The author of Soul and Spirit, a collection of motivational and educational poems, Joe-Blaise Nnaemeka Akanazu, has received an award of recognition from Chrisland Model Schools, Nekede, Owerri, Imo State.

Akanazu received the award during the 10th anniversary/10th annual graduation ceremony of Chrisland Model Schools held on the school grounds on Saturday, July 19, 2025.

Chrisland Model Schools said the award was in appreciation of Akanazu’s “unwavering support and contribution towards the growth and development” of the school.

Akanazu, who received the award through his secretary, Esther Chinatu Nnadi, thanked the management, staff, and students of Chrisland Model Schools for the honour.

“I am truly grateful and sincerely appreciate you for recognising my work. It means a lot to me,” he said.

The event showcased the impact of Soul and Spirit, with many parents inquiring about the book their children have been reading. Similarly, the management and staff of the school expressed a strong desire to continue receiving poems from the author to engage and motivate the children.

Due to unfavourable weather conditions, however, the planned poem presentation by the children could not go on, yet the event highlighted the positive reception of Soul and Spirit among parents and the school community.

Soul and Spirit, a collection of 120 poems, was unveiled to the reading public on January 8, 2025, at an event in Owerri.

Even ahead of its public presentation, some of the poems in Soul and Spirit were already being used by a number of secondary schools, including Chrisland Model Schools, for their morning assembly and devotions, as well as for class competitions.

Akanazu said then that more secondary schools were indicating interest in adopting Soul and Spirit, expressing the hope that the book would contribute significantly to reviving the reading culture among secondary school students in the country.