Title: Futile Dedication

Author: Oliver Uchechukwu Eze

Year of Publication: 2026

Number of Pages: 169

Category: Fiction

Futile Dedication by Oliver Uchechukwu Eze is one of those titles that leaves you with questions before you even open the book. Futile dedication? Who was dedicated to what, and how did all that effort amount to nothing? The bright yellow cover catches your eye, but the title sends you searching for answers. After looking through the pages for clues, you may find yourself turning to Google.

Apparently, futile dedication means commitment that produces no worthwhile result. Thank you, Google! Now that the mystery of the title is solved, the question is whether the story lives up to the curiosity it creates.

Set in Enugu, the novel opens with the birth of a baby named Ugwuja and quickly draws you into village life. Eze describes traditional childbirth practices and local customs in detail. There is so much happening in the opening pages that the book begins to feel like a Nollywood village epic. You can almost imagine the dramatic soundtrack playing in the background. However, with so many details and characters introduced at once, it takes a while to figure out where the story is headed.

The lives of Chidinma, Ike and Ugwuja form the heart of the novel. Through them, Eze portrays a community caught between its long-held traditions and the changes brought by Western education and Christianity. Not everyone welcomes these changes. Some characters express their resentment towards the white man, his religion and the education he introduced to their community. This raises an interesting question: must a community abandon its traditions to embrace progress, or can the two exist side by side?

It is a question worth examining, but Eze has many other issues he wants to bring to the table. Marriage, ambition, belonging, substance abuse, depression and even background checks feature in the story. The author clearly has a lot to say about society, but the number of themes sometimes makes it difficult for any one of them to stand out. Just when you begin to settle into one subject, another appears.

One of the book’s strengths is its portrayal of village life. Eze uses idioms and traditional expressions that give the dialogue a distinctly local flavour. Readers who enjoy proverbs and the wisdom hidden in everyday expressions will appreciate this aspect of the writing. His descriptions also offer a glimpse into customs and practices that readers may not be familiar with, helping them understand the beliefs that shape the community.

The story becomes more interesting when the village invests in the education of Chidinma and Ike, twin siblings expected to become successful professionals. In the villagers’ minds, the plan is simple: support the children through school, and they will eventually bring honour to the community. Unfortunately, the twins have ambitions of their own. What should have been a source of pride soon becomes a cause for worry and disappointment.

Here, Eze touches on an issue many families can relate to. When parents or a community invest in a child’s future, does that give them the right to decide what the child must become? The novel highlights the tension between gratitude and personal freedom, showing how good intentions can become a burden when young people are expected to fulfil other people’s dreams. It is a valuable lesson about allowing children to find their own paths rather than measuring their success against other people’s expectations.

Ugwuja offers a different view of success. Unlike his siblings, he shows little interest in formal education and prefers to contribute to his community. He eventually becomes the village king, challenging the idea that academic qualifications and prestigious professions are the only routes to success. His journey reinforces an important message: people have different strengths, interests and ways of making a difference.

As the story progresses, the villagers begin to accept some of the changes associated with Western influence, although they do not completely abandon their traditions. This gradual shift feels believable because changing long-held beliefs takes time. The novel shows that it is possible to make room for new ideas while still valuing one’s cultural roots.

Ultimately, Futile Dedication offers an interesting glimpse into village life in southeastern Nigeria and raises important questions about culture, education, religion and personal ambition. Its rich cultural details and lessons about family and community expectations give readers plenty to reflect on. While the novel covers a wide range of themes, a more focused storyline and a more fully developed ending would have helped bring its ideas together and make the story even more engaging. Nevertheless, Eze offers readers valuable lessons about the meaning of success, reminding us that people have different aspirations and that everyone deserves the freedom to choose their own path.

About the reviewer

Titilade Oyemade is a business executive in a leading organisation and holds a degree in Russian Language. She’s the convener of the Hangoutwithtee Ladies Event and the Publisher of Hangoutwithtee magazine. She spends her weekends attending women conferences, events and book readings. She loves to have fun and to help other women have the same in their lives. Email: [email protected] Social: @tiipreeofficial