By Onatade Koyejo
It was an afternoon filled with stories, laughter and reflection as students of Lekki Peninsula College, Osapa London, Lagos, welcomed Dr Bunmi Oyinsan for a book reading on Wednesday, October 8, 2025. The event organised by the Committee for Relevant Arts (CORA), as part of its BookTrek Community Literacy Outreach, centred on Oyinsan’s new novel, A Ladder of Bones.
Amid readings from the novel that tells the stories of five young Africans grappling with personal histories and the legacy of violence, Oyinsan, who is based in Canada, shared how her love for writing began at the age of 14, inspired by stories told by her grandmother. She encouraged the students to see storytelling as a tool for learning, healing, and self-discovery. Besides, it is good for the learners to connect their passions to their academic activities. “When you link what you love doing with your career, your work becomes joy, not struggle,” she added.
The author, teacher and literacy advocate spoke passionately about reclaiming African heritage, describing the continent as the cradle of civilisation. She further linked early discoveries like the Ishango bone to modern science and technology. Her message to the young audience was simple: be proud of your roots; learn your history; and use knowledge to change the future.
Oyinsan, a former Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Authors, Lagos State chapter, who had earlier published Halima, Three Women and Mansa Musa: The Richest Man who ever Lived, also touched on sensitive topics such as racism and tribalism, calling them products of ignorance that should have no place in modern society. Drawing from her own experiences abroad, she urged the students to judge people by their character, not by skin colour or ethnicity.
Throughout the session, Oyinsan used her own writing journey —including stories of publisher rejections — to teach the value of persistence. She encouraged students to form writing clubs, read widely, and support one another’s creativity.
The event ended with a lively question-and-answer session. Many students left inspired, promising to write their own stories and use their voices to make positive change.
