Some writers in Abuja have stressed the need for youths to be acquainted with the history of Nigeria’s past leaders in order to inspire them and preserve the nation’s heritage.
They made the call on the sidelines of the Guest Writer Session organised by the Abuja Writers Forum (AWF) in Abuja on Saturday.
The session featured two emerging writers, Madeline Agoba and Chiemezie Onuwubalili.
Agoba, the author of Ahmadu Bello, said children were growing up without knowing that Nigeria had good leaders who were principled.
She said there was a need to change the present narrative which was uninspiring for the youths and tell the story of some of Nigeria’s past heroes.
“I decided to toe the line of history because looking at the present narrative of Nigeria the news is full of stories of corrupt leaders.
“I felt this has so uninspired our children and youths and they are growing up without knowing we actually had good leaders.
“Unfortunately our leaders do not stand for anything now. So, I am trying to change that narrative and go back to the drawing board and write about our founding fathers.
“The Sardauna and our founding fathers had values, they stood for something, they were not perfect they had ideas and principles and our children need to hear about those principles and ideas.
“Our children need to have all these things passed on to them, it is not too late,” she said.
The Publisher of the book Ahmadu Bello, Prof. Ernest Agoba, said children in Nigeria do not have people in leadership to motivate them.
He said that the book was to remind children and youths that Nigeria once had great leaders who achieved a great deal for the country.
According to him, the book is a ‘faction’ which is a synthesis of fiction and facts that are expertly put together for a certain age group to understand.
AWF President, Emman Shehu, said that the book was well researched and written.
Shehu said such books would help inspire the future generation of leaders.
Onuwubalili also read excerpts from one of his short stories The Cook.
