“Joy at Last,” a 72-page short novel written by 10-year-old Miss Mary Ayomiposi Ojo, was launched yesterday, Saturday, August 26, 2023, in the hall of St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Onikokoro, Akobo Ojurin, Ibadan.
Pastors from various Redeemed Christian Church of God parishes in Ibadan, parents, teachers, and students at De Overcomers’ Schools, as well as friends and family members of Mr. and Mrs. Ibukun Ojo, the parents of the town’s youngest author, were present for the launch.
Mary Ayomiposi Ojo, who described the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, as her model, noted that the inspiration behind the book, according to Mary, was to stop every form of child abuse in society.
“My life ambition is to become a medical doctor and to have a great impact on the younger generation through my writing,” Mary revealed.
All those present, especially the event’s chairman Engineer A. Adeyemo, the MC Mr. Aremu Lateef, and the book reviewer Mrs. Taiwo Olanrewaju, were very complimentary of the young author’s efforts.
Seun Akinwale’s ten-chapter book tells the tale of how her strict mother raised her by herself. Her father left her mother because she couldn’t conceive, and unknown to them, her mother was a few weeks pregnant at the time her father called his marriage with her mother off.
After her mother’s demise, her neighbour assisted her in finding her father. Her joy was short-lived, as her father also died, and her stepmother showed her hell on earth and eventually threw her out of the house.
Through a dint of hard work, especially through the skills she had acquired in school, sewing, and divine help, she became successful in life.
She bagged a PhD, had an elaborate societal wedding, and life became rosy for her and her family.
Meanwhile, the tide had turned for her stepmother and sisters, and by the time fate brought them together, Seun chose to show them love and forgive them for all their misdeeds.
Mrs Olanrewaju emphasises six of the themes in the ‘Joy at Last’ novel, which are: the need for a good upbringing, good neighbourliness; avoiding stepmother/stepchildren’ rancours, praying for divine intervention, shunning cultism, and embracing the three tripods of good education, which are good academics, sound morals, and skill acquisition.
