Adeola Eze

 

I’m Adeola Eze, a writer, educator, researcher, publisher, writing ideas mentor to young writers and advocate for children’s empowerment. My life’s work revolves around literacy, education, and the transformative power of storytelling in communication. With over twenty-seven years of teaching experience across all levels, and a passion for nurturing young minds, I have dedicated my career to empowering children, parents, and educators through creative writing, reading, and academic research.

 

My Work in Education & Literacy

My journey in education began with a Bachelor’s degree in English Studies from Olabisi Onabanjo University in 1997. Over the years, I have held various teaching and leadership roles in some of Nigeria’s most prestigious schools, including Corona Schools, Greensprings School, and New Fountain School. My work in these institutions ignited a passion for curriculum development, creative writing education, and literacy advocacy.

In 2016, I co-founded Jordan Hill Creative Writing & Reading Workshop for Children, an organisation dedicated to enhancing children’s reading, writing, and storytelling skills in Nigeria.

Through this initiative, I have:

• Mentored over 30 young Nigerian authors, helping them become published writers.
• Led teacher and parent trainings and workshops on creative writing and literacy education.
• Been featured in newspapers, radio, and TV discussions on literature, education, and youth empowerment.
• Published children’s books, including The Adventures of Class 3A: Storm in the
  Forest and One Beautiful, Sunny and Bright Morning: A Guide to Developing
  Children’s Imaginative Writing Skills.
• Published a parenting book, Nurturing an Asset-Rich Child: Unlocking the Boundless Potential of Your Child

My passion for education extends to supporting teachers and school heads in developing effective creative writing strategies, ensuring that literacy education in Nigeria remains dynamic and impactful.

Research & Publishing: Bridging the Past, Present, and
Future

As a postgraduate researcher at Coventry University’s Centre for Arts, Memory, and Communities, my work critically explores the reception of ancient book formats in contemporary literature. I investigate how literary traditions from antiquity inform modern publishing practices, blending my expertise in book history, classical reception, and children’s literature to examine the ways stories continue to evolve over time. This research directly connects with my work as a publisher, where I have been actively involved in preserving and amplifying new voices through publishing. As the co-founder of the Jordan Hill Creative Writing & Reading Workshop for Children in Nigeria, I have built a publishing platform for young writers, ensuring their voices are heard and their stories are preserved.

My work sits at the intersection of book history, literary traditions, and storytelling’s evolving role in society. In my study, I investigate the reception and reuse of ancient book formats in contemporary literature, looking at how classical storytelling traditions inform modern publishing models. This research allows me to explore:

• How historical book formats influence modern publishing techniques.
• The materiality of texts and how writers engage with physical storytelling traditions.
• The intersection of digital publishing and historical literary forms.

All in all, I aim to comprehend how historical narratives persist in pushing the limits of modern publishing and reading experiences.

Beyond publishing, I also explore how children engage with literature and how their earliest experiences with books shape their understanding of narrative structures, storytelling conventions, and creativity. This was a key focus of my Master’s research, which examined how children’s literature can reshape environmental consciousness and inspire a deeper connection to the natural world. My academic work extends to a focus on:

• Children’s engagement with literature and how early reading experiences shape storytelling comprehension.
• The representation of the interconnectedness between human and non-human worlds in children’s literature.
• Ecocriticism and the role of children’s literature in shaping environmental awareness.

Through my research and publishing work, I aim to bridge the past and the future of storytelling, combining historical literary traditions with emerging digital and experimental publishing practices. My mission remains the same: to preserve stories, empower new voices, and expand the possibilities of storytelling in a rapidly evolving literary landscape, either in the classroom, in print, or in digital spaces.

As an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA), I am committed to advancing knowledge in my field while mentoring the next generation of researchers, educators, and literary scholars.