OKANLAWON THE BULLY is a book that portrays bullying in a wider scope. It analyses its causes, forms and effect on the one hand and the strategy adopted by the affected school on the other hand.
In it’s preface, bullying is defined as a verbal or physical threatening and aggressive behavior directed at a weaker, younger and less powerful individual.
A parent whose child is a victim shares her experience:” My son cries every night before he sleeps. The thought of going to school every morning to face some of his classmates who continually torment him is demoralizing. He has had a hard time challenging those who bully him and I’m worried about his mental and emotional stability because what he’s facing in school has caused a behavioral change in him”
Similarly, a Nollywood actress recently cried out that a teacher in her daughter’s school was bullying her because of her celebrity status. She further stated that the school investigated the matter and nothing came out of it.
Another parent remarks,” My daughter is in Junior Secondary School 2, she attends a public school. Nowadays, she doesn’t want to play with her siblings and she looks with drawn and lost in thought. When I inquired from her teacher about her behavioral change,I was told that she was being bullied by some of her classmates.The teacher concluded that she had tried many times to caution the students, but they refused to stop the act.( Many instances are cited in the preface)
Researchers have proved that bullying takes place in Nigerian Secondary Schools and this is a serious societal issue that must not be ignored by the government at all levels.
If the government fails to check bullying and its various forms, it can negatively affect the students, teachers, parents and the larger society. Public awareness and knowledge about bullying should be created as a way of curbing it in our schools.
More importantly,the Federal ministry of education in collaboration with the National Assembly should declare bullying as a crime and violators of such a law should be punished.
In the play, Lawon( OKANLAWON)” inherit” bullying from his father ( Rotimi) who beats his wife ( Yeni) on a regular basis without being questioned. Lawon eventually becomes a bully in school. This leads to his expulsion.
Consequently,his uncle ( Bayo) keeps praying for him and enrolls him in another school, after the death of Rotimi. On getting to his new school, Lawon is also bullied by two” bigger” boys- Musa and Uche.Lawon realises his helplessness and prays to God for help. God answers his prayers! As Musa and Uche are expelled by the school.
There after, Lawon becomes an academic giant who represents his school and state in a National Award Ceremony in Abuja. At the event, Lawon and his colleague are certificated and awarded by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, The Ministers of Education; Science and Technology and THE UNESCO’ s Representative in Nigeria.
At the end of the play, OKANLAWON brings glory and honor to his school and family.
THE UNIQUENESS OF THE WORK.
1. The language is simple to understand.
2. It is registered by the National Library of Nigeria, Abuja for its ISBN.
3.It has diagrams to back up some of the actions
4. It has colourful cover page.
5. Lagos State ministry of education approved it and enlisted it in their list of books which lasts for two academic sessions (2024-2026)
6. The work is recommended to the public, students, school Administrators, Head teachers, Parents Associations and Researchers.
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