Author Tasks FG on Creative Industry, Reading Culture
Sunday Okobi meka Chima Chukwue
The author of ‘United Nation Partnership with God’; ‘Darling, It’s Not Working’; ‘Understanding the Force of Liberty’; ‘Covenant of Holiness’ and seven other titles, Mrs. Kelicha Ochonogor, has called on the federal government to give the creativity industry the necessary support to grow to its full potential.
The prolific writer, who has written 11 books in two years, is particularly seeking encouragement for book writers in Nigeria by way of recommending their works to schools among other institutions for use.
Speaking with journalists after being honoured by the Christian Writers Association of Nigeria (CWAN) for her advancement of mankind at an event tagged ‘Building a Fan base for your Books’, in Lagos, the English Language graduate noted that creative art is in dire need of the support of government at all levels to impact the society and lives more positively. Ochonogor, who began full-time writing in 2016, also called on government, public-spirited individuals and organisations to join the crusade in reviving the reading culture in Nigeria, which is declining. She said some persons had already begun the move on social media through e-books and book clubs among others. According to the author, who has been invited by the UN because of the book ‘United Nation in Partnership with God’, “government is not doing enough to encourage creative art in Nigeria, not just in writing, but creativity in other spheres of life. For instance somebody making shoe, which is creative, if the person gets financial assistance and publicity, he will be doing more. “I learnt of a certain country where when you publish a book, the government will buy over 1,000 copies and distribute to the libraries for the people to have access to it.
“The novel I just finished is about cheating which basically starts from home. Most parents encourage their children to cheat, pay someone to write examinations for them. When they grow up, they take same to the university and before you know, it has become part of them.
“Whether you like it or not, somebody that has such a mind-set will not want to exploit his or her talent. I expect government to make students read such novel and circulate the book, and when they see the effect, they will bring out the moral lesson from it.”
She continued: “Reading culture is coming up and we need to encourage reading. The more a child reads, the more he understands and emulates the characters in it, especially positive books. Government needs to do a lot to encourage reading culture.”
In his remarks, the National President of CWAN, Pastor Peter Morakinyo, who commended Ochonogor for standing out and as a gifted communicator, described her as a prolific writer with an amazing energy. He said within two years of her foray into writing, she had authored 11 books and still counting with a “passion to influence humanity by the word of God. She offers lasting solutions on bible principles through her books to the youths, women and men. Morakinyo urged upcoming writers to put in more commitment so that their materials can be a blessing to people. “We appreciate and value what they are doing by releasing their intellectual potential, which will be a blessing to many people and that is why we decide to celebrate them.”