Adaeze Ifeoma Atuegwu//^ⓘ (born June 5, 1977) is aNigerian-American^[1]novelist and writer whose works include novels,^[2] children's stories,^[3] medical non-fiction,^[4] and drama.^[5] She is considered one of Nigeria's youngest most prolific authors with 17 books published by the age of seventeen.^{[6][7][8][9][10][11]}

Adaeze Atuegwu
Born	(1977-06-05)June 5, 1977 (age 47) Enugu, Nigeria
Nationality	Nigerian
Citizenship	American
Alma mater	Rutgers University Johns Hopkins University University of Florida
Occupation(s)	Author, pharmacist
Years active	1994–present
Website	adaezea.com

Atuegwu was born in the city ofEnugu^[1] inNigeria topharmacist^[12] andphilanthropist^[13][14] Prince Chris Atuegwu of theNnofo royal lineage inNnewi^[1][15] and Lady Ifeoma Atuegwu,^[11] pharmacist,^[8] philanthropist,^[16][17] and founder of Bina Foundation,^[18][19][20] and a 2017 winner^[21][22] of theMargarette Golding Award of the International Inner Wheel, also fromNnewi,Anambra State, Nigeria.

Atuegwu grew up inEnugu.^[23]

Atuegwu wrote her first novel, Fate at 17 years old^[7] in 1994^[2] while awaiting herSenior Secondary SchoolWest African Examinations Council Certificate Examinations (WAEC) results.^[7]

Atuegwu completed her primary and secondary school education at the University Primary and Secondary schools in Enugu^[6] where she received several academic and non-academic prizes.^[7] During her time in Secondary School, she was a contributing writer and editor ofHonour, her secondary school magazine.^[11]

Atuegwu studiedpharmacy at theUniversity of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN)^[24] for one semester.^[11] In 1996, she moved to the United States and subsequently studied pharmacy atRutgers University.^[8] She received aBachelor of Pharmacy and a doctorate degree in pharmacy (PharmD) in 2002.^[8] While in Rutgers University, she served as a contributing writer and copy editor for her pharmacyyearbook,Pharmascript.^[4]

In 2008, Atuegwu completed a master's degree in creative writing atJohns Hopkins University.^[8] In 2014 she received a master's inmedication therapy management from theUniversity of Florida.^[11][8] Atuegwu holds a certification from theAmerican Medical Writers Association (AMWA).^[1]

In 1994, Fourth Dimension Publishing Company^[25] founded byArthur Nwankwo, published^[5] Atuegwu's first novel,Fate, the story of a doomed romantic relationship^[7] when she was 17 years old.^[3] Her second novel,Tears, was published shortly afterwards^[8] by B-Teks Publishing.^[6] Atuegwu's subsequent 15 books were all published within 8 months^[26][5][11] making her one of Nigeria's youngest authors authors.^[3][1] One of her children's books,The Magic Leaf, published in 1994, is amagic realism^[27] story set inSoutheastern Nigeria. Her drama,My Husband's Mistress,^[7] was published in 1995. Some of her other books includeAdventures of Nnanna (1995),Chalet 9 (1995),Bina and the Birthday Cake (1995),Bina and the Sailboat (1995),Bina at the Beach (1995),Bina at the Supermarket (1995),Bina at the Airport (1995),Lizzy's First Year at School (1995),Lizzy'sSecond Year at School (1995), andLizzy's Third Year at School (1995).^[2]

On July 28, 1995,^[11] a press conference was held for Atuegwu at Enugu Press Centre. At this event, the then ex-lady ofEnugu State, Mrs. Olusola Torey,^[11] wife to ColonelMike Torey, described Atuegwu as a "child prodigy" and according to the media "one of the youngest most prolific writers with an aggressive creative writing talent and a literary whiz kid."^[28]

On May 31, 1996,^[11] Atuegwu's seventeen books were collectively launched in the city of Enugu in Nigeria under the slogan of "17 books at 17".^[7][29] At this event, General Sam Momah, formerminister of science and technology in Nigeria, described her as a "literary genius and a gift to Nigeria."^[1]

Atuegwu's books were used in Nigeria as required textbooks and reading materials in primary, secondary, andtertiary institutions as well as for juniorWest African Examinations Council exams and other secondary school examinations.^[29] Atuegwu is considered one of the forerunners of the new era of young contemporaryNigerian writers.^[9] She is also considered one of the predecessors ofthird generation Nigerian writers.^[1] Atuegwu's books are available asaudiobooks andbraille.^[30] She is a member ofPEN America.^[31]

Atuegwu is an advocate for the disabled including the blind andvisually-impaired through her involvement in Bina Foundation for People with Special Needs, a non-profit organization in Enugu, Nigeria.^{[32][30][33][34][35]} Her books, which are available in Braille and audio has been donated to various centers for the blind and visually impaired in Nigeria.^[4]

Atuegwu, through Bina Foundation,^[36][37] is also an advocate for disability inclusion especially for disability sports^[38] such asblind soccer.^[39][40][41] In 2022, Atuegwu was part of volunteers on the Nigeria's Star Eaglesblind football team toMorocco for theInternational Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) Blind Football African Championships held inBouznika, Morocco from September 14 to 26, 2022.^[42][43][44]

Atuegwu grew up inEnugu, Nigeria. She moved toNew Jersey in 1996.^[29] She currently lives in Washington, D.C., with her family.^[1]

Atuegwu's Bina Series, a series of five books about a mischievous boy named after Atuegwu's younger brother, Obinna,^[7] inspired a Nigerian children's and teenage hairstyle known asBina Haircut in the nineties and 2000s.^[45][7][8]

In 2019, author Ever Obi, a novelist, who had never met Atuegwu but was inspired by her age at first publication, dedicated his first published novel,Men Don't Die, to Atuegwu saying for "Adaeze Atuegwu...in whose works and writings I found my childhood muses."^{[46][47][48][11][29][49]}

• 1993:World Health Day Essay Competition (Nigeria)^[6]
• 1994:Rotary International Award for Creativity^[1]
• 1995:Rotary International Award for Fostering Child Development^[11]
• 1996:Rotary International Award for Excellence in Writing^[50]
• 1996:Rotaract International Award for Creativity^[7]

• Fate, Enugu: Fourth Dimensions Publishers, 1994,ISBN 978-156-398-2; Cika Publishers, 1994,ISBN 978-2966-84-3
• Tears, Enugu: B-Teks Publishers, 1994, ISBN 978290404X; Cika Publishers, 1994,ISBN 978-2966-60-6
• Adventures of Nnanna, Enugu: Cika Publishers, 1995,ISBN 9783352911
• Chalet 9, Enugu: Cika Publishers, 1995,ISBN 978-33529-0-3
• My Husband's Mistress, Enugu: Cika Publishers, 1995,ISBN 978-33529-3-8
• The Magic Leaf, Enugu: Cika Publishers, 1995,ISBN 978-33529-2-X
• Bina and the Birthday Cake: Enugu: Cika Publishers, 1995,ISBN 978-33529-4-6,978-2904-05-8
• Bina and the Sailboat, Enugu: Cika Publishers, 1995,ISBN 978-33529-8-9,978-2904-06-6
• Bina at the Beach, Enugu: Cika Publishers, 1995,ISBN 978-2904-07-4
• Bina at the Supermarket, Enugu: Cika Publishers, 1995,ISBN 978-33529-7-0,978-2904-08-2
• Bina at the Airport, Enugu: Cika Publishers, 1995,ISBN 978-33529-5-4,978-2904-09-0
• Lizzy's First Year at School, Enugu: Cika Publishers, 1995,ISBN 978-33529-9-7
• Lizzy's Second Year at School, Enugu: Cika Publishers, 1995,ISBN 978-2966-12-6
• Lizzy's Third Year at School, Enugu, Cika Publishers, 1995

• Official website