‘It’s Painful We Are Producing Children Without Roots’
‘It’s Painful We Are Producing Children Without Roots’
ONE the factors you pointed out earlier that would encourage African literatures and reading habit iis appropriate and deliberate government policy; how would this be done?
Now, the African government seemed not bothered about the way and manner at which African culture and languages are fast fading away. There is no government policy or law that encourages writers to write in local languages. And when they do, publishing it becomes a problem.
The government’s seating session in different African countries is never done in local languages and their policies are not written in local languages. So, these do not promote or make African languages linguistic power in the continent.
The government of African countries should develop positive attitude towards improving African languages... they need to improve the policies that will ensure that books are published in African languages.
What is the difference between Africans reading habit and that in the western world?
Of course, reading everywhere is competing with television and other social media out there. We can’t undermine these factors. All these are challenges to book reading. Over there, book reading is still competing with facebook, Internet and others.
It is most contradictory, when we talk about pattern. We can help each other. It’s complementary. We must know that the same way we enjoy the other social media, the same way books should also be enjoyed at the same time. But the pattern is still the same in terms of challenges.
Would you say that the reading culture in Africa is dwindling or rather, Africans do not read appropriate books that would stir their imaginations?
Well, these are the problems that boil down to government policies, writers, publishers among others on the choice of books published, and these problems have to be addressed by them.
The major one of them is the total neglect of our languages. By neglect of our languages, the children are exposed to whatever comes their way. There are good and bad books available in English, likewise in French. The problems are connected. First, there is the need to read and also the need to read good books. Just like an eye in the book should do the work of imagination. We know that best food can nourish the body and at the same time, harms the body; so, bad reading can also harm the body. Wholesome food is good for the body and wholesome reading is good for the imagination too. So, reading the right books speaks volumes.
Without imagination nothing will be achieved. Before anything is manufactured or done, it has to first exist as an imagination. So, we need reading to create the necessary imagination in us just like food nourishes the body, reading nourishes our imagination and consequently leads to innovation. When you read, you are feeding and nourishing your spirit of imagination.
How do regional governments and other Africans policies contribute to neglect of African languages. Also, recommend possible solution to getting African reading culture right?
The policy here implies government actions and the nature of the writing. We can’t be passionate about Africa without writing in native languages. African languages must have equal power with the European languages in Africa.
You can’t say you are developing policies in the country without putting any of them in African languages. That’s linguistic sharing. By this I mean, European languages —English, French and others — are languages of power in Africa today, and not the African languages.
If we are going to make headway in Africa, then, there must be linguistic power sharing in Africa and put others behind. There is no reason acquisition of African language will not be a requirement for graduating from African colleges or schools in the continent.
There is no reason, African languages will not be used or made official languages for promotion and job employment in companies, including employment of journalists in the rural areas, just like in Kikuyu. Such a person would do better, having knowledge of the native languages.
There is no reason the member of councils; African regional bodies and others will not make use of the native languages during sessions. If we can do this, where African languages would be used for graduation ceremonies, public speeches and other public events within the region, then, things will turn around in the continent. Our language is our bond and culture. We have to secure it.
We will take our place in the scheme of things. Foreigners will not come to run our affairs and we will play the role of guests in the continent. We shouldn’t allow that happen. Sociological, physically and psychological element of Africaness will be encouraged and develop to repose confidence in the continent.
I don’t see the reason we will have children that speak other European languages but cannot speak their native languages. So, we need linguistic power sharing in Africa. We have to stop the preference of European language at the expense of African languages.
In Europe, they speak their local languages and why can’t Africa do the same? This is self-enslavement. How can a man, knows how to speak another man’s language but does not know how to speak his own language? For me, it’s enslavement, when you know all the languages of the world but for your own language. On the other hand, it becomes an empowerment when you know your own language and add other languages to it. We should promote our languages. We should encourage our children to speak our own languages.
I stopped writing in English language in the past 10 years because Africa is our base and we must not lose our base and our indigenous languages. Since then, I have been writing in Kikuyu language and later translate it myself or give to somebody else to do so.
It’s really important that we go for linguistic power sharing in Africa. If we say we delight in Africa, then, we have to spend and invest in the development of African languages; else, we are going nowhere.
If we do not put our resources, developing African languages and do not make it linguistic power in the Africa, in Nigeria, in Kenya, in South Africa and others then, we are joking.
What exactly is the problem with Africans pattern of reading?
Well, I don’t know about the pattern or the style but I will only say that reading is very important. You can’t quantify the importance of education to the mind.
Do you realise that what you have, including your cars, houses and other personal belongings could be taken away from you but what you know cannot be taken away from you?
So, when you acquire knowledge through reading, nobody can take it away from you for any reason. It’s in the inside of you. It’s within your mind and nourishes your spirit of imaginations. Reading contributes to learning, and learning to information, which leads to knowledge.
But I’m really pained at the general neglect of the African languages, whether Kenya, Nigeria or South Africa. We tend to neglect our languages not even teaching them to our children. It’s criminal.
I wish Africa continent would realise that what we are doing to our culture today is criminal, raising children who are disconnected from the general African way of life and languages.
One thing we need to know is that our culture is fast eroding due to the neglect and preference of European languages to African languages.
There is no reason we can raise a child that does not know his root as an African. He grows up and speaks English, French and other languages of the western world but does not have idea of African languages. It is wrong. It’s an aberration. It’s self and mind slavery, which is the worst set of slavery anyone can think of.
Unfortunately, the educated mediocre are those contributing greatly to these problems. It’s incredible that we produce children, who are alien to their home, roots and environment for no just cause.
Did funding ever pose a challenge to you, on your first book?
---EniOlorutidak'oseFarawek'oseF'enutembelek'oseBinuk'oseNa'kaiwosisiWiwol'aawo
At the flag off ceremony of the 2012 edition of ‘Read Africa’ project, an initiative stemming from the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of the United Bank for Africa (UBA), UBA Foundation, held at the bank’s headquarters in Lagos, the renowned Kenyan writer, Prof. Ngugi wa Thiong’o, who was the guest speaker at the event lamented the total neglect of African languages in affairs of Africans and African states. He frowned at the preference among Africans for European languages and culture. Flaying what he referred to as the enslavement of Africa by Africans, the literary icon expressed the view that Africa will not be free through the mechanical development of material forces, but it is the hand of African and his brain that will set into motion and implement the dialectics of liberation of the continent from self-imposed mental slavery.
Ngugi, who flew into Nigeria from California, United States of America, spoke with CHIJIOKE IREMEKA on the need to give a face-lift to the dwindling reading culture in Nigeria and Africa. He also called on Africa to take its place and secure its base through the promotion of its languages, literatures and culture. The author of Weep Not Child was pained by what he termed ‘criminality,’ raising Africans that speak European languages but do not speak African languages, adding that it amounts to empowerment for an African child, when he speaks African languages as well as foreign languages.
Ngugi called for linguistic power sharing in African, just as he extolled Nigerian literary giants — Prof. Chinua Achebe, Prof. Wole Soyinka and JP Clark, among others, describing them as the sources of imaginations for all African writers.
Ngugi, who flew into Nigeria from California, United States of America, spoke with CHIJIOKE IREMEKA on the need to give a face-lift to the dwindling reading culture in Nigeria and Africa. He also called on Africa to take its place and secure its base through the promotion of its languages, literatures and culture. The author of Weep Not Child was pained by what he termed ‘criminality,’ raising Africans that speak European languages but do not speak African languages, adding that it amounts to empowerment for an African child, when he speaks African languages as well as foreign languages.
Ngugi called for linguistic power sharing in African, just as he extolled Nigerian literary giants — Prof. Chinua Achebe, Prof. Wole Soyinka and JP Clark, among others, describing them as the sources of imaginations for all African writers.
ONE the factors you pointed out earlier that would encourage African literatures and reading habit iis appropriate and deliberate government policy; how would this be done?Now, the African government seemed not bothered about the way and manner at which African culture and languages are fast fading away. There is no government policy or law that encourages writers to write in local languages. And when they do, publishing it becomes a problem.
The government’s seating session in different African countries is never done in local languages and their policies are not written in local languages. So, these do not promote or make African languages linguistic power in the continent.
The government of African countries should develop positive attitude towards improving African languages... they need to improve the policies that will ensure that books are published in African languages.
What is the difference between Africans reading habit and that in the western world?
Of course, reading everywhere is competing with television and other social media out there. We can’t undermine these factors. All these are challenges to book reading. Over there, book reading is still competing with facebook, Internet and others.
It is most contradictory, when we talk about pattern. We can help each other. It’s complementary. We must know that the same way we enjoy the other social media, the same way books should also be enjoyed at the same time. But the pattern is still the same in terms of challenges.
Would you say that the reading culture in Africa is dwindling or rather, Africans do not read appropriate books that would stir their imaginations?
Well, these are the problems that boil down to government policies, writers, publishers among others on the choice of books published, and these problems have to be addressed by them.
The major one of them is the total neglect of our languages. By neglect of our languages, the children are exposed to whatever comes their way. There are good and bad books available in English, likewise in French. The problems are connected. First, there is the need to read and also the need to read good books. Just like an eye in the book should do the work of imagination. We know that best food can nourish the body and at the same time, harms the body; so, bad reading can also harm the body. Wholesome food is good for the body and wholesome reading is good for the imagination too. So, reading the right books speaks volumes.
Without imagination nothing will be achieved. Before anything is manufactured or done, it has to first exist as an imagination. So, we need reading to create the necessary imagination in us just like food nourishes the body, reading nourishes our imagination and consequently leads to innovation. When you read, you are feeding and nourishing your spirit of imagination.
How do regional governments and other Africans policies contribute to neglect of African languages. Also, recommend possible solution to getting African reading culture right?
The policy here implies government actions and the nature of the writing. We can’t be passionate about Africa without writing in native languages. African languages must have equal power with the European languages in Africa.
You can’t say you are developing policies in the country without putting any of them in African languages. That’s linguistic sharing. By this I mean, European languages —English, French and others — are languages of power in Africa today, and not the African languages.
If we are going to make headway in Africa, then, there must be linguistic power sharing in Africa and put others behind. There is no reason acquisition of African language will not be a requirement for graduating from African colleges or schools in the continent.
There is no reason, African languages will not be used or made official languages for promotion and job employment in companies, including employment of journalists in the rural areas, just like in Kikuyu. Such a person would do better, having knowledge of the native languages.
There is no reason the member of councils; African regional bodies and others will not make use of the native languages during sessions. If we can do this, where African languages would be used for graduation ceremonies, public speeches and other public events within the region, then, things will turn around in the continent. Our language is our bond and culture. We have to secure it.
We will take our place in the scheme of things. Foreigners will not come to run our affairs and we will play the role of guests in the continent. We shouldn’t allow that happen. Sociological, physically and psychological element of Africaness will be encouraged and develop to repose confidence in the continent.
I don’t see the reason we will have children that speak other European languages but cannot speak their native languages. So, we need linguistic power sharing in Africa. We have to stop the preference of European language at the expense of African languages.
In Europe, they speak their local languages and why can’t Africa do the same? This is self-enslavement. How can a man, knows how to speak another man’s language but does not know how to speak his own language? For me, it’s enslavement, when you know all the languages of the world but for your own language. On the other hand, it becomes an empowerment when you know your own language and add other languages to it. We should promote our languages. We should encourage our children to speak our own languages.
I stopped writing in English language in the past 10 years because Africa is our base and we must not lose our base and our indigenous languages. Since then, I have been writing in Kikuyu language and later translate it myself or give to somebody else to do so.
It’s really important that we go for linguistic power sharing in Africa. If we say we delight in Africa, then, we have to spend and invest in the development of African languages; else, we are going nowhere.
If we do not put our resources, developing African languages and do not make it linguistic power in the Africa, in Nigeria, in Kenya, in South Africa and others then, we are joking.
What exactly is the problem with Africans pattern of reading?
Well, I don’t know about the pattern or the style but I will only say that reading is very important. You can’t quantify the importance of education to the mind.
Do you realise that what you have, including your cars, houses and other personal belongings could be taken away from you but what you know cannot be taken away from you?
So, when you acquire knowledge through reading, nobody can take it away from you for any reason. It’s in the inside of you. It’s within your mind and nourishes your spirit of imaginations. Reading contributes to learning, and learning to information, which leads to knowledge.
But I’m really pained at the general neglect of the African languages, whether Kenya, Nigeria or South Africa. We tend to neglect our languages not even teaching them to our children. It’s criminal.
I wish Africa continent would realise that what we are doing to our culture today is criminal, raising children who are disconnected from the general African way of life and languages.
One thing we need to know is that our culture is fast eroding due to the neglect and preference of European languages to African languages.
There is no reason we can raise a child that does not know his root as an African. He grows up and speaks English, French and other languages of the western world but does not have idea of African languages. It is wrong. It’s an aberration. It’s self and mind slavery, which is the worst set of slavery anyone can think of.
Unfortunately, the educated mediocre are those contributing greatly to these problems. It’s incredible that we produce children, who are alien to their home, roots and environment for no just cause.
You mentioned that Nigerian writers were your source of imagination and other African writers, how?
Yes. Nigerian writers played very crucial role in development of African literature, especially the caliber of Prof. Chinua Achebe, Prof. Wole Soyinka, JP Clark and many other groups of writers, who made much impact on the continent’s literary world in the 50s. Their writing helped all part of Africa continent to develop. I was very inspired by Nigerian literal giants.
UBA Foundation’s ‘Read Africa’ initiative targets school children, how do we involve adults in this course of improving the reading habit?
Yes, we are particular about the children because they are the future of the country. The parents will also be part of it. The parents should read and their children will see them read. They will also read to their children and in the process, they are picking up.
Most times, they read with their children to teach them. By doing this, the habit is gradually being developed. But it goes beyond that. We don’t need the parents who would tell their children to do what they say but not what they do.
Parents should be seen reading books, not only to their children but also, reading to edify their mind too. The students should not see Reading as a punishment. When a parent tells the children out of anger “hey go inside and read your books,” especially when they are making noise, to them, reading is a punishment.
Based on this, they will not do well in such reading. They wouldn’t want to read on their own except someone forces them into it because they believe reading is a punishment.
The parents should be seen reading books and smiling. Parents don’t have to read with heavy face or frowning or angry because the children will not want to read the books that get their parents angry.
But when children see their parents or adults read such books and smile, then the children would want to read the books that would make them smile and happy. Then, they will know that reading is fun and not punishment.
This will help their imagination to say, “Oh! Reading is enjoyable.” Then they will be happy to read. They will automatically develop their reading habit. If they see someone reads a book and cries, then, they wouldn’t want to read the book so that they won’t cry too.
Yes. Nigerian writers played very crucial role in development of African literature, especially the caliber of Prof. Chinua Achebe, Prof. Wole Soyinka, JP Clark and many other groups of writers, who made much impact on the continent’s literary world in the 50s. Their writing helped all part of Africa continent to develop. I was very inspired by Nigerian literal giants.
UBA Foundation’s ‘Read Africa’ initiative targets school children, how do we involve adults in this course of improving the reading habit?
Yes, we are particular about the children because they are the future of the country. The parents will also be part of it. The parents should read and their children will see them read. They will also read to their children and in the process, they are picking up.
Most times, they read with their children to teach them. By doing this, the habit is gradually being developed. But it goes beyond that. We don’t need the parents who would tell their children to do what they say but not what they do.
Parents should be seen reading books, not only to their children but also, reading to edify their mind too. The students should not see Reading as a punishment. When a parent tells the children out of anger “hey go inside and read your books,” especially when they are making noise, to them, reading is a punishment.
Based on this, they will not do well in such reading. They wouldn’t want to read on their own except someone forces them into it because they believe reading is a punishment.
The parents should be seen reading books and smiling. Parents don’t have to read with heavy face or frowning or angry because the children will not want to read the books that get their parents angry.
But when children see their parents or adults read such books and smile, then the children would want to read the books that would make them smile and happy. Then, they will know that reading is fun and not punishment.
This will help their imagination to say, “Oh! Reading is enjoyable.” Then they will be happy to read. They will automatically develop their reading habit. If they see someone reads a book and cries, then, they wouldn’t want to read the book so that they won’t cry too.
Do you think the UBA?book project has the capacity to inculcate the needed habit in the children?
It’s brilliant. I really commend UBA Foundation and I wish many other corporate organisations would follow suit to encourage reading culture in Africa. This will help the social economical growth of the country and its cultural dimensions.
It is very commendable. I’m happy also that they chose my book for this project, especially when it covers the whole Africa continent.
Why do you think they chose Weep Not, Child instead of other works?
Well, they have made their choice. It could have been another author’s book. But personally, I like Weep Not, Child because it portrays how I went through school in difficulties.
As a result, I tell people to try anything they could, despite their troubles to forge ahead of life. I went to school bare footed; on foot. I went to school with slate and chalk. We had no books then. So, under those circumstances, I struggled to study with the help of my mother and I believe every other person can do the same, despite the issues of life. There will always be challenges.
What approach or method could one adopt to step up one’s reading habit?
Pick any book and read. Just read. In Nigeria for instance, there are a lot of wonderful Nigerian writers. Pick one of them and read. Read about Nigeria. Even if you don’t want to read Nigerian authors, you can look for non-Nigerian author to know what he says about Nigeria. Read Nigerian languages. Nigerian books are everywhere and they are inspiring.
I wouldn’t want to put a number, of books to be read in a week but if you ask someone to read at least, a book in a week, it’s not too much to ask. You make yourself connected to reading.
You have to reason with a book. You argued with a book and you interact with a book. You are recipient and receiver of every idea in that book and it will nourish your imagination.
It’s brilliant. I really commend UBA Foundation and I wish many other corporate organisations would follow suit to encourage reading culture in Africa. This will help the social economical growth of the country and its cultural dimensions.
It is very commendable. I’m happy also that they chose my book for this project, especially when it covers the whole Africa continent.
Why do you think they chose Weep Not, Child instead of other works?
Well, they have made their choice. It could have been another author’s book. But personally, I like Weep Not, Child because it portrays how I went through school in difficulties.
As a result, I tell people to try anything they could, despite their troubles to forge ahead of life. I went to school bare footed; on foot. I went to school with slate and chalk. We had no books then. So, under those circumstances, I struggled to study with the help of my mother and I believe every other person can do the same, despite the issues of life. There will always be challenges.
What approach or method could one adopt to step up one’s reading habit?
Pick any book and read. Just read. In Nigeria for instance, there are a lot of wonderful Nigerian writers. Pick one of them and read. Read about Nigeria. Even if you don’t want to read Nigerian authors, you can look for non-Nigerian author to know what he says about Nigeria. Read Nigerian languages. Nigerian books are everywhere and they are inspiring.
I wouldn’t want to put a number, of books to be read in a week but if you ask someone to read at least, a book in a week, it’s not too much to ask. You make yourself connected to reading.
You have to reason with a book. You argued with a book and you interact with a book. You are recipient and receiver of every idea in that book and it will nourish your imagination.
Did funding ever pose a challenge to you, on your first book?
Two things are happening. A writer is dependent on his publisher to fund the printing of the book. The writer is not a businessman, but the publisher is. He has all it takes to publish the writer’s work.
A writer should not pay to get published rather he should be paid for publishing his work. The technology has advanced today and it makes it possible for self-book publishing. You do not need the publisher to get your work together. You can use computer or typewriter to put your work together for the publisher.
So, I don’t want to be a publisher or do the marketing of the books myself. I’m a writer. They have their work to do. But you have to write and ensure that you get them published.
There are several ways one can do that. One can write and publish online and find a way of informing people about his work published online.
What were the challenges you encountered writing in Kikuyu language?
It was one challenge at different levels of my life. It’s still one of the breaks in barriers. By this I mean, when I started writing the book Weep Not Child, there was hardly any book written of Kenyan origin, or in the East Africa; so, I started with the help of imagination I got from Nigerian literary giants.
When I started writing, especially in Kikuyu language, many people were sceptical whether this could be done or not. Yes, there were native literatures in Nigeria and South Africa but there was none in East Africa. So, I believed it could be done also in the East Africa. It wasn’t easy but I did it.
I struggled through that challenge to show people that we can do it. And the sceptism was more on the idea of writing in local languages, which many people said, couldn’t be done. “Oh! My God! Oh! Oh!” I can’t describe this. It was very tough but I thank God that I was able to prove a point.
Nowadays, people are paying more attention to it. And I know others are following me and paying attention to African literatures. They are beginning to write in African languages.
But writing in African language poses huge challenge because there are no publishers, willing to publish books written in African languages, except for few.
There are a lot of values put in African languages and literatures that are being neglected today. We must continue to fight barriers against Africans writing in African languages. We need to find a way of smashing these barriers.
Now, would you say you have broken the jinx?
No! No! I wish I did, though people have started paying more attention to African languages. We are stepping up and some day, we will get there by general support of the government towards the struggle. We are not going to stop. It’s a struggle. We can’t give up. We will continue to fight hard until we get there.
How many books have you written in local language?
Well, I have written three novels in Kikuyu language, two plays in Kikuyu and I have translated three plays of Moliere, a French writer into Kikuyu language. I have a lot that I’m doing online to promote African literature.
Africa must take its place in the scheme of things. There has to be linguistic power sharing in African continent. I encourage all Africans to visit www.mutiiri.com find out the level of work done there to promote the course of African culture and language.
African language has to be the language of power in the continent. Nigerian languages should be the languages of power in the country. There is Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa among others. The neglect of African languages has to stop today. This is a battle African we must win.
I’m happy when I see Africans in charge. It gives me joy. There is life and values in our culture. We cannot lose our core values to western culture. Not everything about Whiteman is correct. We need to note that. We have strong cultural heritage in Africa. We have to uphold and protect it from being eroded.
Considering the state of writing in Kenya and in Nigeria, what is different and what could the countries learn from each other?
They have been like brothers to each other but one thing common is that rich and the middle class in the both countries are the worst offenders, when it comes to neglect of African languages, whether Kenya, South Africa of Nigeria.
A writer should not pay to get published rather he should be paid for publishing his work. The technology has advanced today and it makes it possible for self-book publishing. You do not need the publisher to get your work together. You can use computer or typewriter to put your work together for the publisher.
So, I don’t want to be a publisher or do the marketing of the books myself. I’m a writer. They have their work to do. But you have to write and ensure that you get them published.
There are several ways one can do that. One can write and publish online and find a way of informing people about his work published online.
What were the challenges you encountered writing in Kikuyu language?
It was one challenge at different levels of my life. It’s still one of the breaks in barriers. By this I mean, when I started writing the book Weep Not Child, there was hardly any book written of Kenyan origin, or in the East Africa; so, I started with the help of imagination I got from Nigerian literary giants.
When I started writing, especially in Kikuyu language, many people were sceptical whether this could be done or not. Yes, there were native literatures in Nigeria and South Africa but there was none in East Africa. So, I believed it could be done also in the East Africa. It wasn’t easy but I did it.
I struggled through that challenge to show people that we can do it. And the sceptism was more on the idea of writing in local languages, which many people said, couldn’t be done. “Oh! My God! Oh! Oh!” I can’t describe this. It was very tough but I thank God that I was able to prove a point.
Nowadays, people are paying more attention to it. And I know others are following me and paying attention to African literatures. They are beginning to write in African languages.
But writing in African language poses huge challenge because there are no publishers, willing to publish books written in African languages, except for few.
There are a lot of values put in African languages and literatures that are being neglected today. We must continue to fight barriers against Africans writing in African languages. We need to find a way of smashing these barriers.
Now, would you say you have broken the jinx?
No! No! I wish I did, though people have started paying more attention to African languages. We are stepping up and some day, we will get there by general support of the government towards the struggle. We are not going to stop. It’s a struggle. We can’t give up. We will continue to fight hard until we get there.
How many books have you written in local language?
Well, I have written three novels in Kikuyu language, two plays in Kikuyu and I have translated three plays of Moliere, a French writer into Kikuyu language. I have a lot that I’m doing online to promote African literature.
Africa must take its place in the scheme of things. There has to be linguistic power sharing in African continent. I encourage all Africans to visit www.mutiiri.com find out the level of work done there to promote the course of African culture and language.
African language has to be the language of power in the continent. Nigerian languages should be the languages of power in the country. There is Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa among others. The neglect of African languages has to stop today. This is a battle African we must win.
I’m happy when I see Africans in charge. It gives me joy. There is life and values in our culture. We cannot lose our core values to western culture. Not everything about Whiteman is correct. We need to note that. We have strong cultural heritage in Africa. We have to uphold and protect it from being eroded.
Considering the state of writing in Kenya and in Nigeria, what is different and what could the countries learn from each other?
They have been like brothers to each other but one thing common is that rich and the middle class in the both countries are the worst offenders, when it comes to neglect of African languages, whether Kenya, South Africa of Nigeria.
(Later, Prof. wa Thiong’o was at the Baptist Academy Obanikoro to read to the students, and he told them...)
What is your advice to the school children, who wish to be like you in the near future?
Don’t see yourself as a student; rather see yourself as a person, when you want to achieve anything. When you see yourself as a student, it limits your ability to do all that you wish to do. But when you see yourself as a person, it leaves your mind open to achieve what you want as human, despite your status, just like my 17-year old son who is planning to publish a book. You can do the same while in the school.
What is your advice to the school children, who wish to be like you in the near future?
Don’t see yourself as a student; rather see yourself as a person, when you want to achieve anything. When you see yourself as a student, it limits your ability to do all that you wish to do. But when you see yourself as a person, it leaves your mind open to achieve what you want as human, despite your status, just like my 17-year old son who is planning to publish a book. You can do the same while in the school.
---EniOlorutidak'oseFarawek'oseF'enutembelek'oseBinuk'oseNa'kaiwosisiWiwol'aawo
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