A raging conversation has been echoing across social media platforms: the notion that Nigerian literature is dying. This position has left literary enthusiasts feeling beleaguered. Why? Because Nigerian literature is, in fact, flourishing more than ever before. We may prompt discussions about what defines vibrant literature in any era. Is it the ideas or the production? No matter our perspective, there is a noticeable scarcity of memoirs chronicling the lives of public servants, which brings us to the primary focus of Fela Bank-Olemoh’s Honoured to Serve. He commences his book with a critical discourse in his preface, stating, “In my opinion, one of the things public officials have not done well enough, especially in our clime, is to document their times in office for posterity.” It’s hard to disagree with this sentiment.

His memoir starts with a list of people who inspired him—Chief Eniola Abiodun Bank-Olemoh, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr Martin Luther King, Lee Kuan Yew, among others. He hails from a patrilineal clan of active politicians and public servants. He traces his lineage back to his grandfather, Chief Eniola Abiodun Bank-Olemoh, who joined Egbé Omo Odùduwà, which later morphed into the Action Group, a major regional political party in the heyday of Nigerian independence. This reference to a lineage that inspired him, beginning with his grandfather, provides insight into the author’s world and the origins of his journey.

Bank-Olemoh intersperses his memoir with an inspirational narrative. He maintains a motivational rhythm throughout the text, beginning with his list of inspirations as a potential starting point for one’s journey through life. This rhythm is further highlighted through his stirring story, which surprisingly, isn’t connected to his family name. Instead, he charts his life from his time at SystemSpecs, where he served for the National Youth Service and was retained after his service year.

His story accentuates what I consider one of the missing links in Nigeria’s nation-building trajectory. He mentions that his preparation for public service started over 20 years before his appointment, guiding us through the importance of early planning and active involvement. Rising to a key role at SystemSpecs, he states, “By the age of 29, I had already risen to the position of Senior Manager for International Sales, and I frequently traveled around Africa to close deals for the organization. This role provided me with invaluable exposure and imbued me with the confidence to launch my own business.” This beckons the question: What are we achieving at 29 in today’s Nigeria?

His time in the private sector proved pivotal in his life as a public servant. He claims this as a reason for his success in public service, saying, “It was like being in my natural habitat. I merely traded one environment for another.”

A crucial experience he carried from the private sector was the concept of selling ideas to the private sector for funding, albeit for public benefit. He applies his experience as a salesman in governance, not to earn a profit but for the welfare of Lagosians. What makes Honoured to Serve intriguing is Bank-Olemoh’s understanding of public service and its potential impact. He describes how their program, ReadySetWork, altered students’ perceptions of effective governance. The author portrays what the Western world might include in a textbook description of government when he writes, “The business of governance is unique; its profit margin is the number of lives transformed. Therefore, government at all levels must continue to change lives.”

Honoured to Serve is a must-read memoir. It sparks conversation and motivates young people to act on their dreams while enlightening public servants about the essence of their roles. From working as a Media and Publicity Director for Prof Yemi Osinbajo to his appointment as a Special Adviser on Education to the Governor, Bank-Olemoh has penned a poignant memoir about his three years and eight months in service to the people of Lagos State.

Owoicho is a critic and award-winning poet. He is the founder of Benue Poetry Troupe and Team Lead for Afrika-Writes.