Get Guardian on GoogleAkin Benjamin is an education consultant, author and the Chief Executive Officer of Dimensio Educare Ltd, an education consultancy committed to helping schools achieve excellence through whole school evaluation, academic audits, school improvement Planning, quality assurance, leadership development and professional training.
He has written different books which include Your Teenager and You, Turning Your Talents To Treasure, Orderliness In the Classroom and The Premium School Blueprint: The System Behind 5-Star Schools. In this interview he shares his passion for writing among other things.
Growing up, what books inspired your creative passion?
The books that inspired my creative passion while growing up are “The Black Tulip” by Alexandre Dumas,“The Betsy” by Harold Robbins, “Awo an Autobiography” by Chief Obafemi Awolowo, “My Odyssey” by Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe” and “Just Before Dawn” by Kole Omotosho.
What were your initial challenges and how have you been able to overcome them?
Initial challenges were the busy schedule that did not allow for time to write. Then Starting to write, stopping because of writer’s block but eventually I sat down to write during my holidays as a teacher and then inspiration flew freely since there is less stress of official demands.
What are the issues facing the creative industry?
The number one issue facing the creative industry is the menace of digital and intellectual property piracy. The second is the declining reading culture of Nigerians ; especially hard copies and even if a soft copy, once it is voluminous, it may not get great readership.
How can this issues be addressed?
These issues can be addressed by stricter consequences on Digital and Intellectual Property Piracy. Then reading culture must be improved right from pre school to the highest level of learning. Reading clubs must be revived and parents should not just take cakes and drinks to school on their children’s birthday, they should also donate age appropriate and interesting books for the celebrant and their class library.
Give us an idea of what your writing process is like?
My writing process is simple. I write as inspired by my work, experience or social environment. Once inspiration comes ,I note it down for future development.Then I look forward to a holiday or it could even be a less busy weekend to develop the idea, ,it’s framework, sequence content by chapters and especially create the end. So I write guided by the end of the story in my mind.
How emotionally involved are your writing or character you create?
I am always emotionally involved in my writing. Whether motivational, professional books or for teenagers e.g Your Teenager and You, Creating Orderliness in the Classroom, Turning Your Talents to Treasure ( For Teens and Young adults) and The Premium School Blueprint Subtitle: The System Behind 5-Star Schools
Who are some of your influences?
Wole Soyinka, Kole Omotosho and Harold Robbins
What new thing are you working on currently?
I am working on a novel that showcases the resilience of the average Nigerian youth through the multi dimensional crisis of declining educational institutions and joblessness in Nigeria.
It will show how a bold and brilliant Nigerian Youth created employment for himself and others despite the obvious challenges.
What is your advice to anyone who would like to be a writer?
My advice to those who want to be a writer will be that they should not be discouraged. They should be ready to explore online digital market platforms even as they approach established publishers. They should be ready for many rejections by publishers but a breakthrough Yes will come someday from publisher’s of hard copies of they are bent on going that way.
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
Five years from now, ,I see a major part of my income flowing from my current online books and more that I would have written. I look forward to making real impact on my readers (teenagers and young adults, parents, professionals in the education sector and the general public).
