The Vice-Chancellor of Kwara State University, Prof. Abdulrasheed Na’Allah, on Thursday launched three books– ”Ilorin O”, ”Globalisation, Oral Performance and African Traditional Poetry” and ”Obamamentum.’’
Speaking at the launching of the books in Ilorin, Na’Allah urged more Nigerians to write books and not be discouraged by the poor reading habit prevalent in the country.
”As a scholar, one must constantly think about the society and think about the way society would move forward,’’ he said.
The books, he said, would provide in diverse ways interpretations of the happenings in the society.
Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara commended Na’Allah for adding three books to the library world and urged other vice chancellors to emulate him.
”The author is an example of what an academician should be and we acknowledge the legacies he has laid as the pioneer and sitting vice chancellor of KWASU.
”I want to enjoin everyone here to support his course by purchasing the books and utilising the lessons to be learnt therein,” Ahmed, who was represented by the Commissioner for Education, Hajia Bilkisu Oniyangi, said.
The Chief launcher at the occasion, Mr Yusuf Shagaya, said the books had justified the author’s position as a scholar and professor.
The Chairman of the book launch and Emir of Ilesha-Baruba, Prof. Halidu Abubakar, commended the vice-chancellor’s new feat in academics.
He said it was commendable for Na’Allah to combine his administrative schedules and academic research with the writing of books.
The first reviewer of the book, Prof. Charles Bodunde of the University of Ilorin, said the tone and vision of ‘Ilorin O’ were radically different from other poems in its category.
Bodunde said the book had placed Ilorin firmly on a global literary market.
” The book on globalisation underlined the complex nature of globalisation which will be useful to researchers in literature,” he said.
The second reviewer, Prof. Remi Raji-Oyelade of the University of Ibadan, said Na’Allah trapped the historic moment to create an archive of voices not only to celebrate Barrack Obama but the momentum of the victory.
According to him, it takes a distinct scholar and poet to go beyond his environment and bring together 63 poems from four different continents.
The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, represented by Alhaji Ibrahim Oganija, also commended the author and launched the books with N1.5 million.
The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, bought a set of the three books for all the 172 universities in the country.
