Teenage writer: Passion for the poor sparked my writing instincts

Although she has attended public schools all her life, 15-year-old Debbie Doowuese Ajom is one latest example of a teenager determined to etch her name on the literary map of Nigeria and the world. Born some 15 years ago, Debbie has already published two fictional works.Her first novel titled ‘The Magic Stone and Other Stories’ […]

Although she has attended public schools all her life, 15-year-old Debbie Doowuese Ajom is one latest example of a teenager determined to etch her name on the literary map of Nigeria and the world. Born some 15 years ago, Debbie has already published two fictional works.
Her first novel titled ‘The Magic Stone and Other Stories’ was published in 2010 when she was only 9 and in JSS 1. Four years later, she authored the second novel ‘Escape from Shackles.’
She told Weekly Trust in Abuja that she developed the passion for creative writing when she was in primary six, adding that all her books are weaved around the plight of the poor in the society.
“All my books are about the underprivileged and how they struggle to make it in life. These books reflect the sufferings of the people and their unyielding passion to free themselves from the chains of poverty. I want to be the voice of the voiceless; I want to be there for those who cannot come out and talk, I will speak for them,” Debbie said.      
The second child in a family of four, Debbie who dails from Mbayion, in Gboko LGA of Benue State is currently a student of Government Secondary School, Kwali, Abuja. She had her first stint with formal education at the LGEA Primary School, Gbuushi, Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State. She was transferred to LGEA Primary School, Barkin Ado, in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, where she completed her primary education.
“For me, studying in public school does not make any difference. Anywhere you go to school, whether in a private or public school, what matters is what you have upstairs,” she says.
The teenage author says the contents of her novels are sourced mainly from her experiences with her poor grandparents, who are polygamists as well as her friends.
“I have a lot of friends like Tinatei Tonyan, with whom we share experiences. These experiences are the materials I use for my novels,” she adds. 
In GSS Kwali, Debbie who is a member of several students clubs such as Debaters Club, Press Club and Readers club, says she represents her school in competitions with other schools.   She says her passion for the downtrodden runs deep, adding that her ambition is to become a journalist, because it would place her in a position to speak freely for the poor.
“When I pick a newspaper to read, stories that interest me most are the human angle news. I am totally touched by the plight of the poor, may be because that is also my background,” she says.
Her perception of life is that “it is fun when you have everything, but its hell when you are an underprivileged,” says the soft-spoken, but articulate author.
According to her, she wishes to study abroad after her secondary education, preferably in Canada. “I did my primary and secondary schools in Nigeria. But for my higher education, I  would wish to study abroad because I am exposed to the Nigerian experience and I would also like to expand my experiences, by knowing what happens in other places,” she said.     
Asked about how she was able to foot the cost of publishing the books, Debbie said a lot of well-wishers assisted her, most especially Engr. Iorpuu Adai, who assisted with the publication of the first book.
“But I must be grateful to the Governor of Benue State Gabriel Suswam who has taken over my entire literary project by printing the books for public presentation and launching. I wish to live all my life writing books and would publish as many as God allows me,” she says.
Debbie’s father, Terfa Ajom, says two months ago, Governor Suswam gave approval for the inclusion of the two books in Benue’s school curriculum and it is presently being assessed by the Benue State Education Resource Center.
“I am grateful to God, who has used people to assist my daughter. Now, my daughter wishes to further her studies abroad, while she has my blessings, I may not be able to foot the bills, but I believe her literary project will raise funds for her to  foot the bills,” Ajom says.
He said “I believe that with God all things are possible and even now, I can say the literary project sustains the family in many ways. Governor Suswam is currently paying her fees in school from his personal pocket. I have seen a very bright future ahead for her. When you come from a very poor family like us, to get to the stage she is today is by the special grace of God. Like she said in her novels, we are also underprivileged people, so for her to have shown this remarkable feat very early in life means  the sky really is her starting point,” Ajom explained.  
Debbie’s mum, Mrs. Rose Ajom, described her daughter as a level-headed girl and humble to a fault. “She comports herself like an adult, even in the house. I marvel at her intellectual prowess, but not surprised because she manifested brilliance quite early in life,” she said.