An offended dialog is echoing throughout social media platforms: the concept Nigerian literature is dying. This place makes literary lovers really feel beneath assault. Why? As a result of Nigerian literature is definitely flourishing greater than ever earlier than. We are able to spark discussions about what defines vibrant literature in any period. Is it the concepts or the manufacturing? No matter our perspective, there’s a noticeable paucity of memoirs chronicling the lives of public servants, which brings us to the first focus of Fela Financial institution-Olemoh's Honored to Serve. He begins his ebook with a important essay in his foreword, through which he states, “In my view, one of many issues that authorities officers, particularly in our local weather, haven’t achieved properly sufficient is documenting their time in workplace for posterity.” It's onerous to disagree with this sentiment.
His memoir begins with a listing of people that impressed him: Chief Eniola Abiodun Financial institution-Olemoh, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr. Martin Luther King and Lee Kuan Yew, amongst others. He comes from a patrilineal clan of lively politicians and civil servants. He traces his lineage again to his grandfather, Chief Eniola Abiodun Financial institution-Olemoh, who joined Egbé Omo Odùduwà, which later developed into the Motion Group, a significant regional political social gathering within the heyday of Nigerian independence. This reference to a lineage that impressed him, beginning along with his grandfather, offers perception into the creator's world and the origins of his journey.
Financial institution-Olemoh peppers his memoirs with an inspiring story. He maintains a motivational rhythm all through the textual content, starting along with his record of inspirations as a possible place to begin for one's journey by life. This rhythm is additional emphasised by his shifting story, which is surprisingly unrelated to his household identify. As a substitute, he charts his life from his time at SystemSpecs, the place he served within the Nationwide Youth Service and was detained after his 12 months of service.
His story highlights what I contemplate to be one of many lacking hyperlinks in Nigeria's nation-building journey. He mentions that his preparation for public service started greater than twenty years earlier than his appointment, which guided us by the significance of early planning and lively involvement. He rose to a key function at SystemSpecs and says: “On the age of 29, I had already risen to the place of Senior Supervisor Worldwide Gross sales, commonly touring round Africa closing offers for the group. This function offered me with invaluable publicity and the arrogance to start out my very own enterprise.” This begs the query: what will we obtain with 29 in at present's Nigeria?
His time within the personal sector proved pivotal in his life as a public servant. He claims that is the rationale for his success in public service, saying: “It was like being in my pure habitat. I simply exchanged one surroundings for one more.”
An important expertise he introduced from the personal sector was the idea of promoting concepts to the personal sector for financing, albeit for public profit. He applies his expertise as a salesman to administration, to not make a revenue, however for the great of the individuals of Lagos. What makes Honored to Serve intriguing is Financial institution-Olemoh's understanding of public service and its potential impression. He describes how their program, ReadySetWork, modified college students' perceptions of efficient governance. The creator portrays what the Western world may embrace in a textbook description of presidency when he writes, “The enterprise of presidency is exclusive; the revenue margin is the variety of lives remodeled. That’s the reason authorities in any respect ranges should proceed to vary lives.”
Honored to Serve is a must-read memoir. It begins conversations and motivates younger individuals to appreciate their goals, whereas informing civil servants concerning the essence of their function. From his work as Director of Media and Publicity for Prof. Yemi Osinbajo to his appointment as Particular Schooling Advisor to the Governor, Financial institution-Olemoh has written a shifting memoir of his three years and eight months serving the individuals of Lagos State.
Owoicho is a critic and award-winning poet. He’s the founding father of Benue Poetry Troupe and staff chief for Afrika-Writes.
Emuoha Council of Rivers State, Emma Wonodi, stated: “It is a groundbreaking ebook that touches on a complete new space. A brand new space characterised by a wave of notion that’s slowly main individuals away from God.
“It has to do with the notion that’s closely depending on expertise and transhumanism, popularized by the concepts and worldview promoted by a person known as Yuval Harari, the creator of Homo Deus, the place he bragged that we don't have to attend on the Second World Warfare. The approaching of Christ to beat loss of life, and that just a few nerds in a lab can do it, given sufficient money and time.”
