Bizuum Gowill Yadok
With a published collection of poems, a novel, and several short stories in different literary magazines, anthologies, and journals, to his credit, Bizuum Gowill Yadok, can be rightly dubbed a full fledged author. This writer cum educationist, whose thoughts are persuaded by realism, in this chat with “My Literary Hub”, throws focus on essence of functional education over acqisition of degrees and or certificates.
Excerpts:
May we meet you, Bizuum?
Thanks for the honour. I am Bizuum Godwill Yadok, a teacher at the Federal College of Education Pankshin, now Federal University of Education Pankshin, where I teach literature in different forms. I have had my first two degrees (B.A & M.A) in linguistics and literature respectively at the University of Jos, Plateau State. I am currently on the third elsewhere. In between my two degrees I obtained a Professional Diploma in Education (PDE) from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. Prior to my tertiary education, I first attended Government Science School Kuru and seeing that I wasn’t cut out for the sciences I had to change environment, after about four years, to the famous Boys’ Secondary School Gindiri (BSS), where I eventually sat for my O’level examinations (WAEC & NECO), thankfully, just once. I was born in Amper, presently in Kanke LGA, sometime around the mid ’80s. I Would later be told that, being twins, our birth was highly celebrated because it somewhat marked the official acceptance of the birthing of twins as a natural phenomenon. Perhaps, that’s why I feel special sometimes. Our mother was a teacher then in Government Secondary School Amper and she later moved to Pankshin, where we attended nursery and primary school at Fatima Private School Pankshin. Besides teaching, the other thing I am most passionate about is creative writing. By the grace of God, I have been able to publish a collection of poems, a novel, and several short stories in different literary magazines, anthologies, and journals. I have also curated an anthology of short stories known as JOSTICE which was launched in June, 2018. I must state that JOSTICE was the initiative of Plateau Writers’ Society (PLAWS) and I just happened to be at the centre of the project. In addition to creative writing I have several academic papers published in local and international journals and textbooks. I wanted to be a drummer but I guess I would settle for that in my next life. Currently, I am the Chairman of Plateau Writers’ Society (PLAWS), a member of ANA, Plateau Chapter and a few other literary circles. I also occupy certain positions in my local church, my hometown, and at my place of work. Well, that’s Bizzy in a nutshell.
You have two published works; in what areas and what are their titles?
My two published works were simultaneously published by Kraftgriots in 2014. A kindle version of the novel was also published in the same year by AuthorHouseUK. King of the Jungle is the novel while Echoes of the Plateau is the title of the poetry collection. The novel had spatial settings in Pankshin, Jos, Kaduna, Abuja, and Owerri. There are some reviews of the book online for anyone who cares to know what the book is about. The poetry simply contains my thoughts about life and the world in their varied ramifications. I think there are still a few copies of the poetry at Quality Bookshop, Rwang Pam Street, Jos.
What striking message have you tried to pass and with what effect?
With the novel, my poetry, or generally in my writing? In any case, I aim to use my writing to create awareness on familial and societal ills and in the process proffer ways for correction. I am usually more attracted to realism and I try to portray most of my works as such. However, I guess, the most striking message I have ever tried to pass lies in my collaboration with other writers to produce JOSTICE, an anthology of short stories. In those stories we sought to show the world the beauty of Plateau, her hospitable people, her cultures and so on; all those good things that are being veneered by ethno-religious crises, intolerance and negative stereotypes perpetrated by the media. To a large extent, that text made its contribution towards fostering peace and development judging from its reception, demand, and adaptation of the short stories therein at different fora.
Who is your mentor when it comes to writing?
Well, I actually have distant mentors and local mentors. This means that I do not have only one mentor when it comes to writing. And my supposed mentors do not actively mentor me but I am being mentored by their writings. Among the distant ones are John Grisham, Khaled Hosseini, Leon Uris, Sidney Sheldon, Chinua Achebe, and Helon Habila. The closer mentors include Prof. Dul Johnson, Prof. E.E Sule, Dike Chukwumerije, Sueddie Agema, among others.
What do you think is largely responsible for the falling standard of education?
Several factors. There are more distractions now owing to rapid evolution of digital technology. Consequently, there is a proliferation of gadgets, media and social media platforms which pull the attention of children and youths from organised learning to haphazard, or even accidental learning. Another factor is the increasing rate of drug abuse being promoted by the popular films and music being followed by the youths. The quest for quick money through ‘yahoo’ (internet fraud) or ‘yahoo+’ (ritual killing for money) renders the financial reward for education useless. Sexual recklessness especially among young people draws passion away from education. Another ramification of this is the sex-for-grades syndrome. Money is also traded for grades especially in secondary schools and higher institutions. Miracle centres are not left behind. Corruption is the mother of them all. How then do we expect that education standards could be maintained? Thankfully, the situation is not beyond redemption as it boils down to sound leadership that will implement extant policies meant to protect the standards of education.
In your mind, should colleges of education also run degree programmes just like Polytechnics do; Is it not noise in the market place?
The craze and overrating of degrees in Nigeria is simply a whitewashing of the education sector, leading to what I would like to call, the pure-waterisation of degrees. Even if all Nigerians have degrees on paper now, our problems will not disappear because our focus currently is on paper qualification instead of functional education. It’s quite ironical to find that graduates of nowadays find it difficult to make oral or written composition without grammatical blunders; not to talk of the logical sequence of their composition. I really don’t mind if colleges award degrees but, truthfully, that will not solve the quagmire we are in now. Moreover, the world is driving towards skill sets not really educational qualification. In China, with its over 1 billion population, there are just about 300 universities but there are over 30,000 technical schools and polytechnics. Can you compare its advancement with Nigeria? my point is that it is not about the degrees but the function of education in the society.
What significant mileage has the Plateau Writers Society under your watch recorded?
PLAWS was initiated in 2014 as Plateau State Authors Group (PLASAG) before it metamophorsed into Plateau Authors Group (PLAG) and upon registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the group was renamed Plateau Writers’ Society (PLAWS). I had to give this backdrop because PLAWS had achieved a lot under different names. PLAWS has set up at least 9 book clubs across Plateau State including one in Jos Prison, that is, the Jos Custodial Centre. She has also coordinated collection of funds to finance the O’level registration of at least 15 inmates of Jos Prison. PLAWS has organised book chats which featured different writers across the country including Alexander Emmanuel, Victor Meshak, Dr. Peace Longdet, Oko Owi Ocho, Ayo Momodu, Chris Tat, Eric Pam among others. Annually, PLAWS organises ‘My Best Book of the Year’, a book discourse event at the end of every year since 2015. Perhaps one of the biggest achievements of PLAWS was the tripartite event of June 1, 2018 consisting of a dinner, award presentation to legendary writers like Prof. Dul Johnson, Late Justice Roy Soluade, Mr. Jonathan Ishaku among a few others, and the icing on the cake was a public presentation of JOSTICE. Additionally, PLAWS has organised preliminary creative writing workshops and a script writing workshop. PLAWS has collaborated with literary bodies and organisations like ANA, WordCraft, National Library, Rhoda Foundation, among others to organise programmes that promote reading culture among young ones. There are a lot more achievements that time and space will not allow me to mention.
How many writers are the patrons of the group?
For now, we have one patron and five members on the board of trustees. I am glad to mention that all of them are published authors. Our patron is Mr. Katdaba Gobum, a retired seasoned editor of the Nigeria Standard Newspaper. The Chairman of our Board of Trustees is Prof. Dul Johnson. Other members include, Dr. Solomon Mangvwat, Dr. Douglas Kazé, Mrs. Lohna Sambo and Mr. Lengshak Sati Gomwalk.
How do you cope with multi functions as a husband, father, lecturer, Chairman of PLAWS etc?
To be honest, if dem tell you say e dey easy na setup. Sometimes I wonder how I cope but I still see myself alive and running, making achievements in spite of the multi-tasking. We don’t have a help in our house so our house is a DIY (do-it-yourself) kind of house where I also partake in the house chores. In addition to my teaching job I am also the Exams officer in my department and I function as the secretary of a few strategic committees in the college. Additionally, I also have two portfolios in my local church. Somehow I have found myself in politics occupying strategic positions as well. Still, I manage to write reviews, academic papers, edit manuscripts, write my weekly column on Facebook – Tuesday Corner – supervise projects and still squeeze out time for my creative work. Frankly, it has not been easy but I thank God for grace to work both at home and in the college. A number of my friends complain that I don’t hang out with them as before but I can’t afford to be everywhere and still be productive.
