Multi-talented teen author knows exactly what every Girl Child deserves
Writer, singer, dancer and aspiring fashion designer Uloma Naomi James has something to say about Nigerian children.
…because it’s the International Day of The Girl.
Naomi spoke, permitted by her parents, with NewsroomNG on October 1, the day Nigeria celebrated her 56th anniversary – the day Naomi turned 14.
Her dream for the Nigerian Girl Child extends to every other Nigerian kid.
#DayoftheGirl It is not an option but imperative to educate the girl child so she realises her true potential!
— Kate Henshaw (@HenshawKate) October 11, 2016
“Government should make our nation a nation where people will value education,” says Naomi who has won multiple awards for academic excellence.
“They should provide free education for us children. I want my country to be a place where we would be proud to use our talents wisely.”
Naomi sings and dances. She’s been on radio and TV to display her talents.
She said we must not fall into the trap of celebrating our children only on “special days”.
“My dream is that children should be celebrated not only on ‘Children’s Day’ or ‘International Day of the Girl’ but every day”.
Naomi said that means we must respect every child by giving them all they need to be who they should be.
Naomi is one of Nigeria’s youngest authors. Her first book, “The Broken Beautiful Pot” was published when she was just 12.
In the book, she told the fictional story of a young girl given out by her mother as a domestic assistant. The girl ended up in prostitution, got impregnated and died while delivering the baby.
Naomi said she wanted a future where people like the unfortunate girl in her story do not exist.
“And we can make it happen,” she said. Naomi so believed in building a reading culture she gave out at least 800 copies of the book.
Facts about Naomi
- Born on October 1st 2002.
- Published her first book at the age of 12.
- She is an SS2 student of First Buelahfield College, and is captain of her class. The school has awarded her academic excellence multiple times.
- Her poem “Peace” was featured in the “Muse for World Peace Anthology” 2nd Edition, 2016 published in Kolkata, India. The anthology was launched at the National Poets Meet on May 14th 2016 in Kokalta India and was exhibited at Dubois Memorial Center during the Pentasi B World Poetry Friendship Festival in Accra Ghana.
- Her poem “Ali, All In One, One In All” is submitted for approval to be featured in the Muhammad Ali anthology 2016.
- She has been featured in many publications, among them: The Guardian on Sunday March 16, 2014; and Newswatch Times Newspaper of June 5, 2015.
- She has taken part in at least 10 book readings in Lagos and has donated over 800 copies of her book “The Broken Beautiful Pot” to schools and orphanages. She also donated books to internal displayed persons in Northern Nigeria through the “Young Bookworms of Nigeria”.
- As a dancer, she has been featured in “Teens Time with Chichi” TV version and she also got a standing ovation at the Adira Festival Show in Lagos, September 2016.
- She has taken part in several essay competitions both at the national and international level and in her Junior WAEC exams she made 10 distinctions and 4 credits.
- She is a member of the Lagos based CRIMMD Library, headed by her “historian” father Raphael James.
- She’s a member of the Children And The Environment (CATE).
- She’s a volunteer member for pro-environment group The Beach Samaritans.
