A writer lives forever through his works -Dr Ademiluyi

Dr. Femi Ademiluyi

Dr Femi Ademiluyi, the author of the popular book, The New Man, is the Deputy Rector of the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree. He is also a prominent member of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA). At a recent meeting with Adewale Oshodi, he speaks on his academic and writing engagements, how piracy is affecting literature in the country and when Nigerians should be expecting a new novel from him.
IF one is conversant with literature texts used in secondary schools, then Dr Femi Ademiluyi needs no introduction.  He is the author of that popular book, The New Man. The book tells the story of a young produce inspector, Ayo Badejo, who gets posted to a corrupt community in a corrupt nation to render his services as produce inspector. Badejo is determined to change the corrupt situation and stand distinct as the new man for change, but series of cruel events take place, which get him imprisoned. He later becomes hardened with frustration, and escapes in the long run, only to become a significant part of the corruption and injustice he had always preached against.
That book was Dr Ademiluyi’s debut novel, and he wrote it with the same passion which the late Professor Chinua Achebe wrote Things Fall Apart.
It is also not surprising that most students, reading the book for the first time, develop teary eyes. That is the power of the passion the author expended in writing the book.
“Writers normally give everything for their first stories. They exert energy into creating the characters, building and constructing the storylines, and they live the stories until they come out in print.
“That was the same energy the late Professor Chinua Achebe channelled into his debut novel, Things Fall Apart,” Dr Ademiluyi said, while revealing that Achebe, among other writers, had had a great influence on his becoming a writer.
However, despite the success of The New Man, Dr Ademiluyi, who is from a royal family in Ile-Ife, lamented the damage piracy is doing to the book industry, particularly authors in the country.
“Piracy is a disaster; it is the problem with literature in the country, and in other parts of the world.
“I was once at Onitsha, and I discovered thousands of my books that had been pirated. Upon realising I am the author of the book, a man then spoke to the other man who was with the pirated books in the Igbo language, that (referring to me) I am the author of the books he was having with him, and immediately, the other man fled the place.
“It is so sad that some people just feed on the creativity of others,” the Osun Poly Deputy Rector said, while commending the efforts of the National Copyrights Commission (NCC) for its war against piracy.
“The NCC is doing a good job as regards the war against piracy in the country, but a lot still needs to be done before the war can be won. There are some people who are really feeding fat on other people’s works, and they wouldn’t just give up easily.
“However, the public can also help in fighting against piracy; people should stop buying pirated books, but in a country that is facing economic challenges, then the people will see the option of buying cheaper pirated books as an alternative,” Dr Ademiluyi said.
“Unfortunately, another problem arises here as regards literature, and that is the fact that the digital culture is taking people away from reading. The satellite television, internet-enabled mobile phones, computer notebooks, etc, are all contributing to the problem.
“Now, most people no longer read, and students also don’t read for leisure, but to pass examinations, and this is not helping matters.
“Everybody must inculcate the habit of reading; there is no way a parent who reads would not encourage his children to read, and if we want to further encourage reading and literature, then government must encourage literature in the country.
“With that, more writers can emerge, and no one can be a good writer without becoming a reader first,” Dr Ademiluyi said.
While speaking further on the late Professor Chinua Achebe, the award-winning author said there was nothing he could say that had not been said already.
“However, people will continue to talk about Chinua Achebe because writers don’t die. Writers continue to live through the works they leave behind.
“Achebe wrote for the ordinary man; you can pick up his books and understand what he is saying, and with that, he will continue to be relevant in the literary world.”
On the allegation that the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) has been quiet to happenings in the country in recent times, the former national official of the writers’ body, however, disagrees.
“ANA cannot just be talking for the sake of being heard. During the military years, ANA was very vibrant, talking against the policies of the military government, however, we are in a democracy now, and we can’t just be talking for the sake of it; I believe ANA is focusing more on literary issues now.”
However, going by his commitments in the academic sector, Dr Ademiluyi admits finding time for writing is becoming increasingly difficult, “but a writer is a writer forever, and very soon, the public will be reading another novel from me.”