reading for Pleasure and Effective National Planning and ever since then.

     

     

  • CEPTAC launches book on slave trade

    A book, Memories of Niger Delta Slave Trade Route, by the

    Centre for a Promotion of Peace, Tourism, Art and

    Culture (CEPTAC) will be presented to the public in December at the Presidential Hotel, Port Harcourt.

    Speaking with reporters on the book, the CEPTAC president, Chief Mike Amachree, said the NGO decided to conduct research on the slave trade routes in the Niger Delta region of the country for the generation coming to know that the obnoxious trade once took place in the region.

    He added that the ultimate interest of CEPTAC is to have the state governments of the region to establish a slave museum that will attract tourists to the areas.

    “We want to showcase it so that our children will not forget about the obnoxious trade and we feel that creating monuments for it in the country will be a sort of tourist attraction as people will come to see the slave museum.

    “We want the government of South South to create a slave museum that will attract tourists unlike the small family slave museum in Badagry,” Chief Amachree said.

    Chief Amachree explained that having tourists from Europe and America visit the museum will earn the region needed funds for development as this could be a replacement of the reparation championed by the late Chief M.K.O. Abiopla.

    The research journey, according to him, started at the Port Harcourt Tourist Beach Resort with himself, Professor E.J. Alagoa of the History Department of the University of Port Harcourt and other members visited all states in the South South, including Imo and Abia states to gather materials.

    The CEPTAC president sad the compilation of the research material gave birth to the book that will be presented in collaboration with the River State Ministry of Culture and Tourism under the chairmanship of King Alfred Diete Spiff, the first military administrator of old River State and the current Amanyababo of Twon Brass in Bayelsa State.

  • Why I’m writing a book on public administration, by ex-Edo SSG

    Why I’m writing a book on public administration, by ex-Edo SSG

    THE youths in Edo State say good things about you; what is the magic behind this?

    My philosophy of life is to try as much as possible to touch many lives in a positive manner, and I believe that the future belongs to the youths. If you go to any campaign ground, 70 per cent of the people you see there are youths, same on the voting day, therefore, if you neglect the youths, you are not only neglecting the present generation but the future generation as well if attention is not given to the youths.

    It is for this reason that I had always invested in the youths – I have been doing this right from my days in the medical profession, especially as an activist in the NMA. This is what has brought me close to many youths associations in the state and beyond. When they come to me, I listen to them, and in my own way assist them. This was why when I was dropped from the government, they were not happy but I assure them that nobody has the prerogative to remain in office. I really find it rewarding assisting the youths in whatever capacity I can.

    What have you been doing since you left office as SSG?

    I have not really been idle since I left office. I have been very busy with various activities that I have occupied myself with. I have my future all mapped out, whether in office or not. I am an academic, with two fellowship in pediatrics, I could take up a teaching job if I meant to. Since I left office, I have been serving government as a consultant to the state government on internal revenue; I have served and still serving in various committees of the state ruling party. I am also putting a book together to educate public servants on governance and administration. The book is titled, “Understanding Public Administration As a Tool for Effective Service Delivery”. This book has been completed and about being sent to the publisher. It is billed to be out in the next one or two months. It is based on my experience in the various offices I held during the past 19 years. This book will prepare those aspiring for public offices. I am also trying to put one or two thing in place to give myself support. My family is also there for me to look after – I have not been bore but rather very busy since I left office.

    As a stakeholder in Afemai politics, there is this recent vote of no confidence passed on the Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Ogiadomhe by your people. What is your take on this?

    Though it was a party issue, I think it was a wrong decision taken by those involved. I believe there are better ways of getting leaders to do those things we believe they are not doing. What that exercise portrayed, is the leadership question in Edo North. I think if we had an established structure on ground, either at the traditional institution level, the problem of going to the public to pass a vote of no confidence would not have occurred. Perhaps some of the reasons behind their actions may be genuine but not how it was handled. I think there should have been a better way of telling him about his shortcomings.

    How would you react to the insinuation that your desire to become a senator in Edo North in 2015 has pitched you against the governor and some key political actors in the area?

    I have made it clear to my supporters and family that I have no desire to contest a senatorial position, I am a careful person and I take my time to access situation, though there has been glamour for me to contest, I have told them that my spirit has not convinced me at this point in time to run for the senate or any other political office for now.

    For those who think am a clog in their wheel of progress, let me use this opportunity to let them know that I am not aspiring for any political office. I also like the public know that I have no problem with the governor as regards any senatorial ambition or any political position whatsoever.

    Why are you so committed to Oshiomhole despite the fact that he dumped you after working hard to ensure he was re-elected?

    I do not have any problem with the governor. I do not have any disagreement with Oshiomhole. My relationship with Oshiomhole is very cordial. I worked with him during his first tenure as Head of Service and Secretary to Government. I was an integral part of government during the first term and I had a good work relationship with him. We all worked hard for him to win his second term election, the prerogative as to who remains or becomes his SSG is his and in his wisdom, he decided to drop me. And when that happened, I gave God the glory, for enabling me to serve SSG after I had retired as the HOS.

    So, I had no problem whatsoever when I was dropped because I had prepared myself that I would one day leave office. As I speak with you, the same governor has appointed me as a consultant to the state on revenue, under this platform; I interact with him quite often. I am also serving in various committees that he has put in place. Talks about disagreement with the governor are mere speculations.

    What is your response to the mirage of criticism of Oshiomhole’s government this second term?

    I have heard some of these things and feel surprised that people are talking like this. The fact is that it is very difficult to satisfy Nigerians and Edo people in particular. If you look at Edo State now and compare it to the era before Oshiomhole became the Governor of Edo State, you will agree with me that the changes he has brought are phenomenon. It is uncharitable for people to start doubting his government. If the roads in Benin are the only thing he has done, there is no doubt in my mind that he has brought changes to the State. Name it; Airport Road, Akpakpava Road, Sapele Road, this development is not only visible in Benin City but in other parts of the State as well. But by far the most visible intervention of Oshiomhole’s government is in the area of education. Public schools in the state were not longer viable before his intervention but as I speak, you have more parents changing their wards school from private to public schools because of Oshiomhole’s intervention. Many universities in this country today do not have some of these facilities in some of these schools in Edo State. It is the same in the health sector and water.

     

  • Don launches dentistry book

    Don launches dentistry book

    A professor of Restorative Dentistry at the Lagos State University (LASU), Enosakhare Akpata, has launched the second edition of his book, Principles and Practice of Operative Dentistry.

    Operative Dentistry is the branch of dentistry that deals with maintenance and repair of damaged teeth.

    Akpata who launched the book at Protea Hotel, Ikeja, said the new edition became necessary because there are now a lot more procedures in the field since the first was published in 1997.

    Speaking with journalists at the event, Akpata said though the 250-page book is small when compared to other books on operative dentistry, it is concise as it touches all necessary areas that will be useful to students, lecturers and other professionals in the area of tooth repair.

    Akpata who has also written many books and published in academic journals, said the new edition details the history of operative dentistry from 1960 to date and new practices in the field.

    “It also deals with the step-by-step method in teeth repair, how to mask discolouration, how to repair broken tooth, how to determine when a teeth is beyond repair and what to do. This book is a resource which people in authority can refer to the public,” he said.

    He advised Nigerians to always keep their teeth clean by brushing twice a day either with a toothbrush or a chewing stick saying brushing at night is very important.

    Akpata said the greatest challenge he faced while writing the book was to get illustrations and clinical photographs.

    The book reveiwer, Prof Adeyemi Olusile said the book is a veritable resource on tooth care. He added that it is also ideal for those who want to acquire knowledge on restorative dentistry.

    He said: “The 10-chapter book has a nice cover, it is durable, has good prints, ample illustrations, and coloured photographs which makes it very interesting and easy to understand.”

    Prof Julius Okojie, Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC) Abuja, who was represented by Prof Eugene Okpara said anyone who wants to write a book should do it because of the joy and satisfaction derived and not for pecuniary gains because the book will either be photocopied or put on the internet.

    Congratulating Akpata, Okojie said the fact that he is publishing the second edition of the book is a testimony tothe success of the first edition.

    Others at the event included: Ambassador Arthur Mbanefo, former Nigeria representative at the United Nations; Prof Joel Akinosi, former Provost, College of Medicine, UNILAG, and Mr Sunday Uaboi, Principal Private Secretary to Nigeria’s First Prime Minister, among others.

     

  • ‘Piracy inflates cost of books’

    The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Learn Africa Plc, Mr Olusegun Oladipo, has blamed the hike in the prices of books on piracy and other factors.

    He listed the cost of production, which includes high cost of paper and other printing or publishing materials, payment of royalties, taxes, dividends to shareholders and overhead cost as some of the challenges confronting book industry in the country.

    Speaking at the 40th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the shareholders of the company at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, Oladipo said the company hardly records 10 per cent profit.

    “A lot goes into book production such as cost of paper, payment of royalties, dividends and taxes, as well as overhead. Hardly do we make about 10 per cent profit,” he said.

    He added that the company is forced to prints its books abroad because of problems of power and other factors that make the cost of publishing higher in the country.

    Oladipo blamed the problem of piracy and its effects on the book industry on the government’s failure to put in place a proper legal framework to curtail the menace. He lamented that the government has refused to fund the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) like other agencies such as the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

    He said: “The government is not doing enough to fight piracy. There is need for legal backing to curtail activities of piracy. The publishing board has met the government and made representations to the National Assembly, but we have not received any positive response till now.”

    On his part, the Chairman of the company, Mr Emeka Iwerebon, said the security challenges in the Northern where activities of the Boko Haram sect are rife, have negatively affected the firm’s business.

    “The insurgency in the North, where the region represents about 60 per cent of our business, has been a serious challenge to our business in the last few years. We are calling on the government and other concerned authorities to put in place measures to ensure that the insurgencies were brought under control in the region, so that the business could perform better in the current financial year,” he said.

     

  • This book of life

    As it is in the 400-metre race, the Christian is expected to keep a steady growth of his love for God. Competitors keep increasing their speed until the last quarter of the race when they run their fastest. There are factors that can encourage such steady growth. One of these is the realisation that our zeal alone cannot sustain our love for God.” (page 6).

    With this statement, Bunmi Adedeji set out to encourage followers of Christ to always be ready to be His true apostles. For every Christian, the race to make the kingdom is like a battle. It is an every day struggle where there should be no room to soft pedal. No winner ever loses hope or steam in the process of attaining the height he has set out to accomplish. Quitters, as it is usually said, never win.

    Entitled The Winners, the book is an embodiment of the right ideals to be followed to make a good life both here on earth and in the kingdom to come. This is why Christ usually frowns at those who often allow apathy to dog their ways. The race to make heaven is not for those who cannot be strong enough to encourage themselves thereby making it possible for others to follow in their footsteps.

    You do not need to allow sentiments or obstacles on the way to push you aside. This is so because God is the God of positivism. Those who follow Him should be optimistic all day long, no matter the circumstances. But in all these, we should not stay away from God – our closeness to Him in terms of prayers, in terms of supplications, in terms of humility and more, help us to be strong in being winners.

    In chapter one, the author noted that we need to be steadfast, always unmovable, allowing our lives to grow continuously as we do God’s work first. Here too, patience is the key word for those who want to start the race and win it with abundance of His glory and blessing.

    In chapter two, he makes it clear that there is no crown without a cross. As a follower of Christ, you are bound to encounter suffering and can even face imprisonment. After all, those who watered the seed of Christianity suffered thus, but were able to carry on because of their reliance on the powers of the Holy Spirit.

    A good Christian therefore needs to see beyond worldly goods and compare the wealth he has in Christ Jesus. But is this easy to do? That is the question and the author has plenty of Biblical questions to encourage readers to be doers and not necessarily the sayers of work of God.

    Even in the face of mounting trials and provocations, a Christian should be faithful, strong, and unmovable, up to the point of death. “For in all these, God is full of love towards us and wants us to know that we can be better managers of the future.” (page 36). God indeed does not live in the past, but always in the present. Therefore His desire is to constantly uphold us and keep us attuned to His desires for us. In other words, He doesn’t expect us to give up no matter the difficulty on the way. Like Saint Paul, we need to fight a good fight for the sake of Christ.

    Apart from few printing errors, the book is well laid out to encourage the apostles of Christ to do more to win souls and for those who are in the vanguard of ‘conquests’ to conquer more for the sake of the last day. In all these, God is always in control of the affairs of man.

     

  • Book brings Queen Esther to life

    Book brings Queen Esther to life

    Though many might have read about her story on the pages of the Holy Bible, but a fresh breath of air was blown upon the character of Queen Esther in a new book, From an Orphan to a Queen Esther recently launched in Lagos.

    The book, written by Mrs. Titi Horsfall, a PR and Communication professional, is a novel that draws inspiration from the Biblical Esther but laced with a lot of fictions and historical accounts. The book, which took 15 years to complete, chronicles the exceptional contribution of Esther to the deliverance of her people, the Israelites from bondage.

    The book infuses with historical information that develops the storyline in such a way that the reader is constantly learning new things about ancient culture and expanding their knowledge of antiquated Biblical history. These facts are seamlessly integrated, making each new discovery delightful and informing while adding strength to the story itself. It is a well-researched piece of literature in terms of ancient culture, geography, monarchies and biblical exactness.

    The presentation in Lagos was a star-studded gathering to celebrate a budding author, who is determined to contribute her quota to the revival of the reading culture and for the imbibing of the enduring virtues of the book’s major character, Esther.

    Nollywood actress, Monalisa Chinda, former NTA broadcaster, MrsAdesuwa Onyenokwe, corporate executives, Mr. Mike Ikpoki, CEO, MTN Ghana, Mr. Tony Ogbuigwe, Executive Director, Petrochemicals, NNPC, Mr. Oliver Nnona, CEO, Profiliant Development Resources, traditional rulers from Bayelsa State, among others, were at the occasion.

    The author said writing has become a passion for her, adding that the motivation to beam the searchlight on the virtues of Esther and to encourage the readers to imbibe these timeless qualities were the driving force for writing the book.

    “I am convinced that the society has a lot to learn from this wonderful character called Esther. I decided to write this in order to show my readers that being from a disadvantaged background is not a death sentence. Esther was a slave but she used her poor status as a stepping stone to greatness.

    “The book is a lesson in courage, perseverance, determination and faith in God. And if you look at it critically, hardly will anyone manifest these qualities and not triumph above the vicissitudes of life. That’s the message I am trying to pass across through this book” she said.

    Mrs. Adesuwa Onyenokwe, identified three key lessons in the book. These include the power of the woman to accomplish near-impossible tasks, history of God’s faithfulness and the critical role that parents play in the character formation of their children and wards.

    The reviewer, Mr. OnochieUche Izuora, said the book is “a work in a class of itself, rich in drama, engaging, inspiring, informative, educative, deeply spiritual and scriptural.” He said the work is a celebration of God’s mysterious disposition in elevating the underdog to the top dog status.

    “You will also read in this novel how it seems “irrevocable laws” made by men unwittingly attract the interest of the Almighty God, who alone uses all laws and principles as mere tools for His eternal cause. He picks up the poor from the dirt, rescues the wretched who has been thrown out with the trash, seats them among kings and in places of honour with the brightest and the best,” Izuora added.

  • Arthouse hosts forum on Whiteman’s Lagos book

    Arthouse hosts forum on Whiteman’s Lagos book

    Poet and  painter Deji Toye will moderate a conversation on Kaye Whiteman’s ‘LAGOS: A Cultural and Historical Companion’ at the Freedom Park (1 Hospital Road, by Broad Street, Lagos) at 4pm  on Thursday, March 7.

    The conversation is part of an arthouse forum, organized by the Committee For Relevant Art(CORA), in honour of Whiteman, who is flying into town to launch the book. A musical show will also be held at the Park’s food court after the conversation to mark the author’s 77the birthday.

    The discussants are Tolu Ogunlesi, poet and journalist, and Toni Kan, poet, short story writer, journalist and publicist, and Femke van Zeiji, a Dutch Journalist who recently relocated to Lagos.

    Whiteman first came to Nigeria in the 60s, but he fell for Lagos when he lived in the city for two years between 2000 and 2002.
    The book’s blurb says  that the author “explores a city that has constantly re-invented itself, from the first settlement on an uninhabited island to the creation of the port in the early years of the twentieth century…. The city’s melting-pot has ferti­lised a unique literary and artistic flowering that is only now beginning to be appreciated by a world that has only seen slums and chaos”.

  • A book of honour and squalor

    Every good thing seems to be learnt with some conscious effort. Where, however, determined bid is not made to learn, evil sprouts instead. How total ignorance overwhelmed them! By distancing the rod from their daughter, an instrument of correction that purifies, they equally denied their daughter of correction in righteousness. The actualities of life not tempered with the rod therefore manifested in all aspects of Ado’s life continually.”

    With this statement on page 41 of the novel, Deserts, written by G. E. Orubebe, it is easier to glimpse through the message and the total import of the book. The book tells the story of Ado, a spoilt child who had everything going for her. Unfortunately, her parents did virtually nothing to correct her excesses.

    In the book, two families are pitched in different locations, where their individual backgrounds in terms of wealth and orientation help readers to understand the stories. The essence of the stories coming from different backgrounds is to teach humanity how the lack of discipline in the society has become the bedrock of the total collapse of the values people attach to life.

    This is why the author obviously chooses the story of Ado who is so beautiful but is unduly pampered by her folks to register the central point of his message. Ado is almost like a princess, whose beauty shines and blossoms in the bloom of life. And so, among her other siblings, her parents single her out for praises and often adorn her with other inconsequential niceties.

    And with time, however, Ado becomes too over-bloated with pride due to those praises, that she loses her normal senses. As she goes into secondary school, her primary business and preoccupation is to hoodwink and seduce men to stupor. Essentially her concern is to have the best of the world, while her education goes to the dogs. This obnoxious habit of hers leads her from one trouble to another. In the process, she throws caution to the winds in order to perfect her life of idiocy.

    On the other hand, Samuel, a boy born into an affluent home sets out to be nasty too. In-between the time, his mother brings him back to his senses just in time for him to begin to fall in line. Samuel, in spite of his many youthful escapades, tries to listen to his mother. While in school, he makes serious efforts to conform to rules and regulations, albeit with in-built self-discipline and comportment.

    The Deserts is a story weaved around the issues that make people become either useful or useless in future. For every single habit we display or exhibit in the process of discharging our duties in life, it all depends entirely on how much discipline and decorum we received while growing up.

    The author spices the book with moral instructions to direct both the parents’ and the youths’ attention to the deteriorating situations in most homes in Nigeria today. Without sound and profound moral upbringing, no one can grow up into a useful and meaningful person. People need to be told that God is the pillar of life.

    The book of Psalms says that it is only a fool who says there is no God. And he who says that does so at his own peril, for God is real and He guides those who call upon Him. Therefore, discipline is of God, the maker of mankind.

    It is amazing how the author, a senior police officer, could use the issues of morality and crime and culture to permeate his book. It shows that he has indeed perfected the art of story-telling in such a way that the infusions do not clash or distract.

    It is pertinent to ensure that a child is taught the way of God right from cradle. The author sums it up thus: “The child grew up not knowing scolding, striking or spanking from those whose bounden duty it was to do so for correction. The love the parents thought they professed for her (Ado) became of little or no importance. Rather it only helped in making her a vessel of dishonor…”

    The book draws attention to the very core problem area of lawlessness and disobedience which still beckon in the society. It is this issue that the novelist keeps hammering on in the book in order to encourage everybody to sit up. It is also a book totally devoted to the raising of the fabrics of the home; the complete indoctrination of the child to be able to face the realities of tomorrow.

    In 330 pages, Orubebe has been able to let the world into the secret lives of mega rich families who breed monsters in form of human beings. Yet, the lesson in it is for people to desist from such absurdity. However, there are few typographical and editing errors that need to be corrected forthwith. There are places where the inverted comas did not close or open properly.

    And so for this book to make the list of the NLNG literature prize, those errors have to be corrected. Besides, it is a book for today and for tomorrow to help remould derailing characters.

     

  • Book launch

    Chief Olufemi A. Daramola launches his autobiography titled Doctor on Bicycle on October 18 at the Peacock Hall, Island Club, Lagos by 11am.