Can we meet you?
Sure! I’m Onyinye Sandra Achebe, an author, poet, educator and literacy advocate who loves inspiring people to read, think, and express themselves with courage. Whether I’m writing, teaching or facilitating workshops, my goal is simple: to inspire growth and imagination by helping others discover the beauty of words and the power of their own stories.
What first inspired your love for reading and storytelling?
I was introduced to a world of books while growing. My dad… the financial protector of realms…, ensured we had stacks and series ranging from Disney to Enid Blyton and bedtime stories. My mum his support backbone had this way of engineering the reading itself. So among my siblings our cortex might have been as illuminated as a thousand watts because it was an acclamation of who had voraciously digested more than the other. Thus developing a large lexicon at a young age was only very natural as books felt like little doors into new worlds. Reading helped me imagine, dream, and understand people better and that curiosity still drives everything I do today.
Why do you believe literacy is more than just “being able to read”?
Literacy is empowerment. It shapes how we think, express ourselves, and connect with the world around us. When learners build strong literacy skills, they don’t just succeed academically, they gain confidence, identity, and voice.
What simple habit can help children fall in love with reading?
Make reading feel like an adventure not a chore. Read together and sometimes let them choose books they are curious about, talk about characters, laugh at silly scenes. When reading feels fun, learning follows naturally.
What keeps you inspired and motivated in your work with literacy and storytelling?
Honestly, it’s the joy that comes when they realize their voice matters. Every time a child or young person shares a story, a poem, or even a single brave sentence, I’m reminded why words are magical and helping people discover that spark and watch it grow is what makes every story, every workshop, and every page worth it.
What’s one quirky habit you have when you’re deep in writing or brainstorming, any creative ritual?
Absolutely, I talk to my ideas… pacing around the room like I’m negotiating with a character (as a teammate) who refuses to cooperate and having full conversations with a stubborn sentence that doesn’t want to conform, till the muse required drops; the needed word characterization or pictorial scene to continue the storyline. As for snacks there’s always a nearby… cos inspiration and creativity sometimes run on crunchy peanuts and quiet laughs.
If your life turned into a storybook for a day, which character would you be, the curious explorer, the dramatic poet, or the secret superhero with books in her cape?
Definitely the secret superhero with books in her cape! I’d swoop into classrooms, instructional spaces, markets, and living rooms, sprinkling stories, poems, and big bursts of imagination like a confetti everywhere I go. My superpower? Turning quiet readers into bold storytellers with something beautiful to say.
What’s one fun thing people would never guess about you at first glance?
Most people think I’m always calm and serious, until they catch me dancing to a song in my living room, or organizing book events or preparing a workshop. I believe joy is a creative fuel… and sometimes that fuel looks like a mini dance break in the middle of a quiet room.
One message you’d love every reader to take away?
Your voice and your story matter. Reading helps you discover it and writing helps you share it with the world. Keep the energy flowing one book at a time!