Unknown in Ghana, Celebrated in Nigeria: The story of Yaw Osei Ababio, the chemistry book author

Yaw Osei Ababio, a Ghanaian author, has been highly revered in Nigeria for his works, especially his contributions to Nigerian education.

The Ghanaian author of New School Chemistry, a chemistry book for students, is regarded as a legend in the field of chemistry education and for enhancing students' learning abilities in the subject.

Osei Yaw Ababio was a chemistry teacher at DMGS Onitsha, Anambra State. He wrote the book to make the understanding of chemistry simpler for his students and in 1985 he published the book in Onitsha with Africana First Publisher PLC Onitsha.

Though he may not be well known in Ghana, his home country, Osei Ababio’s works have earned him 5-star reviews on several platforms, including Amazon.

His book, which comes highly recommended among Nigerians, dissects chemistry in simple and easily understandable language. He has been described by Nigerian netizens as one of the best things to have happened to them.

An X user, Alex Onyia, posted, “One of the best things from Ghana that happened to Nigeria is Osei Yaw Ababio.”

His post was echoed by other Nigerians in the comment section, who shared their experiences with Osei Ababio’s books.

One user said he was able to understand and enjoy chemistry back in school due to the simplicity of Ababio’s book.

“Just like P. N. Okeke, the man made chemistry simple and enjoyable. Holderness and lambert could not compete!.”

Read some of the posts below:

One of the best things from Ghana that happened to Nigeria is Osei Yaw Ababio.
— Alex Onyia (@winexviv) September 7, 2024

At one point you could say a sentence from Ababio and I’d tell you the page it came from!!!

Chemistry A3 thanks to Ababio!
— Kachi (@orebobo) September 8, 2024

When an external constraint is imposed on a chemical system in equilibrium, the equilibrium will shift to annul the effect of the change.

What principle is this? Correct answer - 20 marks.

Thanks to OY Ababio.
— Ikechukwu Ugwuanyi (@Awesome_Iyke_) September 8, 2024

These are the sorts of humans we should be celebrating while they are alive or immortalising when they are gone. Not those thieving politicians.

God bless Mr(s) Abibio, Okeke, Dele Ashade etc for their immense contributions to our generation of scholars.
— nuge (@Sangun_987) September 8, 2024

I read Ababio from cover to cover, and I became a specialist in chemistry! The public school I graduated from never had a chemistry teacher for nearly 2 sessions. I took the responsibility upon myself & had a distinction. The school later hired me to teach the subsequent classes
— Dr. Ay|MBBS🇳🇬|MPH-Advanced🇦🇺| (@Drlab337) September 8, 2024