Adaeze Atuegwu

Adaeze Ifeoma Atuegwu // ⓘ (born June 5, 1977) is a Nigerian-American[1] novelist and writer whose works include novels,[2] children's stories,[3] medical non-fiction,[4] and drama.[5] She is considered one of Nigeria's youngest most prolific authors with 17 books published by the age of seventeen.[6][7][8][9][10][11]

Adaeze Atuegwu
Born (1977-06-05) June 5, 1977
Enugu, Nigeria
NationalityNigerian
CitizenshipAmerican
Alma materRutgers University

Johns Hopkins University

University of Florida
Occupation(s)Author, pharmacist
Years active1994–present
Websiteadaezea.com

Early life and family

Atuegwu was born in the city of Enugu[1] in Nigeria to pharmacist[12] and philanthropist[13][14] Prince Chris Atuegwu of the Nnofo royal lineage in Nnewi[1][15] and Lady Ifeoma Atuegwu,[11] pharmacist,[8] philanthropist,[16][17] and founder of Bina Foundation,[18][19][20] and a 2017 winner[21][22] of the Margarette Golding Award of the International Inner Wheel, also from Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Atuegwu grew up in Enugu.[23]

Atuegwu wrote her first novel, Fate at 17 years old[7] in 1994[2] while awaiting her Senior Secondary School West African Examinations Council Certificate Examinations (WAEC) results.[7]

Education

Atuegwu completed her primary and secondary school education at the University Primary and Secondary schools in Enugu[6] where she received several academic and non-academic prizes.[7] During her time in Secondary School, she was a contributing writer and editor of Honour, her secondary school magazine.[11]

Atuegwu studied pharmacy at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN)[24] for one semester.[11] In 1996, she moved to the United States and subsequently studied pharmacy at Rutgers University.[8] She received a Bachelor of Pharmacy and a doctorate degree in pharmacy (PharmD) in 2002.[8] While in Rutgers University, she served as a contributing writer and copy editor for her pharmacy yearbook, Pharmascript.[4]

In 2008, Atuegwu completed a master's degree in creative writing at Johns Hopkins University.[8] In 2014 she received a master's in medication therapy management from the University of Florida.[11][8] Atuegwu holds a certification from the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA).[1]

Writing career

In 1994, Fourth Dimension Publishing Company[25] founded by Arthur Nwankwo, published[5] Atuegwu's first novel, Fate, the story of a doomed romantic relationship[7] when she was 17 years old.[3] Her second novel, Tears, was published shortly afterwards[8] by B-Teks Publishing.[6] Atuegwu's subsequent 15 books were all published within 8 months[26][5][11] making her one of Nigeria's youngest authors authors.[3][1] One of her children's books, The Magic Leaf, published in 1994, is a magic realism[27] story set in Southeastern Nigeria. Her drama, My Husband's Mistress,[7] was published in 1995. Some of her other books include Adventures of Nnanna (1995), Chalet 9 (1995), Bina and the Birthday Cake (1995), Bina and the Sailboat (1995), Bina at the Beach (1995), Bina at the Supermarket (1995), Bina at the Airport (1995), Lizzy's First Year at School (1995), Lizzy's Second Year at School (1995), and Lizzy's Third Year at School (1995).[2]

On July 28, 1995,[11] a press conference was held for Atuegwu at Enugu Press Centre. At this event, the then ex-lady of Enugu State, Mrs. Olusola Torey,[11] wife to Colonel Mike Torey, described Atuegwu as a "child prodigy" and according to the media "one of the youngest most prolific writers with an aggressive creative writing talent and a literary whiz kid."[28]

On May 31, 1996,[11] Atuegwu's seventeen books were collectively launched in the city of Enugu in Nigeria under the slogan of "17 books at 17".[7][29] At this event, General Sam Momah, former minister of science and technology in Nigeria, described her as a "literary genius and a gift to Nigeria."[1]

Atuegwu's books were used in Nigeria as required textbooks and reading materials in primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions as well as for junior West African Examinations Council exams and other secondary school examinations.[29] Atuegwu is considered one of the forerunners of the new era of young contemporary Nigerian writers.[9] She is also considered one of the predecessors of third generation Nigerian writers.[1] Atuegwu's books are available as audiobooks and braille.[30] She is a member of PEN America.[31]

Charity and philanthropy

Atuegwu is an advocate for the disabled including the blind and visually-impaired through her involvement in Bina Foundation for People with Special Needs, a non-profit organization in Enugu, Nigeria.[32][30][33][34][35] Her books, which are available in Braille and audio has been donated to various centers for the blind and visually impaired in Nigeria.[4]

Atuegwu, through Bina Foundation,[36][37] is also an advocate for disability inclusion especially for disability sports[38] such as blind soccer.[39][40][41] In 2022, Atuegwu was part of volunteers on the Nigeria's Star Eagles blind football team to Morocco for the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) Blind Football African Championships held in Bouznika, Morocco from September 14 to 26, 2022.[42][43][44]

Personal life

Atuegwu grew up in Enugu, Nigeria. She moved to New Jersey in 1996.[29] She currently lives in Washington, D.C., with her family.[1]

Influences on others

Style

Atuegwu's Bina Series, a series of five books about a mischievous boy named after Atuegwu's younger brother, Obinna,[7] inspired a Nigerian children's and teenage hairstyle known as Bina Haircut in the nineties and 2000s.[45][7][8]

Authors

In 2019, author Ever Obi, a novelist, who had never met Atuegwu but was inspired by her age at first publication, dedicated his first published novel, Men Don't Die, to Atuegwu saying for "Adaeze Atuegwu...in whose works and writings I found my childhood muses."[46][47][48][11][29][49]

Awards

Selected biographies
  • Fate, Enugu: Fourth Dimensions Publishers, 1994, ISBN 9781563982; Cika Publishers, 1994, ISBN 9782966843
  • Tears, Enugu: B-Teks Publishers, 1994, ISBN 978290404X; Cika Publishers, 1994, ISBN 9782966606
  • Adventures of Nnanna, Enugu: Cika Publishers, 1995, ISBN 9783352911
  • Chalet 9, Enugu: Cika Publishers, 1995, ISBN 9783352903
  • My Husband's Mistress, Enugu: Cika Publishers, 1995, ISBN 9783352938
  • The Magic Leaf, Enugu: Cika Publishers, 1995, ISBN 978335292X
  • Bina and the Birthday Cake: Enugu: Cika Publishers, 1995, ISBN 9783352946; ISBN 9782904058
  • Bina and the Sailboat, Enugu: Cika Publishers, 1995, ISBN 9783352989; ISBN 9782904066
  • Bina at the Beach, Enugu: Cika Publishers, 1995, ISBN 9789952962; ISBN 9782904074
  • Bina at the Supermarket, Enugu: Cika Publishers, 1995, ISBN 9783352970; ISBN 9782904082
  • Bina at the Airport, Enugu: Cika Publishers, 1995, ISBN 9783352954; ISBN 9782904090
  • Lizzy's First Year at School, Enugu: Cika Publishers, 1995, ISBN 9783352997
  • Lizzy's Second Year at School, Enugu: Cika Publishers, 1995, ISBN 9782966126
  • Lizzy's Third Year at School, Enugu, Cika Publishers, 1995, ISBN 9782996363

References
  1. "Revisiting Adaeze Atuegwu: 17 Books at 17". The Guardian Nigeria News. November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  2. "Adaeze Atuegwu: Paving the Way for Other Young Authors". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  3. "Young Writers Should Be Encouraged – Adaeze Atuegwu". The Nation. May 3, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  4. "Atuegwu: Enabling blind children through Braille and audio books". New Telegraph. November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  5. Paul, Utebor (October 2, 2022). "Evolution of Young Nigerian Writers – Adaeze Atuegwu". TheNewsGuru. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  6. Oboh (July 8, 2022). "Nigeria's youngest most prolific author: Adaeze Atuegwu". Vanguard News. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  7. "Adaeze Atuegwu: Nigeria's Youngest Bestselling Author of 17 Books at 17 Years Old". Tribune Online. July 7, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  8. Adeuyi, Seun (August 1, 2022). "17 Books At 17 Years Yet Adaeze Atuegwu Never Planned To Be A Writer". Daily Trust. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  9. Saheed (July 28, 2022). "Five Nigerian Women Authors Who Made History". Information Nigeria. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  10. "Young African Female Authors That Made History – Atuegwu, Oyeyemi, and Nkamankeng". Leadership. October 1, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  11. "Adaeze Atuegwu: Paving the Way for Other Young Authors". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  12. Adeuyi, Seun (August 1, 2022). "17 Books At 17 Years Yet Adaeze Atuegwu Never Planned To Be A Writer". Daily Trust. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  13. "Philanthropist bequeaths Nnewi Anglican Community with modern Church building". January 14, 2020. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  14. "Covid19 Lockdown: Pharm Prince Chris Atuegwu doles out palliatives to his community". April 19, 2020. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  15. "Atuegwu: Enabling blind children through Braille and audio books". New Telegraph. November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  16. "NGO Distributes N5m Micro Credit Loan To 150 Physically Challenged Persons In Enugu". SundiataPost. May 16, 2017. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  17. Nwafor (May 18, 2017). "Physically challenged youths receive N13.5m interest-free loan in Enugu". Vanguard News. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  18. "Blind football in Africa goes from strength to strength". IBSA International Blind Sports Federation. October 3, 2017. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  19. "PCN excited by BINA Foundation's contributions to blind powerlifting". The Guardian Nigeria News. January 18, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  20. "Bina Foundation: A model of disability sport development in Nigeria". www.sportanddev.org. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  21. "Lady Ifeoma Atuegwu Bags Margarette Golding Award". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  22. "Pomp as Inner Wheel Club honours Atuegwu". The Sun Nigeria. April 6, 2017. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  23. Oboh (July 8, 2022). "Nigeria's youngest most prolific author: Adaeze Atuegwu". Vanguard News. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  24. Enugu State FSP Magazine: A Quarterly Publication of Family Support Programme, Enugu State. Enugu State Commission for Women. 1997.
  25. International Books in Print. K.G. Saur. 1986. ISBN 978-3-598-22133-0.
  26. "Young writers should be encouraged – Nigerian Author Adaeze Atuegwu". The Nation. May 3, 2022.
  27. "Classic Folktales and Fantasy Books Set In Nigeria". New Telegraph. July 30, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  28. "Revisiting Adaeze Atuegwu: 17 Books at 17". guardian.ng. November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  29. "Adaeze Atuegwu: A legendary contribution to children's books in Nigeria". TheCable. August 2, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  30. Rapheal (October 22, 2022). "Atuegwu: Touching lives of blind children with books". The Sun Nigeria. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  31. "Current Members: A". PEN America. March 2, 2017. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  32. Nwafor (February 16, 2017). "Respite at last for 200 people with special needs". Vanguard News. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  33. University, Nnamdi Azikiwe (November 21, 2021). "Bina Foundation donates to CENDASNER". Nnamdi Azikiwe University. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  34. Rapheal (October 25, 2022). "Ability in disability". The Sun Nigeria. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  35. "2019 World Leprosy Day: Inmates at Oji River Leprosy settlement seeks help for self-reliance". Medical World Nigeria. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  36. "Bina Foundation moves to promote blind football to international status". The Guardian Nigeria News. December 20, 2018. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  37. "Bina Foundation promotes blind Football in Africa, hosts Nigeria vs Ghana friendlies". July 11, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  38. Nwafor (December 20, 2018). "Bina Foundation reaches out to Enugu para-athletics champions". Vanguard News. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  39. "Blind but not bound: Visually-impaired athletes find new vision, hope through sports". Punch Newspapers. January 27, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  40. Arinze, Alinnor (January 16, 2022). "Bina Foundation Hailed For Success Of Maiden Blind Powerlifting & Bench Press Trials In Lagos". P.M. Express. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  41. "Nigeria's blind women team win exhibition game in Enugu". Punch Newspapers. April 14, 2019. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  42. "Nigeria's national team, Star Eagles, relish experience in Morocco". The Guardian Nigeria News. October 10, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  43. "Nigeria's 'Star Eagles stars in 2022 IBSA Africa Blind football championship in Morocco". October 9, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  44. "Nigeria's Star Eagles triumph over Côte d'Ivoire". This Day. 2022.
  45. Paul, Utebor (July 28, 2022). "Five books and authors that shaped children's literature in Nigeria". TheNewsGuru. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  46. "Writing allows me to express myself and inspire others – Ever Obi". The Eagle Online. October 26, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  47. "Ever Obi, MD, Zedvance and Author, "Men Don't Die" Speaks on Writing and Work". proshare.co. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  48. Author Profile: Ever Obi, on Growing Up, Literature, Influences and Quotidian Engagements, retrieved November 23, 2022
  49. "Writing Allows Me to Express Myself and Inspire Others, Says Ever Obi". Lagos Post Online. October 27, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  50. "Young African Female Authors That Made History – Atuegwu, Oyeyemi, and Nkamankeng". October 1, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
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