OUR ROLE MODEL: CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie  born 15 September 1977) is a Nigerian writer whose works include novels, short stories and nonfiction. She was described in The Times Literary Supplement as "the most prominent" of a "procession of critically acclaimed young anglophone authors [which] is succeeding in attracting a new generation of readers to African literature", particularly in her second home, the United States.

Adichie has written the novels Purple Hibiscus (2003), Half of a Yellow Sun (2006), and Americanah (2013), the short story collection The Thing Around Your Neck (2009), and the book-length essay We Should All Be Feminists (2014). Her most recent books are Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions (2017), Zikora (2020) and Notes on Grief (2021).

In 2008, she was awarded a MacArthur Genius Grant. She was the recipient of the PEN Pinter Prize in 2018.

Adichie was born in the city of Enugu in Nigeria, the fifth of six children in an Igbo family. She was raised in the university town of Nsukka in Enugu State.While she was growing up, her father, James Nwoye Adichie (1932–2020), worked as a professor of statistics at the University of Nigeria. Her mother, Grace Ifeoma (1942–2021), was the university's first female registrar. They lived in a house on campus previously occupied by famous author Chinua Achebe. The family lost almost everything during the Nigerian Civil War, including both her maternal and paternal grandfathers. Her family's ancestral village is Abba in Anambra State

Adichie completed her secondary education at the University of Nigeria Secondary School, Nsukka, where she received several academic prizes. She studied medicine and pharmacy at the University of Nigeria for a year and a half. During this period, she edited The Compass, a magazine run by the university's Catholic medical students.

At the age of 19, Adichie left Nigeria for the United States to study communications and political science at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She transferred to Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU) to be near her sister Uche, who had a medical practice in Coventry, Connecticut. She received a bachelor's degree from ECSU, summa cum laude, in 2001.

In 2003, Adichie completed a master's degree in creative writing at Johns Hopkins University.  Adichie was a Hodder fellow at Princeton University during the 2005–2006 academic year.In 2008, she received a Master of Arts degree in African studies from Yale University. Also in 2008, she was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship.^[9] She was awarded a 2011–2012 fellowship by the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University.

Adichie has been awarded sixteen honorary doctorate degrees from universities including Yale University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Edinburgh, Duke University, Georgetown University, Johns Hopkins University, and the Catholic University of Louvain, where she received her sixteenth in a ceremony on 28 April 2022

In 2009, Adichie married Ivara Esege, a Nigerian doctor. They have one daughter, who was born in 2016.

Adichie divides her time between the United States and Nigeria, where she teaches writing workshops

In 2002, she was shortlisted for the Caine Prize for African Writing for her short story "You in America", and her story "That Harmattan Morning" was selected as a joint winner of the 2002 BBC World Service Short Story Awards. In 2003, she won the David T. Wong International Short Story Prize 2002/2003 (PEN Center Award).

In 2010 she was listed among the authors of The New Yorker's "20 Under 40" Fiction Issue. In April 2014, she was named as one of 39 writers aged under 40 in the Hay Festival and Rainbow Book Club project Africa39, celebrating Port Harcourt UNESCO World Book Capital 2014. In April 2017, it was announced that Adichie had been elected into the 237th class of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the highest honours for intellectuals in the United States, as one of 228 new members to be inducted on 7 October 2017.

Adichie holds sixteen honorary doctorate degrees from some of the world’s best universities including Yale University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Edinburgh, Duke University, Georgetown University, Johns Hopkins University, and the Catholic University of Louvain.^[27] In 2016, she was conferred an honorary degree, Doctor of Humane letters, honoris causa, by Johns Hopkins University. In 2017, she was conferred honorary degrees, Doctor of Humane letters, honoris causa, by Haverford College and The University of Edinburgh. In 2018, she received an honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, from Amherst College. She received an honorary degree, doctor honoris causa, from the Université de Fribourg, Switzerland, in 2019. On 20 May 2019, Ngozi Adichie received an honorary degree from Yale University. On 28 April 2022, she received her sixteenth honorary doctorate degree from the Catholic University of Louvain.

On 13 October 2022, a member of Adichie ’s communications team confirmed to Nigerian Newspaper, The Guardian, that she rejected a national awards to be conffered on her by President Muhammadu Buhari. "“The author did not accept the award and, as such, did not attend the ceremony

READING HABIT: Book Review: "Nurtured by Grace" by Lotachukwu Mary Eva Ohagwasi

 

Edulight Magazine debuts her first book review feature with the book titled Nurtured by Grace written by Mrs. Lotachukwu Mary Eva Ohagwasi. This life changing autobiography, shares the author’s true life story revolving around the vicissitudes of her life. Just like everyone else faces ups and downs in life,the author of the book, Mrs Lotachukwu Ohagwasi, a passionate child care professional, tries to inspire others through her book by exposing us to her journey into the education space. 

The seven chapter book is indeed rich in content and would certainly keep you on the edge of your seat. The author who bags a Bachelor Degree in Political Science, Masters in Public Administration, PGD in Education amongothermeritoriouscertificates is a continuous learning mother of two (2), known for her unrelentless quest for knowledge acquisition, and her willingness to share the knowledge she has amassed over the years, spurred her to publish her very first powerful book- Nurtured by Grace, a non-fiction.

Chapters 1 & 2: Chapters one and two takes us through the writers’ origin and early life. Mrs. Lotachukwu Ohagwasi was born to a military father and her mother whom she never really spent much time with happens to be a nurse. Although she didn’t spend many years with her mother, the story about her mother was quite mind blowing. Her early life was not as palatable as that of many other children of her age because of her step-mother, an unhealthy situation capable of shattering one's dreams. Surprisingly, providence had a better plan because that same setback in her early life actually spurred her to greatness. As you know: "Every Cloud has a Silver Lining".

Chapter 3: The author shares the experience of her early marriage life and this chapter will certainly come in handy for young couples and every intending couple. How she and her husband held on to faith while trying to pull through several challenges that came their way, is a must read for couples.

Chapter 4: This Chapter unlike the previous chapters brings us to some of her turbulent times through life as an adult. From the time she lost her father in May, 2006 to some unforgettable experiences withher step-mother. She did not only share the sour experiences but how she surmounted them all really beats one's imagination.

Chapter 5: Mrs. Lotachukwu Ohagwasi in this chapter, shares how she eventually ventured into the education space. Well, it originated from the challenges of getting a good child care centre for her child to exploring the opportunities that exist therein whilst attempting to provide the needed service. That, actually gave birth to Gemseed Children Academy, one of the leading childcare Montessori schools in Lagos State, Nigeria.

Chapter 6: As the visioneer ,the writer takes us through her vision and mission for setting up Gemseed Children Academy, and how intending school owners can tap into her ideology in setting up their schools in order to remain relevant both locally and internationally.

Chapter 7: In this chapter, the author draws the curtain with some indelible quotes. Some of the quotes dropped are eye openers while the others, food for thought that will ignite the fire within.

There are loads of reasons to get this book,either as a student, a parent, teacher or a school owner. You certainly have a word or two for you in it. Go get your copy and I believe you have the author to thank later.

To this end, Mrs. Lotachukwu Mary Eva Ohagwasi can be contacted via her email address: maryohans@gmail.com  or her mobile phone no: 234 802 3318 457.We expect everyone to grab a copy of Nurtured by Grace.

TEACHERS CORNER: TEACHING METHODS BY KINGSLEY OHAERI

 

 

First and foremost, I do wish to begin this treatise by informing and or reminding us that teaching is a transformative tool. Just ponder for a few seconds: what is that thing that transformed a little child of yesterday into a doctor today? How did the boys and girls I taught and saw through SSCE some years ago... how come they are now lawyers, engineers, bankers, etc?  The answer is teaching. Do not despise teaching. It has the ability to transform the learner. Little wonder teachers are today called different names, such as coach, instructor, moulder, trainer, pedagogue, and I must add, transformer.

Our focus in this treatise is the various methods used by transformers (sorry, I mean teachers) to transmit knowledge and skills to learners.

1. The first method is what I will christen the orthodox or traditional method: This is the well-known ubiquitos method whereby the teacher stands before the trainers and explains the topic. The trainers sit quietly for 45 or 90 minutes listening to a monologue, with questions in between or at the end of the long talk.

This method is very popular with teachers as it has come a long way and is used in many schools. The demerits of the orthodox method is that it can be boring, especially for the children of this generation who are hyperactive and fun seeking. Come to think of it, even as an adult, have you not been caught sleeping in church during a long sermon? Or in a seminar? So, If you are an apologist of this method of teaching, expect your learners to sleep on you! But there is a solution: when your students start sleeping, just throw a joke or a question. The class will become lively again

2. The second method is the Interactive Method: This is a modified version of the orthodox method of teaching because the teacher also stands, facing the seated learners; but this time around he does not monopolize the talking---he allows the leaners to contribute.

This method will be effective if learners have been given a note or a hand-out previously, to study and prepare for the next class. If you have an active or studious class, you will enjoy this method as a teacher, but if your class is dull, mediocre or indifferent, you will lose steam. Here, there is no dull moment. Also, the Interactive Method is not without its challenges. One of the challenges is that it tasks  the ability of the teacher to moderate the diverse contributions of learners and prevent the class from degenerating into a market place. Also, intelligent introverts and average students will not participate.

3. The third method is the teaching practice method. In this method, the teacher appoints some students to teach the class and sits down like a student to watch each student teach the rest. Before the period ends, the teacher will summarize the topic(s), pointing out errors, salient points, etc

What are the merits of this method?  It compels learners to read as they will not want to be disgraced before their colleagues. Also, It avails the teachers the opportunity of sitting down instead of standing for so long. Furthermore, it has been said that the best way to learn a topic is to teach it. This is a paradox of studying. However, one or more students slated to teach the class might not come to school owing to stage fright, inferiority complex or unpreparedness.

4, Another method we will talk about here is what I will call the visual method. This entails showing learners videos, pictures, samples or real places pertaining to the topic being discussed. A projector is a veritable tool used to achieve this; thus, we strongly appeal to school owners to buy  projectors. Do you know that it is better to see something once than to talk about it a thousand times?

Apart from the projector, study visits are invaluable. A class or a department could, for instance, undertake a study tour of the stock exchange, house of assembly, industry, etc to see, first hand, how something is done. Note that this study visit is different from the excursion visits carried out by all the students.

Teaching aids are blood relatives of the visual method. As much as possible, a teacher is mandated to use them. Don't just talk and describe in abstract.  Do you know that many students of Government have not set their eyes on a constitution, mace, ballot paper, etc? This i found out with indignation! Besides, when officials from the Lagos State Ministry of Education Quality Assurance visit your school, they will scold or even sanction your school, if you do not use teaching aids.

Permit me to round it off here for want of space, but I will be greatly fulfilled if you get the message I have laboured so far to pass across to us. There are many teaching methods at the disposal of a trainer and none of them is bad, but it will be more rewarding if we combine or alternate the methods.

 

 

ONE ON ONE WITH MR. AKIN BENJAMIN, SEASONED EDUCATION CONSULTANT

 

Kindly introduce yourself to our esteemed readers and followers?

Yes! I am Akin Benjamin that is my name.  I always introduce myself as a proud and passionate teacher. The truth of the matter is that I am more than a teacher. I teach, I train and I am also an education consultant. Not only have I taught children for over twenty-five (25) years and I have been involved in working with schools, but now I am into full consulting. I train teachers on how to do it right.

How long have you been into consulting?

Well, consulting in the real sense of it as part-time will be well over six (6) years. It is more than that, part-time in the real sense of it. You see when you are on a job; you don’t have all the time to do what you really want to do. When I came out fully should be two (2) years ago, I clocked fifty (50) last year. I have set a target of fifty (50) years to leave paid employment for full-time consulting and that was last year October 25^th last year I clocked fifty (50), now, October 25^th this year I will be fifty-one (51). I ended up heading a school in Abuja and then pulled out and I began to do this full time. I have been busy, very busy.

Fantastic! Coming to the part that concerns most of us with interest in Education, there have been convergent and divergent beliefs among so many people that Private Schools have dropped in standard compared to Unity schools. What is your take on this and why would you support any stand?

Coincidentally, I have taught in both public school and I have taught in private school. The truth of the matter is this; there are the good, the bad and the ugly schools. And they are on either divide. Let me tell you the truth of the matter is that in this country, private schools do a lot more than the public schools. You see government has not been able to fill the gap well. So private schools are doing that and that is why you see when you talk about private schools that are not of substandard maybe low cost schools where they cannot afford all it takes to achieve standard in their place. You see government say that, depending on the resource that is available, public schools have been starved of funds over the years. We are clamouring that they return public schools to private owners, who own so many of them before now. Look at St. Gregory College in Obalende, Lagos Sate. When it was handled by the government that school declined, now that it has been returned to real owners of the school, just go and check for yourself. Check most of these schools that has been returned to their owners, they are getting back on track including St. Finbarr’s College. CMS is also returning back. Government has made a mess of public education that is just the truth. That doesn’t mean there are no private schools that cut corners. You see there are private schools that stand out tall and are maintaining the ethics of what we expect. And they are doing fine!

Talking about cutting corners, it has come to our knowledge that some schools actually encourage exam malpractice in their schools all in a bid to get more students come to their school as a result of that. What is your take on that?

I was in about two (2) radio stations in the last one month during the WAEC and I was sharing a lot on exam malpractice. How it has become a monster. Truth of the matter is public or private, exam malpractice is everywhere. Yes, there are still schools that will maintain their standard and ethics and I know many. But majority have derailed. Why did they derail? The shared number of pupils or students they are handling don’t even have the capacity. The student-teacher ratio is terrible that is one. Teachers motivation is at zero (0) level. How much are teachers paid? And then the qualities of teachers, because we have found out that the quality of a teacher is the most important factor in the education sector. If the quality of the teacher is good you can produce even under the bamboo tree. I am telling you the truth. If you don’t have quality teaching, quality learning cannot take place. And then you begin to prepare them, you do not want them to fail. So you want your school to maintain some kind of image that will attract more pupils and students so that enrolment will increase. Thereby, improving cash flow steady, and then you have invigilators who come in. who will not be paid by the examining bodies until after three (3) months after. And they keep going to these schools year in year out. You should ask yourself what’s the motivation.

That brings us to the next questions; you have been in this profession for over two (2) decades now, do think we have teachers with passion and hunger for impact in our system today? We have cases of teachers been open to trainings yet they don’t attend, what do you think could be the cause?

Yeah! Let me just respond in this way, this interview is good! I have been able to train teachers in public schools and train teachers in private schools. I know the difference. Public school teachers hardly want to respond to trainings. Especially if they are not paid to come for it, you see the idea that government should pay them allowances for training still resonates. You know that is how it works with government schools; you pay people to go for training. So, if that is not part of the package, some public school teachers will not come for the training. That is one. Then two, except it is sponsored and they are given some allowances. For private schools, a lot of teachers are not self motivated because they have a wrong idea coming into the job. Some of them do not have a sense of mission and vision coming into the profession. When I started out, I carved out a vision for myself. Now, I tell teachers everywhere, get all the training that you need to get. Don’t wait for your schools to train you. I do personal budget every session for training. Once it is long holiday, I will set aside an amount of money for training. You don’t have to wait for the employer. The reason teachers wait for their employer is because they think they are doing it for the employer. I tell teachers, see yourselves as building a career for yourself. So that whichever school you are working with would benefit such that you are building a career for yourself. Your career will speak for you. Those are the kind of people schools look for, they don’t look for job. As you are looking at me, they coach me out of school that is the truth because of value. It can pay off where you are. And if they don’t appreciate it where you are then you will move to where they will appreciate you. just keep building your own career and keep doing your thing. Don’t give the responsibility of building yourself to another person. I tell people, learn, become bigger and better. Then you can earn better. There is no short cut around it. Some people are on chicken salary because they have not built any value they are waiting for someone to do that instead of taking the bull by the horn and been self motivated, improve their own skill, get training by themselves and then as you showcase what you have. It is either they pay you better where you are or somebody hears about your skill and then they invite you to get a better pay. So, this is the way it works. But a lot of people don’t know.

The global pandemic ravaging the world i.e. Covid 19 has brought about adjustment in the way things are done everywhere. And it has lead to the re-jigging of the sectors, including education. Let’s look at the effect of Covid 19 to education relating it to teaching and many educators are now involved in hybrid learning? What is your take on this?

Yes, we have children in public schools, government must show example. You see public schools are not open yet. This is because government that is demanding that private schools should do this and that. They are not ready with that kind of provision. They must show example. I thank God that I came up with some ideas that was shared with some state governments, that they can do morning and afternoon session because of their population. Some states have adopted that. The truth of the matter is this, teachers will need to function from the position of basking of knowledge. We cannot teach as fear-filled people, we must update knowledge about Covid 19 daily. We must be able teach our children the protocols and also to obey the protocols. Until it becomes a culture, contrary to what the world thinks or most people think, the children are at less risk than the teachers. Let me take that again, the younger people’s immunity level is higher than the adult. If the adult work with the children in school, they are at higher risk of coming down with Covid 19. So the teachers need to take it more upon his/her self to ensure that the protocols are observed. Already as we know, children are returning to schools and the teachers are bombarding them. That is not what to do; you need to reintegrate the children back to school gradually. You cannot rush them like you would normally want to do. The children have lost touch with the school culture. Little wonder my little niece was asking the other day, why all these writing, are we not done yet?

What are the roles of the parent, government and school in ensuring there is a smooth reintegration and the impact on these children which in turn will yield the desired result?

Now, the truth of the matter is that all the stakeholders must be on the alert to their duties concerning this. The government has provided a checklist to checkmate what even they themselves have not been able to abide by. Now, let me tell you the implication of that. There will be a dichotomy, a great gap between the education of the haves and the have not. The government must comply quickly to its own demands and regulations so that the public schools can comeback on time to function. Children can be taught; otherwise we are going to have issues.  Now, not only that they will have to do monitoring, the inspectors and quality assurance department will need to wake up and visit schools, and not another way to get toll fee. There personnel should not go to schools to harass schools to get money. That is another problem, so we need to monitor schools that they are complying. That is one, on the part of school owners. You need to provide everything that is needed to ensure safety, I was speaking on another programme the other day and I said security, safeguarding and safety measures must be taken into cognizance. Everything that has to do with protocol that will safeguard and secure our children’s health and life should be put in place in schools. And then ensure that learning is going on in a standard way. You don’t just do wishy-washy thing in the name of hybrid learning. Regarding parents, the parents would have to corporate with schools. Providing all the things the children would have to bring to schools; is it face mask? Is it face-shield? Is it hand sanitizer? You comply with the regulations of the school. This is not the time to fight school and it is certainly not the time to say you are withholding school fees. Pay your school fees. Schools will not run on empty budget. They are spending money, when it comes to virtual learning, we need the parents' help.

Can I ask you this question? As it stands some parents had lost their jobs and are trying to meet up with the school fees payment, don’t you think there should be a middle ground between the parents and school owners when it comes to payment of school fees?

Now, what I advise school owners is this. Ordinarily, when everything was fine, there were a lot of challenges in paying school fees. So, then the thing is everybody is gone through what we have been through. Let the parent commit to plan of payment. You do a schedule, and then you pay in installments, and you hold them responsible to it. You track it, you have a schedule. You can break the payment into part-payments so that by the time they pay a little now, they pay another, may be by mid-term when they are coming in from the mid-term break they pay everything. I will not advise any school to wait till the final exams to collect their fees. Parents won’t pay. But then, you need to show empathy and allow them some kind of room for part payment plan. Where there is a schedule you can track. Parents should know we are not selling tangibles, we are not selling oranges or mangoes. When I was doing home lesson they will pay me upfront I don’t want to be fighting anybody. I say to them if you are not satisfied with what I have done for you. I can refund you. I don’t want to chase you for your money.

What do you have to say to the children; it is believed by some that education standard had gone way down while others believe the advent of technology has help further education, where do you stand and your advice?

My advice is this, you know teachers will do their part, parents will do their part. The learner must do his or her own part. That you have gadget in your hands now does not mean you should get lost into the world wide web (WWW) doing the wrong things. You are to use technology for the right purpose which is for learning. So that we can be part of the inventive people, create apps and then take advantage of this technology for the best and not for the wrong reasons. There are positives online and there are negatives. The students need to be responsible digital citizens not responsible monsters

How can one reach you sir for your services?

You can reach me via any of these handles;

Facebook: Akin Benjamin | Twitter: @Akinteacher | Website: https://www.akinbenjamin.com.ng

Mobile: 08023521541 & 08165476552

VOCATIONAL SKILL: HOW TO MAKE GERMICIDE OR IZAL

 

To live a germ free life, we need to have germicide or izal at home especially in a time like this. On Edulight vocational skill page. We bring you steps on how to make germicide or izal yourself.

 

Items needed

v  Texapon 1/4litres

v  Carbolic Acid

v  Izal Concentrate

v  Whitner

v  Booster

v  Phenol

v  Lysol  

v  Thickner ½ litres

v  Pine Oil

 

 

Simple steps on making your germicide

Get a bowl or bucket

Add Phenol

 

Stir the mixture until it is properly dissolved to avoid lumps

 

Add the pine oil and keep on stirring

 

Followed by the Izal Concentrate

 

Then add the booster, continue to stir as you add a new chemical

 

Add Lysol

 

Add the Carbolic Acid

 

Then add the Thickener

 

Note, the color will change, then finally add water

Sieve the mixture in order to remove whatever particles that refused to dissolve

 

You then package in your desired containers for use.  

 

 Provided by Mrs. Adekomi Zainab

EDU-CELEBRANTS FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, 2020

 

It’s the tenth month in the calendar year, and the year is gradually winding down. If you were born in this month, you are indeed blessed and here is wishing you a joyful birthday month. Here are some amazing people you celebrate your birthday month with;

1.      Stella Ekpo Okolo- Entrepreneur- October 1^st

2.      Chibuzor Nelson Azubuike AKA Phyno – Nigeria Musician – October 9^th

3.      Ogaga Jeshurun- Future Champ- October 17^th

4.      Ashionye Michelle Raccah – Actress, Screenwriter, TV & Film producer, Director- October 17^th

5.      Beere Mo- Managing Consultant @ SchoolMax - Consulting October 19^th  

6.      Oluwaseun Fasilat – Educator – October 19^th

7.      Emmanuel Akozi – Educator- October 20^th

8.      Akin Benjamin – Education Consultant – October 25^th

 

OUR ROLE MODEL: BENJAMIN SOLOMON CARSON SR.

 

Benjamin Solomon Carson Sr. (born September 18, 1951) is an American politician, author, and retired neurosurgeon who has served as the 17th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development since 2017. He was a candidate for President of the United States in the 2016 Republican primaries. He is considered a pioneer in the field of neurosurgery.

Carson became the Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in 1984 at age 33; he was the youngest chief of pediatric neurosurgery in the United States. At retirement, he was professor of neurosurgery, oncology, plastic surgery, and pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.^[4] Carson's achievements include performing the only successful separation of conjoined twins joined at the back of the head; performing the first successful neurosurgical procedure on a fetus inside the womb; performing the first completely successful separation of type-2 vertical craniopagus twins; developing new methods to treat brain-stem tumors; and revitalizing hemispherectomy techniques for controlling seizures. He wrote over 100 neurosurgical publications. He retired from medicine in 2013.

Carson gained national fame among political conservatives after delivering a speech at the 2013 National Prayer Breakfast which was perceived as critical of the policies of President Barack Obama. Following widespread speculation of a presidential run, Carson officially announced his campaign for the 2016 Republican nomination for President in May 2015. Carson performed strongly in early polls, leading to him being considered a frontrunner for the nomination during the fall of 2015, however his polling support began to decline following scrutiny of his foreign policy credentials after the November 2015 Paris attacks. Carson withdrew from the race after Super Tuesday, following a string of disappointing primary results, and endorsed Donald Trump. Following Trump's victory, Trump nominated Carson as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, being confirmed by the United States Senate in a 58–41 vote on March 2, 2017. 

Carson has received numerous honors for his neurosurgery work, including more than 60 honorary doctorate degrees and numerous national merit citations. In 2001, he was named by CNN and TIME magazine as one of the nation's 20 foremost physicians and scientists, and was selected by the Library of Congress as one of 89 "Living Legends" on its 200th anniversary.In 2008, Carson was bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States. In 2010, he was elected into the National Academy of Medicine. He was the subject of the 2009 TV film Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story, where he was portrayed by Cuba Gooding Jr.

Here are the books he has written: Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story | Think Big: Unleashing Your Potential for Excellence | The Big Picture: Getting Perspective on What's Really Important in Life. | Take the Risk: Learning to Identify, Choose, and Live with Acceptable Risk. | America the Beautiful: Rediscovering What Made This Nation Great. | One Nation: What We Can All Do to Save America's Future | One Vote: Make Your Voice Heard.