…cites Achebe, Adichie as inspiration
In a world where many young people are increasingly caught up in the distractions of social media to the detriment of all else, Precious Esosa Osaro has published and presented to the reading public her debut book, ‘The Price of Pride’, proving that a young person could still conquer these distractions and pursue and accomplish his/her legitimate dreams.
At the presentation of the book at Freedom Gate Auditorium in Lagos on 27 May 2023 to commemorate this year’s Children’s Day, Osaro said she wrote ‘The Price of Pride’ to pass a message to teenagers like herself, most especially the proud ones.
“There is always a consequence for pride; it could be death, embarrassment, a bad name, and so many more. But in this case, Ada died as a result of pride, though it was not her fault. If she had been scolded, she would not have found herself in such a situation, much less dying as a proud girl,” Osaro said.
“I want to thank God for giving me the inspiration to bring this idea to life. My thanks also go to my family for their love and support, especially my father, who encouraged, taught, and motivated me to make this project a reality,” she said.
The author also recognised two prominent Nigerian authors, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Chinua Achebe, as a source of motivation for her writing. She said she has always loved writing since she was a little child, but these two authors have been a source of inspiration. Achebe, Africa’s foremost novelist, wrote ‘Things Fall Apart’, ‘No Longer At Ease’, ‘Arrow of God’, and many others, while Adichie is the author of a number of novels, including ‘Purple Hibiscus’ and ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’.
Dwelling on the message of ‘The Price of Pride’, she advised young people: “As a child, do not criticise others just because they are not what you expect them to be. You do not know what they might be thinking of, what they are facing, or the people they are moving with.”
Guests at the event commended Precious Osaro for taking the bold step to author a book at her age.
“I am so excited that we are celebrating the accomplishment of one of our very own, and that is in the person of Precious Esosa Osaro. She is a teenager and an author who has a passion and dedication for writing. This has led her to write her first book, ‘The Price of Pride’. I have had the occasion to read the book, and I can tell you that the book is very educative and informative,” said Mrs. Abolanle Ajibade, proprietress, Hopewell Group of Schools, Lagos.
“I want you to know that today, Precious is a shining example of what it means to follow your dreams no matter what. For her to be an author at age 13, that means she is still going places. People like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie started one day, and we all know where they are today.
“This book is special, not just because it proves that age is not a barrier to whatever we want to do, but because it also embodies the version of the author,” Mrs Ajibade said.
She told children that they are leaders of tomorrow, but they should realise that their tomorrow starts now.
“Don’t wait for tomorrow to come before you start planning what you need. Precious has taken a bold step; when they are writing the names of authors, she will be there. So, I want to challenge every teenager to take their tomorrow now. It is how you lay your bed now that you will sleep on it tomorrow,” she said.
Anwuli Ojogwu, Co-founder, Narrative Landscape Press Limited, described ‘The Price of Pride’ as a good debut.
“It is a good moral story exploring themes of good behaviour and its reward. It contains lessons for both parents and children,” Ojogwu said.
“I am most impressed by her ability to communicate her ideas in simple, short sentences. They are the magic of beautifully written literature,” she said.
She advised the young author to invest in her passion by reading voraciously and writing continuously, saying through that process, “you will become one of the formidable voices in African literature in the future”.
Peter Osaro Ehigiator, the author’s father, in his closing remarks, urged parents to nurture their kids’ abilities and gifts. Every child, he said, is intended to be great; all they need is guidance and support to bring out the best in them.
“Everything about the book is the writer’s creative idea. When she told me she was writing a novel, I took a look at it and kept urging her to write more while also showing her how to divide her tale into chapters. I asked her to type it after she was finished. I informed her that I would release the book in honour of her 14th birthday, which falls on November 8, 2022. I give God praise for enabling me to fulfil that promise. She has three other books she has written that we are currently working on,” he said.
