An America-based Nigerian nurse cum author, Christine Vidal-Wachuku, revealed to Sun Newspaper in an interview that her new novel, “Breaking Barriers,” will as published by Worital is as personal as it meets a global need.
As a young lawyer from the North Central Gbagyi ethnic nationality, Christine was deployed to the then Imo State for the mandatory one-year National Youth Service (NYSC) in 1986/87.
Due to entrenched tribal stereotypes, she vowed never to marry an Igbo man. That persisted until she met Vidal – a charismatic and charming senior professional colleague.
This intriguing true love story portrays the couple’s struggles to bridge two worlds and break barriers – in the face of stiff opposition from my people. It also showcases other Nigerian social issues, the rich culture of the indigenous Gbagyi people of Central Nigeria, and a bit of the Igbo-Ngwa people of Abia state.
Christine Vidal-Wachuku nee Jezhi graduated with an LL. B (Hons) Law degree from the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1985, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1986. She later obtained a Master’s degree in Law from the University of Jos, Nigeria.
After relocating to the USA in 2011, she made a midlife career change to become a Registered Nurse. Subsequently, she earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida in Nursing. “I am married to Vidal Ndubuisi Wachuku, a Lawyer turned ordained minister. We live in Texas, USA as empty nesters. We are blessed with 3 wonderful daughters, Kpetu, Shekwonyadu, and Imani, a hard-working son-in-law, Glenn Moore, and 2 fantastic grandsons, Awyetu and Atnadu.
I am hands-on and enjoy learning recipes from different cultures” she explains.
On why she authored this book. She says, “I primarily wrote Breaking Barriers to push back on the ethnic prejudices that continually divide Nigeria and show that we can find genuine love and integration outside our ethnicity.”
The book that is very much available on Amazon and Worital is Christine’s first work as an author. And as such she happily narrates the process that went into writing the book. “First, I scribbled down all I could remember. Then asked my husband for what he could remember. I first wrote it for a Facebook group, Gals’ Hangout. Later, I refined some portions, adding a chapter about my rural life.
My husband was my in-house editor but I sent the manuscript to a few people to read and give their input.
“I sent the chapters with Gbagyi, Igbo, and Hausa words to a select few to edit for spelling and accurate translations. Subsequently, my husband and I edited it again and sent it to a professional editor. After that, we reviewed it one more time before submitting it to my publisher, Worital.
Worital designed the cover and proofread the manuscript before publishing and printing it.”
Breaking Barriers gives all who desire extraordinary marriages large doses of hope, support, and encouragement to surmount traditional mountains, bolt through any valley of ethnic prejudices, and boldly break through all barriers to arrive at their desired destination.
It also addresses social issues such as the gradual death of our indigenous languages, nepotism, cultural pressure of not having a male child, the challenges that came with the creation of the FCT, corruption, entrepreneurship, and the dangers of a single story, among others.
Breaking Barriers is more than a book because it is not only written to address social and traditional stereotypes that plague us, but it is also the ticket into the Online Courtship Academy.
In reviewing the book, Dr. Ejiro Otive-Igbuzor, Scholar, Pastor, Writer, Life Coach says that “Breaking Barriers is an amazing story of a rare kind of love; love that breaks barriers and respects boundaries at the same time… a pathfinder for today’s youth. It is the classic example of Christian Courtship and is highly recommended for marriage counselors, youth fellowships, and individuals who want to get it right.”