GBEMI SHASORE
An author and social entrepreneur, Gbemisola Shasore is a Nigerian woman and child rights advocate. Aside from being a founding Director of the Lagos Preparatory School (LPS) where she continues to serve on the Board, she is also the Executive Publisher and co founder Quramo Publishing, an independent publishing company based in Lagos. In 1992 she pioneered the event management business by launching her own company now called Mainevents & Campaigns Ltd. Gbemi is a life member and past president of the International Women Society (IWS) and currently serves as the chairperson of the Widows Trust Fund Committee. In empowering the young and vulnerable, she has held leading positions at COWSLO, Zonta International (Lagos Nigeria), Children’s Development Centre (CDC) and Holy Child College Old Girls Association (HCCOGA). In her spare time she mentors the youth particularly young women encouraging them to reach their full potential.
Gbemi has added another feather to her cap as Founder of the Quaramo Writer’s prize. An award given to upcoming writers who get cash prize alongside their award. This platform encourages upcoming authors to hone in their skills and also elevates literacy amongst the youths.
Gbemi is happily married to Supo and they are blessed with three children.
Before becoming a publisher, you delved into playwriting and have a few plays to your credit. Can you tell us about some of them?
The Publishing business has been in the family, for quite sometime since 2004 to be exact, with CLRN publishing law reports, it has now been expanded into a general interest publishing house. Personally I have always been involved in production, whether it’s event production, content production by publishing or theatre through stage production. In stage production I started a project called ‘Advocacy Through Stage’ and produced ‘Ajai The Boy Slave’ in 2009, to advocate against modern day slavery; ‘A Past Came Calling’ in 2016, to advocate against domestic violence against women, we piloted ‘Adjayi: The Right (write) To Freedom’ this year, to advocate for reading and writing. I believe they were all very well received we have a few more projects in the pipeline.
As a direct descendant of Bishop Ajayi Crowther, did this play a major role in the theme of the plays or books written by you?
Well I can’t deny that I am a great-great grand daughter of the Bishop, but nevertheless his life is such a multifaceted, powerful story and an example in both learning and patriotism. He was much more than a Bishop he was a linguist he spoke and studied several languages- Temne, English, Nupe, Latin, Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa. He was a statesman in his dealings with the British government and royalty. Was it a major influence? Yes, but his story was the main influence.
As a young child, did anyone play a pivotal role in leading you towards the direction of publishing?
I believe my mother (Dr Simi Johnson) was a big influence on me in many ways, she was always reading something or the other and buying books for me, she was a very inspiring person. I was introduced to an uncle, Mr Kunle Akisemoyin who was a writer and self published some his own work, I found this intriguing because they were children’s stories, which I thoroughly enjoyed. But lately, I would say my husband was a leading influence for my day-to-day involvement in publishing.
Where would you say your strength lies...fiction or biographies and if so, why?
I have only ever written a biographical book called ‘In Her Own Right’ about the features and attributes of a ‘First Lady’ in the supporting role to a spouse and leadership of women. I just led the house in finishing a Children’s activity book for early education. So I think my strengths are more in people’s interests and lately educational books.
Do you feel the children of today are well versed enough in the contents of our history?
No I don’t think they are taught enough history. As you know History was taken out of our public school curriculum, we lost a generation of history study. History should be an important part of our youth and national development.
Aside from publishing the stories of these writers, what other roles do you play with the body of their script to ensure the story is told in the possible light?
The aim of publishing is to provide quality content through a value added service. We advise on concept, style, story and it’s marketability depending on the terms of engagement. We want to publish content that can enrich African lives, we see Publishing as a social enterprise, one that is motivated by high values, which includes money of course. But not only cash profit but public good as well. We publish a wide variety of content in several consumable ways. Books are an important component of that goal.
Do you sometimes use ghost writers? If so in what situations do they come into play?
We prefer to call them ‘supply or associate writers’, the practice is governed by strict confidentiality. It can be used by busy executives or celebrities who would like to write but don’t have the time and opportunity to take on the task. As publishers we have a pool that can be recommended to ‘support’ the effort of a writer.
On average, how much do you or the author have to financially invest to make a book come to life? And how are the proceeds shared after it has been published?
Generally speaking we have two broad models: ‘Vanity’ and ‘Proprietary’ publications. The first is conceived and funded by the writer with our value added services. The second, we tend to bear the risk and investment with an eye on our return on investment through sales and distribution. Sometimes we do a hybrid where we share risk on a percentage basis with the author, it all depends on the evaluation of the project.
Aside from putting the books in bookstores, are there any other marketing strategies involved to create more buzz?
In order to effectively introduce and distribute books, we host book readings, book tours and book signing events. We are also reinventing how books and their content are delivered to the public. Besides delivering the books for sale at our favoured outlets and offices, we pioneered the creation of an App called Qreeda, which can be downloaded for free on google store under ebooks. Qreeda is fully e-commerce enabled, so you can order or purchase the books via the App or at www.quramo.com. The opportunities are exciting and endless.
In these days when literacy is at its lowest ebb, what other exercises do you practice to better improve the level of literacy amongst our youth and also encourage the art of writing? Are there book readings or school debates your Client NPA you partake in?
You’re right. Low average literacy still challenges us and within the literate, there is still the challenge of low reading culture, we see this situation as an opportunity not a challenge as it shows the full potential of Nigerian publishing. That is why we have many social investment projects. We started a Literary Morning, a schools ‘debate’ competition for primary school children, with resounding success; we supported the Rotary Club of Lagos in its ‘Project Read’ alongside our ‘ReadMore’ project aimed at distributing books to under privileged children in the Lagos area. We also have plans on providing reading material for IDP camps in the North East of Nigeria.
Do you also feel it will make more impact if respected societal figures/celebrities or known personalities do some of these readings with the youth?
Absolutely that is why our Literary Mornings for schools had some selected socially minded celebrities who gave their time to come and read to the children, we had Kemi Lala Akindoju, O.C Ukeje, Chigul, Korede Bello, Lami Phillips to name a few. We do this because we think it inspires young minds to take to reading and remain inquisitive. Some say social media sometimes has a negative effect on the younger generation because platforms like Instagram/Facebook etc that portray a somewhat false image which puts some of these youths under undue pressure because their lives seem unfulfilled in comparison to those they
Absolutely that is why our Literary Mornings for schools had some selected socially minded celebrities who gave their time to come and read to the children, we had Kemi Lala Akindoju, O.C Ukeje, Chigul, Korede Bello, Lami Phillips to name a few. We do this because we think it inspires young minds to take to reading and remain inquisitive.
obsessively follow on these platforms. What is your take on this?
Social media is the access to reality entertainment. It does connect people to the extent that celebrities are marketed as ‘perfect’. I’m not sure social media has to take responsibility for that. In any event, the younger generation are only facing their own version of pop entertainment that we faced. We have to teach them to be discerning and understand that their own reality is distinct from the celebrity life.
The Millenials also feel there is a ‘disconnect’ between their generation and ours. They sometimes feel we ‘don’t get’ their views and see ours as out-dated and archaic. We, on the other hand, feel torn between trying to instill our traditional values on them and adjusting to their modern ways. But we believe, with hindsight, experience and maturity, that it is these same values that has made us who we are today. So as a parent, how best will you advise others like yourself to find a balance in getting our own message and lessons across without toppling the cart so to speak?
I think the Millenials must feel the same way we felt as teenagers, I know that our parents felt some of our ‘ways were strange’. As parents, I think first of all, we need to recognise that teenagers and young adults will only let you in to a percentage of their lives. We have to navigate their space from time to time whenever we get the opportunity...we must talk with them NOT at them.
It is our duty to always remain accessible, worthy of trust and good examples. The temptation for parents is to believe that you must ‘go to their level’ to be a child’s best friend. Being a friend to a child and being a parent are not always compatible. You need to be tough sometimes as a parent and friendship can get in the way. That is the balance that we can bring to modern parenting strong values and example.
Tell us about the Quramo Writer’s Prize and it’s goal?
The Quramo Writers Prize is a unique competition for aspiring writers meant to showcase abilities, develop skills and possibly get unpublished authors to the attention of publishers and literary agents. By participating, creative minds both young and old, add to the pool of readable content in Nigeria and beyond. Our mission is to encourage and stimulate a new community of talented writers, providing an opportunity for otherwise unexposed talent. Allowing them to achieve possible publishing’ recognition and encouragement. The QWP Award has the power to transform the career path of winners not just for themselves, but as new influencers contributing creative content, education and entertainment in society.
How many categories are there with these awards and how often will the prize be given?
We have two categories. The Quramo Writers Prize and the Quramo Writers Prize (Junior) in fiction or non-fiction. It was subscribed to by hundreds of entries between February to August this year where the winners received a cash prize and a chance of their works being published.
What process is put in place to determine the winners?
Our judging system is based on quality and integrity. Reading and sifting of the submitted scripts is carried out over a period of four months after the close of entries, then conducted in total independence of QP (Quaramo Prize) or any of the sponsors. We were extremely fortunate to be served by an excellent, gifted and accomplished body of judges: Ms Aduke Gomez (a lawyer, author and former Tourism Administrator); Mrs Ego Boyo (a leading producer, creative expert and currently President of IWS); Mr Olakunle Kasunmu (a writer in his own right and host of the acclaimed Channels TVs Book Club); Kayode Kofoworola (senior lecturer, poet and author); Pauline Tomlinson (an educator and media professional) and Ayo Inika (a writer, who is extremely active in contemporary African writing). In total, they worked for over six months until the winners emerged which was kept confidential till the very last minute at the announcement.
It is worrisome that the level of education and even the quality of teachers is at an all time low. Due to this, there is a gaping hole in the intellectual capacity of our youths of today. This is alarming because they are supposed to be the leaders of tomorrow. What advice will you give the educational sector to put in place to improve the quality of the teachers that teach these youths?
We need to properly invest in the educational sector. If you look at statistics from the 1980s, you will find that Nigeria has consistently reduced the net investment in education. Education is the ladder of hope and tool of social mobility. I would not blame teachers alone for the downward educational standards.
Is there anything you look back with in nostalgia that you wish the children of today should have experienced?
Books. In our days, reading was your main source of entertainment, television was limited, there were no computers, no smart phones but we had novels, Enid Blyton, Ridyard Kipling, Mine Boy and later, Barbara Cartland and many more, I wish there was less digital entertainment for children today – less not more. Do you sometimes worry whether silver spoon children are equipped enough to deal with the challenges of Nigeria in these modern times having lived a relatively sheltered life that shields them away from the stark reality of the masses? Do you worry about what the future holds for them or do you think, like us, they too will adapt and be able to cope?
Pampered, over-entitlement and a strong desire to achieve - do not go hand in hand I agree. Parents need to strike a balance I think every generation has its own skill sets required to perform well and achieve. Clearly today’s world demands a creative mind but strong family values are timeless. They will remain forever so we should continue to imbibe them irrespective of being sheltered or not, when the going gets tough, it’s those values you draw on. Children should know that.
Lastly to any young woman out there, how will you best advice her to balance her career, run her home and sustain a good marriage like you have done?
The good old ‘work-life’ balance. I think the best advice is to always do your best! Reach for the stars in your career and provide quality time to the family, knowing that as woman, you are more of an asset if you perform in both areas. But men too should learn how to strike their own ‘work-life’ balance by providing quality attention to the home front. It not just for women!
In our days, reading was your main source of entertainment, television was limited, there were no computers, no smart phones but we had novels, Enid Blyton, Ridyard Kipling, Mine Boy and later, Barbara Cartland and many more, I wish there was less digital entertainment for children today – less not more.