“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.
The launch was witnessed by pastors from different parishes of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Ibadan, parents, staff, and students of De Overcomers’ Schools, and friends and family members of Mr. and Mrs. Ibukun Ojo, the parents of the youngest author in town.
Mary, 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.
The efforts of the young author were highly commended by all present, especially the Chairman on the occasion, Engineer A. Adeyemo, the MC, Mr. Aremu Lateef, and the book reviewer, Mrs. Taiwo Olanrewaju.
The book, which has 10 chapters, is the story of Seun Akinwale, who was brought up singlehandedly by her disciplined mother. 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 emphasised six of the themes in the story, which are: the need for 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.