Medley of tales in Oyebanji’s multiple shots

THE four books written by Mr. Oyelayo Kabir Oyebanji were recently unveiled at a public presentation held at Saint Peter’s Anglican School, Oluponna, one of the communities in Ayedire Local Government Area of Osun State.

The four books are Drugs and The Youths: Challenges of Sustainable National Development; The Pathway; Whose Fault?; and Witch, Wizard or Drug. The event, which was put together by Global Image Ventures Education and Research Services in conjunction with Oluponna Development Association, attracted several eminent personalities from within and outside Osun State, including royal fathers, academia, political bigwigs, professionals, businessmen and women, clergymen and artisans.

Reviewing the four books, Dr Chris Olusola Omoregie, a lecturer in the Department of Adult Education, University of Ibadan, noted that every book is a product of an author and to understand a book, there is the need to know the personality and influences on the author. So, speaking on the personalities of the author of the four books, he Omoregie, “I have known Oyelayo Kabir Oyebanji for over two years. He is an interesting person to be with and he has many ideas that he wants to share.

I believe these four books have given him an avenue to share his ideas.” Giving a commentary on one of the books, Whose Fault?, the reviewer said that the book mirrors some of the happenings in higher institutions of this country,
spotlighting sexual immorality leading to other corrupt practices like cultism, violence and killings. “The title is apt because it keeps readers in suspense. Although the question is put in the mouth of Mrs. Akoran who should not be asking whose fault, this leaves a critical reader with the belief that there could be other reasons for the behaviour of Prof. Akoran in the play.”

The reviewer however noted that the author in the epilogue categorically states that the book is a work of fiction but for readers in Nigerian higher institutions of learning, the incidences are real, the characters are factual and the scenes of the play are very familiar. “This is a must read book for all stakeholders in education, administrators, governments, students, and community members. While appreciating the rigors of this work, there is need for some minor editing of the book. This of course does not rid it of the masterpiece which it is.”

The second of the books, Witch, Wizard or Drug, was broken into series one, two and three with headings of misconception, inferiority complex and perception respectively. Omoregie said that it is important to read this second book especially for those trying to find meaning in life, because man is never fully satisfied with himself and the way God created him. In the third book, Drugs and The Youths:

Challenges of Sustainable National Development, the reviewer said it is three books in one that can have different titles like: Drugs and youth development; Moral development and youth identity in Nigeria and Youth and vision of a new Nigeria. The last of the four books is The Pathway.

After giving a chapter by chapter summary of the book, the reviewer noted that the book promotes national re-orientation and self-motivation and it would be a quantum leap for Nigeria if the Federal Government through the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) adopt the book as a manual/handbook for Nigerian youth.

The author, Oyelayo Kabir Oyebanji, formerly a Cooperative Itinerant Secretary and Book-keeper, has served in the Governing Council of Osun State College of Education, Ilesa, Osun State. Oyebanji, an educationist, a Human Resource Manager, a drug abuse and HIV/AIDS crusader, a social analyst, lectures on Ethics and Value Re-orientation, HIV/AIDS and STIs, Drug Abuse, Misuse and Addiction. He is also an Instructor in Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, a Parastatal under Federal Ministry of Youth Development.

He bagged his first degree in Social Studies (B.ED) from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in 2005 before he proceeded to the University of Ibadan for his Master Degree in Industrial and Personnel Relations (MIPR) in 2010. The author is a keen altruist. He established the League of Nigerian Egalitarians in 2000, The Project Made in Nigeria in 2012 aimed principally at promoting good values and ethics among Nigerians. He is also the Convener of The Genome of Ayiwola (G-35), a community development organisation for Ayedire, Iwo and Ola-Oluwa Local Governments.