The Rock: Can we meet you sir?

Ans: My name is Dr. Kolade Musoro

The Rock: Which year were you admitted into G.C.I?

Ans: I got into Government College Ibadan in 1964, and I was in Carr house and my school number is 1501.

The Rock: Can you share with us your memories of your first year in GCI?

Ans: Well, I would say that part of what amazed me the most and could be back as memories in my first year was the Carr house song, [wow], the house song was like one of the best of all house songs to me. The lyrics of the song were so rich, so they carried a daily message to me.  I was also assigned to a senior boy then who taught me and made know what I needed to know about the school. He kept me in check and I also remember that the expansion of the school geographical area and how I went into the woods sometimes to reflect or anywhere I felt to be a serene environment.

The Rock: How did coming to GCI then look like?

Ans: My father went to King’s college, so my parents actually thought of sending their son to a great and better school. In those days all the primary schools trained their pupils to get admitted into a better school like G.C.I, everybody wanted to go to Government College Ibadan because the school had a solid reputation and good heritage.

The Rock: And how did your stay in G.C.I influence you and who served as a mentor while growing up?

Ans: GCI has been good to us. The admission process was very rigorous, getting into it was a privilege. There were many great people before us that we looked up to, during our time we looked up to the seniors in the school, our teachers and about the influencers, I can mention personalities like Chief Deko, we were able to see Aribisala, T.M Aluko, T.A Aguda to mention a few.

When people like Dr Olounloyo, Dr Lekan Are came to the school, we looked at them as mentors because it was like a contest to us and we needed to work hard to prove ourselves that we could also be like them.

The Rock: What motivated your decision to be a bookseller?

Ans: Well, as a young boy I always loved reading books. So I guess my love for books kept on growing and even up till now.

You see, books are just like people, the only difference is they are stacked on shelves, but they do the things we do, just in a different ways. Books communicate with us and we in turn can only try our best to love them so I encourage you to plan what you will do on books every day, for personal development.

The Rock: Can you say your success was gotten from destiny or determination?

Ans: Success? Well, I can say it took a little bit of fate and determination to get to where I am today, but I can say we are all trying to achieve just that, success.

The Rock: So you would say books are a big part of our lives, especially the social aspect?

Ans: Yes, because books help us communicate with each other. Imagine reading a book and talking about it in class and only one boy could not contribute to the discussion. That boy would probably go back to read the book, and when that happens, he’ll be able to talk about it the next day. So, yes, books help us communicate with each other, and it forms a big part of our lives especially the social aspect.

The Rock: Can you tell us how you started with the bookshop and how it grew into the biggest in Ibadan?

Ans: I worked with the doyen of the book trade, Mr Ola Odusanya as his General Manager and during that time, I was exposed to the best practice of the trade and through this means, I travelled all over the world in search of the best books for Nigeria. So when I started, I simply built on that experience.

The Rock: Has it been a smooth journey being the director of the biggest bookshops in Nigeria?

Ans: I have had my fair share and I would just say that the journey of life is never so smooth without facing bumps and challenges but above all, all glory unto God.

The Rock: What can you say about book buying and the reading habits of students these days?

Ans: Let me ask you this, when last did you stroll into a bookshop or library to get, read and digest a book of interest to you?

It’s really sad and disheartening that students no longer find pleasure and joy in reading books and matters pertaining books and copyrights are handled with less regard but as part of the world’s innovation of bringing about life to books, the world book day also known as the Copyright Day holds every year worldwide on the 4th March of each year and it’s not just a day to celebrate books as a whole, but a day where children and young folks can gain access to books and even involve in their own presentation of any piece of writing or literary artwork that can form a book.

The Rock: Finally, please can you describe what books are in three words?

Ans: Books are Illuminating.