A Nigerian author has recounted how she almost slipped into drug addiction, but rather decided to channel her pain in writing books.
During the recent unveiling of her three books on Catholic prayers, Blessing Itugbu expressed gratitude and delight, thanking God for using her to author the books, ‘My Private Prayer Book’, ‘Catholic Novena Prayers’, and ‘The Passion of Mary, Mother of Jesus’.
She further said: ‘It is a privilege that i really appreciate and I’m grateful to God that He used me as a vessel to bring these books into reality.
‘My works were born from profound personal trials, including pain, betrayal, and wrongful accusations that once brought me to the brink of despair.
‘Pain, disappointment, betrayal, humiliation, rejection, wrong accusation were what inspired me to write the books.
‘There was a period that I walked through the valley of the shadow of death and wished to never wake up from my sleep, but I held on to God.
‘I had the option of becoming a drug addict, but I decided to channel my pain into something better.
‘So, I seek God’s guidance and He gave me these topics to work with, and He stayed with me during the process.
‘It was God’s way of telling me He is still with me and hasn’t forgotten me’.
She added that two new books, focusing on the Christian faith in Eastern Nigeria and overcoming challenges would be released by October.
‘By October 2025, I’m doing two major books and it’s centered on the Eastern part of Nigeria on our Christian faith again – how we face challenges, and how we make absolute use of the challenges’.
Itugbu’s books were presented by the Chairman of the books’ planning committee, Mr. Steve Omanifome at St Thomas Moore Hall, Unilag, Lagos.
Rev. Fr. Jerome Omoregie, who reviewed ‘Catholic Novena Prayers’, commended the author, describing the book as a meticulously crafted guide to Catholic devotions.
He said: ‘Catholic Novena Prayers’ is a compilation of many prayers that form part of the spiritual treasury of the Catholic church.
‘The carefully prepared book draws our attention to the rich tapestry of Catholic prayers at a time when people are inclined to drift away from Catholic devotions’.
He said that the book is divided into two essential parts. ‘The first part is made up of the Catholic Novena prayers in the presence of the blessed trinity, God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, the Father in verses one to four. And the second part contains the Catholic Novena prayers to the angels, the pleasant Virgin Mary and the Saints, verses five to seven’.
Also the reviewer of ‘The Passion of Mary, Mother of Jesus’ Rev. MaryCeline Adedola Onafowope, praised Itugbu’s ‘immersive’ storytelling.
‘The writing was engaging and inspiring, making it easy to become immersed in Mary’s journey of faith, the joy, sacrifice, pain and strength and her role in the history of salvation’, she added.
