Lafia Book Launch Spotlights Girls’ Education and Pressure for Quick Wealth

 

By Atlantic Reports

Barriers to girls’ education and the pressure on young people to pursue quick wealth took centre stage in Lafia on Saturday at the launch of two books by Sadiq Okpadobu.

The books, When the Girls Rise and The Glittering Trap, prompted discussions about education, responsible choices and the support young Nigerians need to develop their talents.

Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Lafia (FULafia), Prof. Mohammed Isa-Kida, said young Nigerians could achieve global recognition and contribute to national development if given opportunities and encouragement.

Represented by the university’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Partnership, Prof. Ibrahim Ogiri, Isa-Kida described inadequate investment in the country’s human and intellectual potential as a major obstacle to progress.

He said Okpadobu’s achievement illustrated the possibilities available to young people, noting that the author had produced the books without a background in literature.

“It is our collective aspiration as individuals and parents that our children should be better than us,” he said.

Girls’ ambitions and campus pressures

Reviewing the books, the Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Nasarawa Chapter, Mr Osori Danasabe, said both addressed social issues affecting young people.

He described When the Girls Rise, an eight-chapter, 85-page book, as an exploration of girls’ resilience in Northern Nigeria as they pursued education and their ambitions despite stereotypes and other barriers.

According to Danasabe, The Glittering Trap, which has nine chapters and 88 pages, examined campus life and the pursuit of quick wealth, including choices that could jeopardise young people’s futures.

These descriptions were the reviewer’s assessment of the works.

Danasabe said the association would submit the books to the National Library and induct Okpadobu into its membership.

Explaining his motivation, Okpadobu said economic hardship and the growing desire among young people to make quick money informed The Glittering Trap.

He said the book aimed to encourage responsible choices and warn against harmful ways of pursuing wealth.

When the Girls Rise, he added, was inspired by persistent barriers to girls’ education in Northern Nigeria. He said it highlighted successful women as examples to encourage younger girls to pursue their aspirations.

Officials pledge support for creative talent

Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, represented by his Special Adviser, Mohammed Abubakar, commended the author for drawing attention to girls’ educational challenges.

The governor pledged continued encouragement for authors and literary initiatives that could enable writers to benefit from their creativity while contributing to society.

The Managing Director of the Nasarawa Investment and Development Agency (NASIDA), Mr Ibrahim Abdullahi, also expressed support for young people discovering and developing their talents.

Represented by Mr Abdullahi Ari, he urged young Nigerians to remain committed to their aspirations despite difficulties. Abdullahi wrote the foreword to The Glittering Trap.

The assurances did not include specific funding commitments or details of programmes through which young writers could access support.

Other attendees included representatives of the Andoma of Doma, Alhaji Aliyu Oga-Onawo, and the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Alhaji Jibril Ibrahim, alongside the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Rebecca Adamu-Kpadji.

The launch brought recognition to Okpadobu’s work while placing two concerns before its audience: the opportunities girls need to pursue education and the pressures shaping young people’s choices about money and their futures.

Atlantic Reports: Voices. People. Facts.