Oluseun sees himself as a concerned individual who values and whines about the treasure chest of the Nigerian economy--the huge hydrocarbon reserves, fertile arable space and large pool of human resource amidst the rising level of poverty. With a startup BudgIT which he co-founded in 2011, he believes deepening the public discourse based on empirical facts is key to a better society. He supports Chelsea FC, peers at data for an uncommon thread and pumps the volume of Ayinla Omowura in ecstasy. A follower of Christ, Oluseun was once a banker and graduated cramming bits of Engineering formulas. Next year, he hopes to publish his collection of short stories, tentatively titled When They Came for Me. He is not talking budgets or figures here, just his favourite five books.
Just inducted into reading Nigeria fiction by Yellow Yellow, I found Helon Habila's book a marvel. With connected stories of the dark military era, Helon rightly mixed poetry with prose and unleashed me into the possibility of writing.
Most read African book, what else can I say? To me this is how to write as an African. Connecting the dry phrases of the English language to the rich culture of the African, this book is priceless. I can't forget Okonkwo. Most especially how he cut down Ikemefuna in the forest.
Richard Wright's book is a classic. I love classics. An aspiration of the young Southerner to reach the splendour of North America. With lively tenses and good command of diction, I can't stop reading it.
Recently did a review of Farad. His swift and gorgeous pieces lures me back to fiction after the prize winning Jennifer Egan's A Visit to the Goon Squad failed. Read this book. Hope you feel it like I did.
Been a while I read this book but worth reading over and over. The book comes whole in the midst of popular narratives that doesn't define me. Brilliant.
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