Austin Ukporhe, the author of ‘The Field of Boaz’ has stated that the breakdown in family values is responsible for the worsening socio-economic challenges currently being experienced by Nigerians.
He made this known during the book dedication in Lagos on Sunday August 19, where he noted that the book “is targeted at people who are traumatic, or have been traumatized by experiences and feels that marriage is no longer for them.
“I believe that one of the ways to resolve this issue of deterioration is for family values to be restored. Every family takes responsibility for their children; every family takes responsibility for the community”, Ukporhe said.
He said further that the rate of failure in marriages had been very high in Nigeria. He also clarified that marriage is for everyone that is matured and responsible, regardless of their experience.
“The breakdown in marriages that we experience today is as a result of breakdown of family values, a breakdown of societal values. You know, in Africa, we were taught that a child is raised by the community; a child is raised by not just father and mother, but by the community.
“But today, even in our schools, you see that we no longer correct children because when you discipline a child or reprimand a child, you will be taken on by the parent. So, the values are changing. Nonetheless, the scripture says that God himself is a family man because he has families in the heavens and he has families upon the face of the earth”, Ukporhe said.
Obafemi George, the book reviewer, said that the author was authentic with his adopted style of language and writing. According to him, the author’s ability to establish the status of the book as a non-fictional publication will help the readers to understand his personal story and life’s trajectory.
George said Osayi, one of the author’s spiritual fathers, wrote the foreword ‘The Field of Boaz’. He stated further that the book, written in 13 chapters and 177 pages, portrays Ukporhe’s vulnerability as human. “This is a life story. So, that authenticity, that flavor of that you can literally feel and touch his life.”
