Students haile Akanazu’s Soul and Spirit Poetry over NERDC’s endorsement.

The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) has officially endorsed Soul and Spirit Poetry of the Heart Plus More, a collection by Joe BlaiseNnaemekaAkanazu, an AmiyiAkah, Njaba LGA, Imo State-born poet and international development expert, for general readership following its success after a formal assessment by the body. The German correspondents of Umuaka Times where the poet resides gathered that an official mail from the Executive Secretary of NERDC, Prof. SalisuShehu, confirmed the book was found useful and suitable for poetry students.

According to the NERDC body, the publication met all required standards in presentation and production. The body went further to confirm that the title, cover design, illustrations, colour, font size, and paper quality were among the areas considered appropriate by the body, while the content, language, style, and overall format were also commended satisfactorily.

Students who have read the collection described the work as excellent, praising its clarity, depth, and motivational impact. Since its unveiling on January 8, 2025, in Owerri, Imo State, by Easy Brain College Publisher, the book has attracted widespread positive reviews and has been adopted by several schools for use during morning devotions and assemblies. Prior to the NERDC endorsement, Umuaka Times gathered that the Abia State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education approved the collection for use in junior secondary schools across the state last year 2025. The author described the development as encouraging for both students and educators. Akanazu noted that Soul and Spirit Poetry of the Heart Plus More was designed to promote moral instructions and literary engagements, particularly through poetry recitation and presentation in secondary school settings.

The Delta State Catholic Education Commission has also endorsed the book for use in Catholic schools, citing its moral and spiritual value for young learners. Reviewing the work, former Imo State Commissioner for Education, Prof. JohncliffNwadike, described it as “a book of life” and advocated its wider adoption. Similarly, former Commissioner for Culture and Traditional Affairs in Imo State, Chief Louis Duru, said the book enhances creativity and self-expression among students. Other reviewers, including Chief Lady OgechiIbeagi and author Daniel Akindutire, commended the work for its depth, moral insight, and role in reviving reading culture among young people. Since its release, Akanazu has received two awards recognizing his contributions to literature and youth development. Through school-based poetry competitions and related initiatives, he continues to promote reading culture and creative expression among students in Nigeria and beyond.