ANA President Pens Foreword as Issa Mutolib Prepares to Unveil New Book, ‘SHATTERED DREAMS OF A PATRIOT’ in Ilorin:
“Book presentation to in spotlight patriotism, love, sacrifice and national consciousness”
Issa Mutolib Ayobami is set to present his latest book, Shattered Dreams of a Patriot: A Story of Love and Trials, in Ilorin, Kwara State, as part of efforts to stimulate conversations on patriotism, personal struggles and national development.
The presentation will hold on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., at the Banquet Hall, opposite Government House, GRA, Ilorin. It is expected to attract academics, writers, literary enthusiasts, young people, professionals and other members of the public.
The book explores the complexities of patriotism, examining the hopes, sacrifices, disappointments and emotional challenges that can accompany an individual’s commitment to personal ideals and a greater cause.
Through storytelling, Ayobami encourages readers to reflect on their relationship with their country, the responsibilities of citizenship and the values required to build a better society. The narrative also raises questions about whether patriotism can withstand hardship and disappointment, particularly when personal aspirations conflict with difficult realities.
The book’s foreword was written by Dr. Usman Oladipo Akanbi, President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), a professional body committed to promoting creative writing and literary development in Nigeria.
Dr. Akanbi is a Senior Lecturer and former Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management at the University of Ilorin. His literary contributions span poetry, prose and drama. He is also the founder of the Imodoye Writers’ Enclave, an initiative aimed at encouraging writers and nurturing literary talent.
The book will be reviewed by Professor Reuben Kehinde Akano of Kwara State University (KWASU), an academic specialising in oral literature and African poetry. He holds a Ph.D. in Literature in English and is associated with several academic and literary organisations, including the Association of Nigerian Authors.
Their involvement is expected to bring scholarly perspectives to the book’s themes and encourage meaningful discussions about literature, society and national identity.
Ayobami’s literary journey includes Daughter of a Thousand Fathers, his debut publication co-authored with his wife, Yusuf Taibat Temitope, in 2023.
An alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and Accra Business School, Ghana, Ayobami has an academic background in Textiles, Polymers, and Materials Science and Engineering. His interest in writing reflects an effort to connect intellectual inquiry with storytelling and social reflection.
His latest work continues this engagement by examining how personal experiences can illuminate wider questions about patriotism, sacrifice and the responsibilities individuals owe to society.
Beyond its literary value, Shattered Dreams of a Patriot seeks to inspire conversations about civic responsibility, perseverance and the role of citizens in shaping Nigeria’s future.
The presentation will provide an opportunity for readers, academics and literary enthusiasts to engage with the author’s ideas and consider how literature can contribute to public discourse and social development.
With its focus on love, trials and commitment to national ideals, the book adds to ongoing literary conversations about the challenges of sustaining hope and patriotism in contemporary Nigeria.
