Amour Maternel: Mother's Love written by Dr Mark A. C. Ogbodo

 

Amour Maternel: Mother's Love by Dr Mark A. C. Ogbodo

 Book Review: Amour Maternel; Mother's Love

I have been told to review the literary book being launched here, today, which is written by Dr Mark A. C. Ogbodo. One may wonder what concerns a Medical Doctor with literary work. "ARTICULATED EMOTION!" Dr Mark is a consciencious, intelligent, diligent and ever successful scholar. Hence, a writer! A writer with great articulated emotion. Most writings are purgation of emotion. And from my view point, emotion is the hidden tap root of this exposition (the book).

This book, entitled "Amour Maternel" (Mother's Love) written by Dr Mark A. C. Ogbodo contains 68 pages in 8 chapters. In this prose work, the author uses characters to draw the attention of the reader to what is expected of a mother in bearing, nurturing and equipping a child for greater life's challenges, in order to build a happy and stable human that would maintain a healthy and cordial social relationship.

Whatever I have to say is built on the central theme which is "Mother's Love" that generates real human that impact life positively.

Nevertheless, my view cannot give full detail of what the book has to expose concerning mother-child relationship, in tune of away-from- home relationship. And this is the reason everyone needs to read the book; "Amour Maternel".

From the beginning to the end, the author paints a family that is in the paramount need of recollection of humanity that is from the onset was trashed from the "tray of love", out of self esteem of the mother. The book exposes the ugliness of pursuing material acquisition against devouting quality time with love and consciousness of making a functional human being. 

The author has explored the impact of lack of maternal love extensively. This runs through the chapters; from the period of child dependence to adult-independence, using the power of description that appeals to senses. Hence as you read, you are catarpulted into the scenes and integrated with the actions.

The joy of having a child could be marred by lack of motherly devout care. A mother who only pursues her career ends up distorting the expected mother/child relationship. And what's the resultant effect? The child gets bonded and fond of the father or available caregiver who spends more time with the child. Of course, closeness intrigues sense of love. So, whom a child is close to, wins her love.

Little wonder, Ojela was badly impacted, in character and academics as her father, who is her friend indeed dies. Thus, she escapes to solitude. Amour Maternel portrays a vivid picture of how psychological abnormal behaviours take over a cherished daughter when her widowed mother abandons her to acquisition of wealth and fame - Ojela escapes to a course of study that would hide her, in conformity with her live-alone acquired attitude. She becomes a reserved person, she rebuffed familiarisation even among her equals. She is easily provoked and would exhibit mistrust, throw tantrums, and even threaten to kill herself. How can Ojela give what she does not have? She is devoid of love and cannot give love to anyone! She lives without love all alone in the corner and distanced from people with no comforting ear. She is lost in the desert. Yet she has a living mother! What a mother?

All that the mother provided for her material needs is not measurable to maternal love, thus, she keeps being hungry and in search of love. Amidst the suitors; she looks out for her father's replica. A string of life in Ojela is the ways of her father, the light on her being is the manner of her father's doings. Hence, Okekeni (the successful suitor) can only awaken her love by referring to her as "...beautiful Princess", chapters 2 and 6, as the father would identify her. Lying side by side with this joy is the maternal deprivations that denied her mother's presence which make her be in want of attention cum love.

This original inspirational piece of work has come at a very good time when chaos avail in relationships at social settings. Therefore, reading of this book is highly important. Everybody needs to read this book. It will help prospective fiancé, fiancée, young and elderly spouse, teachers at all levels of social institutions, counsellors at every works of life, etc. This book should be found in the library of every household, school, Church, hospital, correction centres, counsellors' office, etc 

Reading of AMOUR MATERNEL is a necessity to avoid a battered life and relationship.

Thank you for your audience.

Mrs Nwabufo, Uju Patience

Biography of Dr Mark A. C. Ogbodo

 Biography of DR MARK A. C. OGBODO

DR MARK A. C. OGBODO hails from Obi Local Government Area of Benue State. He had his primary education at Holy Family Primary School, Kanshio; his secondary education at Unique Secondary School, New G. R. A., both in Makurdi, Benue State. Thereafter, he proceeded to Nigeria's Premier Private University, Igbinedion University Okada, Edo State, where he bagged Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS).

In the same vein, he bagged certificate in Leadership and Management in Health from University of Washington. 

In addition, he was awarded a Certificate of Achievement on Covid-19: Psychological first Aid from Public Health England, Certificate of Achievement on Covid-19: Tackling The Novel Coronavirus from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and UK Public Health Rapid Support Team. He was also awarded a Certificate Of Achievement By British Council: Ideas For A Better World: Leading Change Through Policy Making.

LEADERSHIP/ACHIEVEMENTS

• Life Patron: Igede Media Network; 2025

• Ambassador: National Association of Polytechnic Students; 2023

• Public Relations Officer of Nigerian Medical Association,Benue State Branch: 2022 to 2024.

• Secretary: Association of Nigerian Authors, Benue State Branch; 2022

• Assistant Secretary of NAGGMDP, Benue State Chapter: 2022

•  Assistant Secretary of Association of Nigerian Authors, Benue State Chapter: 2021. 

•  Certificate in Leadership and Management in Health from University of Washington.

• Author: Amour Maternel: Mother's Love

• Certificate of Achievement on Covid-19: Tackling The Novel Coronavirus: 2020.

• Certificate of Achievement on Covid-19: Psychological first Aid. Public Health England: 2020.

• Certificate in Advanced Cardiac Life Support by NHCPS, Las Vegas.

• Certificate in CPR, AED and First Aid by NHCPS, Las Vegas.

• Certificate in Basic Life Support by NHCPS, Las Vegas.

•  Certificate of achievement By British Council: Ideas For A Better World: Leading Change Through Policy Making: 2019.

• Author of the novel "THE JOURNEY (A Flight To Greatness After A Long Walk)": 2017.

• National President of Unique Secondary School Old Students Association (UNISECOSA) :2006 to 2017.

• Participated in several professional workshops and seminars. 

• General Secretary of Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDA),  Igbinedion University Chapter: 2013 to 2015. 

• Assistant Secretary of Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students Association (FECAMDS), Igbinedion University Chapter: 2013 to 2015. 

• General Secretary of Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students Association (FECAMDS), Igbinedion University Chapter: 2012 to 2013.

• Academic Secretary of the Nigerian Federation of Catholic Students (NFCS), Igbinedion University Chapter: 2010 to 2012.

• Assistant General Secretary of the Nigerian Federation of Catholic Students (NFCS), Igbinedion University Chapter: 2009 to 2010.

• Editor-In-Chief III (disciplinary head) of Igbinedion University Press Club: 2009 to 2010.

• Secretary: Lay Readers Association of Saint Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary (STAMS), Makurdi.

• Pioneer Head Boy of Unique Secondary School,  Makurdi: 2004. 

• President: JET Club, Unique Secondary School, Makurdi.

• Secretary of Fellowship of Christian Students, Unique Secondary School Chapter: 2002 to 2003. 

• President; Alter Servers Association of Saint Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary (STAMS), Makurdi: 1997 - 2001.

• PRO II: Saint Theresa's Parish, Block Rosary Crusade, Makurdi, Benue State

• President: Queen of the Prophets Zone, Block Rosary Crusade, Lower Benue, Benue State.

• President: Our Lady Cause of Our Joy Center 1, Block Rosary Crusade, Kanshio, Makurdi, Benue State.

• Compound Prefect at Holy Family Primary School, Kanshio, Makurdi: 1994 to 1995.

AWARDS

• Service Award: Outstanding service as the Public Relations Officer; By Nigerian Medical Association, Benue State Branch: 2024

• Service Award by National Association of Polytechnic Students: 2023.

• Outstanding Leadership Award by UNISECOSA: 2016.

• Best Executive of the Decade Award by UNISECOSA: 2016.

• Best Graduated Student of Pioneer Set Award by UNISECOSA: 2016. 

• Best executive of the year's award by Unique Secondary School Old Students Association: 2013.

• Award of "Most Punctual And Regular Lector Of The Year" by the Lay Readers Association of St Joseph Catholic Church,  1st East Circular,  Benin-City,  Edo State: 2013. 

• Award of "Hardwork And Dedication To Duty" by Unique Secondary School Old Students Association: 2012.

Publications 

1. Untold, Novella (2023): Certified and approved by Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council as General Reading text, and also certified and approved by the Benue State Ministry of Education as a main text for JSS 3 classes

2. Amour Maternel, Novella (2021): Certified and approved by Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council as Supplimentary Reading text for JSS 2 classes and also certified and approved by the Benue State Ministry of Education as a main text for JSS 2 classes.

3. The Journey; A Flight To Greatness After A Long Walk, Novel, 2017.

HOBBIES

» Leading

» Reading

» Writing

> The art of Medicine

One most exciting thing about Dr A. C. Mark of which he is very proud of is that he single-handedly trained himself in secondary school and the university. He is, indeed, an inspiration to many.

He is a simple, humble, intelligent, goal getter with exemplary leadership skills. He has a magnanimous heart, a loving spirit and a cheerful smile. He is a positive thinker, orator and writer per excellence.

In acknowledgement of his outstanding merits as a leader, writer and as a medical doctor, he has received several awards of: excellence, meritorious services, outstanding leadership, hardwork and dedication to duty, punctuality and regularity. He is nothing else but a Legend!