I wanted to trick my dad, but fell in love with books —Bukola Ladoja

CHIEF (Mrs) Bukola Ladoja, wife of a former governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, has described how she fell in love with books, despite admitting that reading during her early years were just to deceive her father that she was serious with her studies.

Now, having realised the benefits of reading, she has over the years been promoting the reading culture among school children in Oyo State and across Nigeria, and this is what the national body of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) saw in her by appointing her as an ambassador.

Over the weekend, executive members of ANA, led by the chairman of the Oyo State chapter, Mr Biola Layonu, presented Mrs Ladoja with the letter appointing her as an ambassador for the literary group.

Speaking during the ceremony, Mr Layonu, who described Mrs Ladoja as a woman of substance, said the association decided to honour her for her contributions to the literary sector in the country.

Layonu said: “By honouring Chief (Mrs) Ladoja, we hope to work together towards encouraging the younger ones to embrace the reading culture.

“Chief (Mrs) Ladoja will, therefore, be formally decorated as ANA ambassador during the International Literacy Day on September 8, 2021.”

The Assistant General Secretary of ANA, Mr Freeman Okosun, who presented Mrs Ladoja with the appointment letter on behalf of the national president, Dr Camillus Ukah, said, ”the honour is in recognition of your intense efforts towards the promotion and enhancement of the values of reading among school children in Oyo State and Nigeria in general.”

Chief (Mrs) Ladoja, who was delighted with the recognition, however, confessed that reading to her didn’t come naturally.

She said her parents, who were not educated, loved education and would always urge their children to study hard.

“As young children at that time, we were always playing when our parents were out of the house, but my father would return from his shop at about 6:00 p.m., so between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., I would just take any book I could lay my hands upon and pretended as if I was reading.

“So I want to say that God used literature to make me who I am today.

“I was born and bred by parents who were not educated. I am the first child among 20 children, but somehow, my parents loved education.

“Anytime my father was leaving for his work place, he would urge us to read our books, but I was not really interested in studying but only wanted to trick him, so the easiest way was to get some story books and pretend to be reading; then we had the African Writers Series, Pacesetter Series, among other good books.

“So one day, I got a Pacesetter Series book and after I finished reading it, I was hooked; then I went to get another book and before I knew it, I was always eager to finish what I was reading in order to get another book.

“So anytime my father saw me reading books, he would be happy, and would advise the other children to also study like I was doing.

“At that time, I didn’t know that would make me to have a very robust mind, and today, I can creatively discuss any issue.

“I also learnt a lot from the Pacesetter Series; one of the books, The Director, taught me not to be corrupt. The subject matter in the book, the director, was very corrupt and he lost everything.

“I also learnt values of life through literature and I am also able to have a large heart through imagination. This is what reading does to anyone who reads. When you read, you will be able to form the mental picture of what you are reading and as a result, I was able to experience many cultures and ‘visit’ many places through my imagination.

“Why books differ from television (visual) is that the television will show you the picture of the story, but the book will allow you to build the mental picture yourself. The meaning of this is that through reading, you are working on your mind and your brain.

“Therefore, through literature, I find myself at the top wherever I am. The books I have read have built the leadership in me.”

Speaking further, Chief (Mrs) Ladoja said since she discovered the benefits of reading, “I have been contributing my quota towards creating the awareness among school children. I have also written several story books. In some of the books, I chronicled my childhood experience when I was growing up.

“I can remember that when we were young, my father would take us to his father’s farm and show us different crops; through that experience, I was able to write a book, ‘A Visit to Grandpa,’ and I have also written on leadership skills, among others. I also have a library where children come in to read different books; this is important because once children start reading, then you must always provide them with books, so through my library, they can be sure of getting books.”

On her joy at being appointed an ambassador by ANA, Mrs Ladoja, who previously worked as a broadcaster, said the partnership would be beneficial to both parties.

“In fact, writers must know that they must continue to produce good books for the consumption of children who have caught the reading bug; they must always have something to read,” Mrs Ladoja said.

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