A review of Euphemia Oluchi Igbosofulu’s book, ‘Resilience in Service: Turning Strength Into Action, Serving With Purpose’, by Folorunsho Moshood.
LIFE is often likened to a journey – a path filled with twists, turns, peaks and valleys. Like travellers navigating an uncharted path, people move through experiences, shaping who they are and where they are headed. This path is dynamic and interwoven with threads of success, failure, challenges and lessons, each smoothening the rough edges of people’s stories. It is neither life nor its journey that matters, but the great impacts being made in life and along its journey.
The book, ‘Resilience in Service: Turning Strength Into Action, Serving With Purpose’, written by Euphemia Oluchi Igbosofulu and published in 2025 by Dreg Global Publisher is a perspective work of how leaders are made through the power of resilience.
This carefully crafted work shows that leaders could be born, but they are usually shaped by their journeys and trials and how they navigate them, adapt to changes, emerge stronger and motivate others in the process. In crafting this intensely insightful book, Igbosofulu swings between different narrative voices, which create distinct tones, great intimacy levels and engagement of readers.
Igbosofulu uses the prologue to show what gave birth to the 113-page book, which is divided into 12 distinct chapters. In the prologue, she writes, ‘This book was born from lived experience: seasons of carrying purpose when it felt too heavy, of holding on to faith when answers were slow to come, and of finding the courage to keep going when quitting seemed easier.’
To sustain the interest of readers, refresh their memories and increase their understanding of the messages in the book thereby making the ideas in the book practicable, each chapter is ended with ‘Action Questions’. Even within each chapter is a set of practical nuggets that will guide readers through.
The introduction exposes the categories of leaders this book will serve better. ‘It is for those who lead in schools, offices, churches, hospitals, NGOs and government spaces’. Here, Igbosofulu also reveals the core message of the book, ‘Resilience in Service attracts its own reward’. What reward? Her resilience in the service to her fatherland won her several awards. The story that births this book took place between 2008 and 2009 partly in Moro LGA and partly in Ilorin City.
Chapter one effectively conveys the challenges of one-year mandatory national service, highlighting the emotional toll it can take on youth corps members. The story about young woman’s experience at the rural health care centre, where the author was once a volunteer and the author’s encounter during the NYSC programme are powerful and relatable, evoking empathy in the reader. In this chapter, what makes Igbosofulu’s narrative more authentic and engaging is her struggles and doubts.
The second chapter explores the significance of knowing one’s why or purpose in serving others, especially in challenging situations. Igbosofulu uses the third chapter to reveal the challenges of leadership and service. Her own vulnerability and candour make the chapter inspiring. Chapter four is a thought-provoking exploration of the significance of leading within. Igbosofulu’s emphasis on self-awareness, healing and inner strength is particularly valuable, offering readers practical advice and encouragement. The fifth chapter examines deeply the crucial role of faith, values and conviction in leadership, especially in times of challenges and uncertainty.
What shows up in chapter six is the importance of consistency, grit and long-term impact in leadership.
This is a masterpiece in resilience, leadership and mentorship. The author’s suspenseful stories, practical advice, and inspiring examples make it unputdownable and a must-read for leaders looking to build their strength, lead with purpose, and empower others.
The strength of this book lies in Igbosofulu’s tone at the beginning and the end of each chapter. However, the tone relaxes in the middle of some of the chapters. Overall, the tone is inspirational.I recommend this book, a powerful guide with great nuggets that will leave readers motivated, equipped, and ready to take on new challenges, not only to those Igbosofulu intentionally penned it for, but to leaders and aspiring leaders in every field of human endeavours.
•Moshood is a literary enthusiast.
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Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
