In an exclusive interview with INN-House, Oluwadare Caroline Omolola shared the compelling story behind her debut novel, “Let the Child Live,” set to be released on July 20, 2024.
Known for her academic brilliance and professional achievements, Omolola is now using her platform to address significant social issues through her writing.
Omolola’s journey to success is nothing short of extraordinary. She graduated from Keme Balogun College with 9As in her 2016 WAEC exams, making her the second best student in West Africa for her set.
She further distinguished herself academically by graduating with a first-class degree in accounting from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) in 2021, where she topped her class.
Omolola’s dedication earned her a chartered status with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), along with several ICAN prizes.
Her professional journey continued to flourish during her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year.
Although she received a request letter from PwC to serve with them, NYSC initially posted her to LASPOTECH. She then reapplied for redeployment to PwC.
PwC retained her as a full-time permanent staff member.
In “Let the Child Live,” Omolola draws from personal experiences and observations from her upbringing in a public school.
She witnessed many of her classmates and friends face life-altering consequences due to unplanned pregnancies.
“Growing up in my area and attending a public school, I witnessed firsthand classmates, friends, and favorite juniors get pregnant and drop out of school, ultimately crushing their dreams,” Omolola recounted. “It hurts that these mistakes sort of ended their lives. Some even got married and suffered, becoming older than their age.
I heard of the death of a few who committed abortion and died through that. Some mothers took their girls for abortion only for the girls to do worse. Some girls started dating because they needed money or were hungry. They ended up getting pregnant even though they did not plan to.”
Omolola’s book addresses these heart-wrenching issues by advocating for better handling of mistakes and providing support for young women facing unplanned pregnancies.
“It really breaks my heart to see some of them and how they turn out. Like, can people handle mistakes better?” she questioned. “Imagine if parents had stepped up and still found a way to help those girls retrace their steps, complete their education, and do meaningful things. I am sure those girls would be in a better place.”
“Let the Child Live” is an educational and inspirational novel that encourages young women to avoid unplanned pregnancies and seeks to raise awareness against using abortion as a solution. It also offers practical solutions and emphasizes the importance of supporting these young women.
“The book will talk about girls zipping up, create awareness against abortion as a solution to unplanned pregnancy, and proffer solutions on the way forward,” Omolola explained. “It’s a novel. Quite an educative one. At least, if the book can get to school libraries, people can be impacted, and at least, one girl’s dream will be preserved. People make mistakes, but it shouldn’t make them.”
Omolola’s debut novel promises to be a powerful tool for change, highlighting the importance of resilience, determination, hope, and courage. As she prepares for the book’s launch, there is a palpable sense of anticipation and excitement for the positive impact it will undoubtedly have.
“I am pleased to announce the upcoming release of my first book, ‘Let the Child Live.’ It is a story of strength, many chances, determination, hope, and courage,” Omolola shared. “Release date is July 20, 2024.”
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