By Prisca Sam-Duru

The level of moral decadence in any society, speaks eloquently of how badly, family values have been eroded since only healthy homes can make a healthy society.

Bothered by the increasing rate of divorce, level of disharmony in the homes as well as the decaying system, Nigeria’s Ngozi Omolaiye, based in far away Essex England, launched her debut fiction entitled, Beyond The Distant Clouds which is the first out of 5 series of  In Your Sokoto, published in 2013 by AuthorHouse UK.

One of the halls at the Lagos Resource Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, last weekend, was packed full with gorgeously dressed men and women who added colour to the beautifully decorated hall. And at first, the scenery which was typical of a flamboyant wedding reception except that there were no high or low tables, made guests walk into the venue unsure they were in the right place.

Of course they were, as the MC, Cordelia Okpei of Metro FM was on hand with adequate information that told guests that  Ngozi Omolaiye’s Beyond The Distant Clouds was being presented. The launch surprisingly, turned into a show similar to comedian Julius Agwu’s Crack Ya Ribs, as Cordelia flaunted the funny side of her person, causing frequent eruptions of laughter in the hall.

The book launch, sponsored by Mansard Insurance Plc, kick-started with a brief interview with the author which was conducted by Cordelia. Ngozi seized the opportunity provided by the interview to acquaint the audience with the journey that began in 2006 and birthed her In Your Sokoto series. It was a home coming indeed for the debut writer.

Excerpts from the book as well as reviews were read prior to the launch proper. While Funke Durodola of  Metro FM and Kunle Dada, read chapters 6 and 7 of the book respectively, Bukola Ogunrinde from Classic FM read a review by Kirkus, a foreign based media. This was followed by few other private reviews of Omolaiye’s debut work.

“In Beyond the Distant Clouds”, the first in the In Your Sokoto series, readers follow the lives of multiple individuals as they dance through the world of love. They are led into reading about how a perfect marriage goes sour, a once pure relationship becomes tainted and endless futile searches for the one. When eventually, a lady is caught in the middle of the couple’s woes, a tragic event occurs that changes the couple’s life forever.

“I see a lot of relationships going wrong around me and most times, the solutions are near to people, or lies within them. This inspired me to write a series of five books with same theme but different characters and stories” Omolaiye said about her new relationship novel,

“I’m someone who is very passionate about relationships and for me, this is a book aimed at getting people on the right track, to look inwards and know that the solution to relationship problems is not far away hence, the In Your Sokoto series. So, my book is basically saying that what you go looking for in Sokoto, is right here in your sokoto. In other words, concerning relationship issues, people should know that the answer is in there.”She said.

Expressing optimism that her effort would make the expected impact, she said, “I hope the book will encourage people to look inwards and examine their relationship, not just about man and woman but brother, blood relatives.”

Commenting on the plot and style employed in writing, Ngozi noted that “There is a lot of romance but I made sure I did not deviate from the main thrust of the fiction. This is my humble contribution towards making peaceful home and a progressive society, possible.”

The event was well attended by Ngozi Omolaiye’s school mates at the Federal Government College Calabar, University of Jos, family, friends and former colleagues.