By Prisca Sam-Duru
Caught In The Storms is a non-fiction authored by a budding writer, Amaka Ezenwankwo, an Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) graduate of Mass Communication, who though expresses herself in key genres of Literature, flaunts a bias for prose and poetry.
With the use of non fictitious places, locations, schools, etc, Caught In The Storms provides deep moral lessons for teenagers. It also warns parents/Guardians, of the danger of not properly monitoring their children and wards while on campus.
In leu of this, the author opines that irrespective of students’ religious background or level of discipline, it is imperative to act positively whenever parents spot any behavioural changes in their children/wards while in the higher institutions.
With twenty chapters and 173 pages, the author embarks on a detailed expository mission with her goal, being to address issues relating to truancy, immorality, illicit love affairs with married men commonly known among female undergraduates as Aristos. Their choice to live a life of immorality the author states, is all in a bid to live life of opulence so as to be addressed as happening babes.
The reader finds this narrative un-put-down-able as Amaka paints a vivid picture of how tertiary Institutions succeed in transforming saints to sinners except of course, a situation whereby a student passes through the institution without allowing it pass through him or her.
The story begins as we see Sandra, the first daughter of Mr and Mrs Smith Nwafor, from a very humble and sound Christian background, being tossed up and down with disappointments from post JAMB examinations even after scoring high in the UME. This delays and in fact, prevents her from gaining admission into any of the Nigerian Universities. She however decides to try the Polytechnic and is admitted into the Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra state, to study Mass Communication.
A great transformation takes place in the life of Sandra as soon as she meets some friends; Tina, Linda and Oge. These characters are typical representatives of female undergraduates who prostitute on campus. After she is wowed by the opulence of these friends, Sandra enrolls and finds herself an Aristo in the person of a business mogul, Brown Johnson. Mr Johnson leaves no stone unturned in taking Sandra to the heights of vain enjoyment, to the detriment of her faith in God, humility and worse of all, her studies.
Having tasted the sweetness of vanity, Sandra finds it difficult to do away with Johnson even as she finds a young man, Mike who is ready to take her to the altar. She goes diabolical, casting spells on the men so as to keep both. Her downfall begins with Mrs Brown finally aware of her husband’s romance with young Sandra which she tackles with fervent prayers. At this juncture, one can only guess what Sandra’s lot will be. She truly gets caught in the very storm she created out of lust for materialism. As for her friends, their end is better read than experienced except Oge, who repents from prostitution and abortions and finally settles down with husband and son.
Caught in The Storm, is a modest effort by Amaka and she should be commended for joining other authors who are fronting the campaign for national rebirth and reorientation of the youths so that they would resist every form of enticement from opulence and luxury, in order to protect their future. The book is therefore recommended to all.
Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
Saturday, 31 August 2013
Bank auctions works for the needy
By Japhet Alakam
As part of its corporate social responsibility, Sterling Bank Nigeria PLC last Sunday, auctioned not less than 43 artworks by young talented artists from age 5 to 15 to raise fund for the less privilege in the society. The auction which was done under the supervision of renowned artist and founder of Niger Delta Cultural Centre, Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya took place at the bank’s head office in Lagos. The auctioned works were selected from a painting competition organized earlier this year for the children of the bank’s staff, with a theme: “Creating a beautiful world”.
According to the organisers, the money raised from the auction would be donated to a non-governmental organization, Lots Charity Foundation that caters for physiological, social, educational, psychological, medical and emotional needs for vulnerable street children in Dustbin Estate in Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Ajegunle, Lagos State.
The Group Marketing Manager of Sterling Bank, Mr. Segun Anako said the essence of the auction is to give life and health and create a beautiful world for the less privilege among us.
The Regional Business Executive of the bank, Mr. Tunde Adeola said in some climes, the children’s artworks would easily have been hung up in a boardroom – forgotten and soon to be discarded, noting that what a disservice this would have been.
“We didn’t want this to happen; hence we decided to transfer these paintings to fans and lovers of art who have the expertise to appreciate the talents expressed in these paintings. The seed of idea behind today’s exhibition and auction was sown. To give some flesh and human touch, we thought to give these stars of the future an early opportunity to make a difference by contributing to the larger society through the proceeds of their talent and skills”.
Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya praised the efforts of Sterling Bank for putting up such a competition for children.
“What they are doing is very good; in other countries, geniuses are identified when they are still young and what they have done is one of the ways of catching the genius young. Once you notice the young ones are putting energy into such development they must be encouraged. By the time they become grown up, they will become masters and people who can be trusted in the art”, he said.
Onobrakpeya urged parents to encourage their wards to draw, to go out and see exhibitions, participate in art competition and enroll them in art workshops because, ‘some of us never had an opportunity like this’. He noted that it would inspire them to take art as a profession.
The children whose paintings were auctioned included Oduwa Osheku, Eshu Osheku, Oyin Osgbola, Afolabi Lifting,, Inioluwa Adebayo, Seyi Adeniyi, Princess Okebugwu, Chizuruoke Amukan, Egwuenu Quincy, Tamisin Balogun, Cajawua Ikechukwu, Ester Aina, Imade Noel, Onyebuchi Francis, abdurahman Ibrahim and Afolabi Laughter.
Others were Oyebuchi Florence, Johnson Rachel, Olalekan Adekambi, Adeite Oluwadamilila, Oluwafolahan Toki-Pillips, Oluwafolajimi Toki-Pillips, Azuru Whitney, Khairia Muhammed,Princess Nworah, David Edoho, Deborah Edoho, Smuel Edoho, Ibukunoluwa Fashogbon, Chidiebere Offiah,Chinonso Mark, Ugochi Nnachi, Olasubomi Olaleru, Kehinde Olatunji, Taiwo Olatunji, Chiamaka Onyemaechi, Unoma Aghadinumo, Sheu Arowowon, Samuel Agboola, Elizabeth Agboola, Olalade Alabi, Oladipupo Aino and Chimamanda Okechukwu-Melifonwu
As part of its corporate social responsibility, Sterling Bank Nigeria PLC last Sunday, auctioned not less than 43 artworks by young talented artists from age 5 to 15 to raise fund for the less privilege in the society. The auction which was done under the supervision of renowned artist and founder of Niger Delta Cultural Centre, Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya took place at the bank’s head office in Lagos. The auctioned works were selected from a painting competition organized earlier this year for the children of the bank’s staff, with a theme: “Creating a beautiful world”.
According to the organisers, the money raised from the auction would be donated to a non-governmental organization, Lots Charity Foundation that caters for physiological, social, educational, psychological, medical and emotional needs for vulnerable street children in Dustbin Estate in Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Ajegunle, Lagos State.
The Group Marketing Manager of Sterling Bank, Mr. Segun Anako said the essence of the auction is to give life and health and create a beautiful world for the less privilege among us.
The Regional Business Executive of the bank, Mr. Tunde Adeola said in some climes, the children’s artworks would easily have been hung up in a boardroom – forgotten and soon to be discarded, noting that what a disservice this would have been.
“We didn’t want this to happen; hence we decided to transfer these paintings to fans and lovers of art who have the expertise to appreciate the talents expressed in these paintings. The seed of idea behind today’s exhibition and auction was sown. To give some flesh and human touch, we thought to give these stars of the future an early opportunity to make a difference by contributing to the larger society through the proceeds of their talent and skills”.
Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya praised the efforts of Sterling Bank for putting up such a competition for children.
“What they are doing is very good; in other countries, geniuses are identified when they are still young and what they have done is one of the ways of catching the genius young. Once you notice the young ones are putting energy into such development they must be encouraged. By the time they become grown up, they will become masters and people who can be trusted in the art”, he said.
Onobrakpeya urged parents to encourage their wards to draw, to go out and see exhibitions, participate in art competition and enroll them in art workshops because, ‘some of us never had an opportunity like this’. He noted that it would inspire them to take art as a profession.
The children whose paintings were auctioned included Oduwa Osheku, Eshu Osheku, Oyin Osgbola, Afolabi Lifting,, Inioluwa Adebayo, Seyi Adeniyi, Princess Okebugwu, Chizuruoke Amukan, Egwuenu Quincy, Tamisin Balogun, Cajawua Ikechukwu, Ester Aina, Imade Noel, Onyebuchi Francis, abdurahman Ibrahim and Afolabi Laughter.
Others were Oyebuchi Florence, Johnson Rachel, Olalekan Adekambi, Adeite Oluwadamilila, Oluwafolahan Toki-Pillips, Oluwafolajimi Toki-Pillips, Azuru Whitney, Khairia Muhammed,Princess Nworah, David Edoho, Deborah Edoho, Smuel Edoho, Ibukunoluwa Fashogbon, Chidiebere Offiah,Chinonso Mark, Ugochi Nnachi, Olasubomi Olaleru, Kehinde Olatunji, Taiwo Olatunji, Chiamaka Onyemaechi, Unoma Aghadinumo, Sheu Arowowon, Samuel Agboola, Elizabeth Agboola, Olalade Alabi, Oladipupo Aino and Chimamanda Okechukwu-Melifonwu
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)