NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

By Rukayat Moisemhe

An author, Mrs Margaret Olele, says extended family life has a lot of benefits for knowledge and culture and not a burden as people think of it these days.

Olele, also Chief Executive Officer, American Business Council, made the assertion at the launch of “Corals of Youth”,  a book authored by her, on Tuesday in Lagos.

The author said the book detailed her experience of cultural changes, traversing different ethic groups, alongside the richness of communal upbringing in Nigeria in the seventies.

She said , “Corals of Youth is a collective memoir that masterfully strings together the author’s experiences and those of her peers, creating a stunning literal mosaic of school life, escapades, relationships, and cultural influences.”

She added that the book would give readers a nostalgic feeling of the strong values of family life, the middle- class family situation, the economy in the seventies to the nineties and the deep core ethics of African parenting.

Olele decried the disappearing middle class, declining interest in history and knowledge , erosion of culture and the near- absence of communal family life in present-day Nigeria.

“Corals of Youth is a communal memo of my life’s journey in Ibadan, Oyo state; Ibusa, the Enuani region of Delta State and even the North where my mom was born.

“It details changes in the economy at the times, with strong theme on family life, pinpointing the values family and the unity of the different ethnic groups that mixed and were not different.

“With its universal themes of courage and resilience, friendship, love and family, and relatable characters, Corals of Youth is a story that will resonate with readers from all walks of life.

“It is important to note that you do not exist for yourself ,but within other people and that you are accountable to self, family, the community and the nation,” she said.

Mrs Joke Silva, veteran actress and director, said the book captured the essence of a bygone era, exploring the intersection of family, parenting, cultures, traditions, and identities.

She said it was a must-read for anyone who had ever wondered what it was like to grow up in a city ,where tradition meets modernity, and where the past and present blend seamlessly together.

“It gives you an idea of how things have changed and reading it reminds me of how we used to bring up children and the things our parents made us do and we can’t even do those things with children of today.

“For a young person that wants to have a better idea of how Nigeria used to be, for an older person who wants to see how far we have come, the book provides an interesting perspective.

“A lot of times we want our children to be our friends, but what is more key is that we need to be their parents.

“We have to be their compass until they reach the age where they can make decisions on their own,” she said. (NAN)

Edited by Buhari Bolaji

By Oluwafunke Ishola

An advocacy expert, Mrs Margaret Olele, says the cultural, moral and ethical values in children are fast degenerating, calling on parents to pay more attention to their children’s development.

Olele said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos, while discussing her debut book – Corals of Youth.

According to her, in the past, Nigerian parents pride themselves in being able to inculcate strong ethical values which shaped the growth of children from childhood to adulthood.

“Parents adopt various methods to train their children, including storytelling, extended family relationships, religious beliefs, love and attention from both parents.”

She said that poor parenting and peer pressure were driving the deterioration of ethical values and breeding social vices among youths.

Olele further called for improvement in the nation’s educational system, saying this was critical to shaping the future generations.

“One thing that was common back then was parents bringing their children from outside the country to schools in Nigeria.

“Nigerian schools then, both secondary and university, were highly rated.

“It’s a pity how the tables turned and Nigerians now spend millions of dollars to ensuring that their children have the best education,” she said.

According to her, people have sold their cars and houses and gone into great debt to achieve this.

NAN reports that in “Corals of Youth”, Olele masterfully weaves a narrative that follows a young protagonist’s journey as she navigates the challenges of adolescence and grapples with her cultural identity.

The book captures the essence of what it means to be young and female, to be unique, and to find one’s place in the world.

Olele said the book explores the intersection of cultures, traditions, including the role of women and identities, illuminating the universal challenges and joy of growing up.

She said the book would be launched at the Africa Creative Market, from Sept. 17 to Sept. 20, at the Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. (NAN)

Edited by Benson Ezugwu/Vivian Ihechu