Prof. Vincent Chukwuemeka Ikeh’s Nephew Becomes Book Icon, The Inspiring Story Of Kenechukwu Nwosu

Passionate writer, and Publisher, Author of over 40 books, Kenechukwu Nwosu who has also won Outstanding Publisher Award, Ambassador of Education Awards shares inspiring story of his career journey as he speaks to Elorasblog in this interview.

Please tell us a little bit about your background?

I am Kenechukwu Nwosu an Educator, Administrator, Writer And Publisher. I have been the Executive Chairman of Abia State Universal Basic Education Board and winner of Best Executive Chairman of State Universal Basic Education Board (Safe Schools) as well as also won awards as multiple Pillar Of Education Awards, 2010 Outstanding Publisher Award and multiple Ambassador of Education Awards to mention a few.

You are an author, when did you discover your passion in writing?

My interest in writing books was discovered when while growing up usually visited the fully sophisticated library of my mum’s elder brother Prof. Vincent Chukwuemeka Ikeh who was the First Registra Of WAEC, President Of Nigerian Book Foundation who had written numerous books including Toads for Supper, Expo 77, Sunset at Dawn, Chicken Chasers, Naked Gods, Potters Wheel. He also had high stakes in some of Nigeria’s top Publishing Companies. The vision of being an award winning writer, publisher and educationist had become imprinted in my dreams from age 15 that someday I will become a popular writer, publisher and Education Executive Administrator.

You’ve authored over 40 books, where did you get the inspiration?

By age 20, I had already started discovering my strengths in English Grammar through personal studies I did to train myself and as Lao putting down scripts of books. By the 2003, I launched out to put my first book print and when a major Publishing Company in Nigeria asked to take up the publishing and marketing to give me some royalty from sales, I taught it better to explore having a company which can Publish my books and as well market them. In doing this, I created jobs for my mates I did NYSC with my from Bayelsa State where I served Nigeria to be my pioneer sales staff team to market my books in Aba, Onitsha and as far as Lagos State.

Can you share briefly how your books were accepted into the curriculum of schools in Nigeria

After putting my first books together which including Computer Science for schools at a time when computers where yet scarce. I took this books to Enugu Ministry Of Education but unfortunately by the time I got there I was told to come back in 6 years later as they had just concluded book review so had no option than to wait for 6 years.. While waiting, I decided to travel back to my state Abia State to introduce it. There, I discovered that the best way to introduce this subject which was not taught in schools as a result of no trained teachers as at 2004 was to train teachers free of charge on this subject area to get the Abia Ministry Of Education to approve it as a subject. With this I quickly penetrated the huge virgin market. I brought computers and trained over 1,500 primary and junior secondary school teachers. With this I was the first and only Computer books dealer in Abia State and that opened my books unhindered to all Public and Primary Schools in Abia State with government approval. From Computer Education I wrote books in Basic Sciences, Agriculture, English, Story Books, Moral Lesson books and numerous books for Nursery Schools. From Abia, I got approved by Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, Rivers, Bayelas States and many other states in Nigeria and moved hundreds of thousands of books into schools.

What are the names of the books you’ve written?

The Gook life books 1 – 3
Welcome To College
Introduction To Computers 1- 6 and JSS 1-3, Basic Agriculture 1-6 and many other books in English Language, Creativity and more.

Why are your books different?

My books are unique because of my deep and practical experience in teaching children, my graphic and illustrative expertise and my simplified approach towards producing books easy to understand. I produce books with the picture of the learners in my mind and ensure I use feedbacks from teachers, parents and students to improve my books.

In Nigeria, most of the nursery and primary schools accept books with the British curriculum, does that affect you?

No. My books and.my personal brand are seals of quality and well sought for by schools. I encourage books on British curriculum to be used in our schools having attended numerous certificate courses with Cambridge Learning, I fully appreciate the quality of British education system. Exposure to diverse systems of learning is encouraged for our children to prepare them for a wider knowledge base. Many Nigerian children who have travelled out to seek higher education have not found British learning systems strange. Availability of this British tailored curriculum books also strengthens us as Nigerians to improve and appreciate the high quality of our Nigerian National Curriculum also which can stand any national curriculum globally.

Should we expect more books authored by you in the near future?

Yes, I am producing many more books now. I am converting the present ones to electronic copies and putting them in formats to facilitate its use for electronic learning. I am producing a new set of children stories backed with animations for broadcast in my educational media network in full screen and other portable formats. Many children who used my books in their nursery and primary schools have become University graduates in the world today and that gives me the greatest joy and fulfilment in life for contributing to educational success of many generations.

How have you given back to society from all your achievements being an author and publisher?

I have over many years given out thousands of my books free annually to children in rural areas in Abia State, Bayelsa State etc. In 2011, I started a project of given out free books to Orphans in orphanages to support their education. I also make out time to visit orphanages to read stories to children there and also teach them how to write using some books i produced on handwriting. Reading and writing at the Basic Education level remains the foundation for learning and that’s my major goal in giving back.

Email: elora.akpotosevbe@yahoo.com