Diary Complicated, a compelling novel written by the talented Jumoke Abasifreke Sunday, has been launched. Jumoke is a 15-year-old writer with a passion for storytelling that captures the real emotions of teenage life. “Diary Complicated: New School Dilemma” marks the inaugural book in her series, drawing inspiration from the complexities of friendship, transformation and self-discovery.
The well-attended event, which took place at Lead City International School, Jericho, GRA, Ibadan, on Saturday, July 12, 2025, also featured the 10th birthday celebration of Tomisin Sunday and Jumoke Sunday’s birthday cake cutting.
The Planning Committee Chairman, Hassan Adesodi Olaoniye, said, “The event was graced by an impressive array of dignitaries, whose presence lent credence to the significance of the publication, as the venue reverberated with intellectual fervour and camaraderie.”
Launching the book on Saturday, the Chairman of the occasion, Hon. (Rtn) Tokunbo Adewale Toriola, detailed his relationship journey with Jumoke’s family. According to him, the author promised to play Piano at 5, which she did, now giving everyone a book at 15, and rhetorically asked what Jumoke would give at 20. Mr. Toriola expressed that Jumoke’s academic journey involved moving from one place to another due to the nature of her parents’ profession. He maintained that he would not be surprised if such life experiences were captured in her newly written book. While urging teenagers in the event hall to derive motivation from Jumoke’s feat, the industrialist urged the author to keep the flag waving, reiterating that she has kept the world in a state where a lot will be demanded from her in the academic realm.
Speaking at the event, Jumoke Sunday expressed her gratitude to her family for their words of encouragement in writing “Diary Complicated”. She stressed that launching the book was like a dream come true, despite the fact that she didn’t initially plan to have the book published, but with the help of her parents, it was made possible. She urged her peers to keep dreaming big, that the world is big enough for them to achieve whatever they aim for in life. She attributed her success thus far to God, her parents and all the amazing friends around her from all the schools she had attended in Akwa Ibom State, Ondo State, Lagos State and Oyo State.
In his own address, Mr. Olugbenga Omotayo Sunday, who is the father of the author, thanked God for the life of his family and expressed how proud he is as a father, at 47, to already have a child who is an author. Mr. Sunday said he added Ibibio names to the names of his two children because of the history behind their birth and where they were born, emphasising that the rationale behind his action was also to have their minds attached to the place where his children were born and a place he likes to call his second home. He expressed surprise and gratitude at the faces of dignitaries who made it to the book launch despite the short notice, praying to God to continue to bless everyone.
In his speech, the Chief Launcher of the Day, Engr. David Olusegun Okanlawon, who is the CEO of Luli Construction Company, expressed his joy with the family of Jumoke over the success of her first book. Okanlawon, who was the Accord Party candidate in the 2023 general elections for Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa North Federal Constituency, expressed that over the years, he had developed a strong passion for supporting the younger generation. According to him, what Jumoke has simply done deserves all forms of support from all and sundry to motivate not just her but also her peers so that once they dream big, they develop a belief system that the fulfilment of those dreams is always possible. Engr. Okanlawon maintained that out of the shared values for the kind of feat achieved by Jumoke, it made him travel down to Ibadan. He, however, launched the book with the sum of five hundred thousand naira (N500,000).
Also, in her address, the Co-Launcher of the Day, Mrs. Oluwakemi Olushola, commended Jumoke for adding value to the literary world through what she described as a masterpiece authored by 15-year-old Jumoke. She co-launched the book with the sum of two hundred thousand naira (N200,000). Also, Mrs. Akinwale Ebunoluwa, who was one of the invited guests of honour, launched the book with the sum of N100,000 and also bought an additional 50 copies of the novel.
Among other dignitaries who launched the book were Chairman of the Occasion, Hon. Tokunbo Adewale Toriola; Mother of the Day, Mrs Mary Adegbite; Special Guest of Honour, Alhaji Tajudeen Raji, Dr. Olusola Ayandele (Eruobodo); Mr. Tunji Okewole; Mr. Gbile Oladosu; Mr and Mrs Olarinde; Mr. Oluseun Ogunlana; Lead City International School; Dr Bolu Oke; Engr. Sola Olateju; Mrs Salako Rachael; Mrs Olokode Enitan; Hon. Lawrence Adepoju, Mr. Oluyemi Oladosu, the Oguntoye Twins and a host of others.
