From Audu Joe, Lokoja
Following the prevailing decline in reading culture in Nigeria, the National Library of Nigeria (NLN), is currently on awareness campaign drive across the country with a call on school children and youths for attitudinal change over the development.
The campaign with the Theme: ” Building A Nation Of Readers; Share Your Story” was put in place by the Kogi Branch of National Library of Nigeria to ensure improved and continued readership advocacy on the menace.
The Head of Kogi Branch of National Library of Nigeria, Mrs Oyiza Agu in her speech during the event held in Lokoja on Tuesday, said that the programme which is an annual ritual is aimed at promotion of reading beyond mere utilization and examination reason, to support the creation of model reading clubs in Nigeria and empowerment of stakeholders to actively promote reading as well as make Nigeria a reading nation through partnership and collaborations.
According to Mrs Agu “To build a nation of readers, we must share our story to tell people how we are able to succeed to top by reading. Like the adage says a Reader is a leader and anyone who reads will be enlightened and knowledgeable about happenings and current information in the society”
Also speaking, the National Liberian/Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Chinwe Anunobi, disclosed that the objective of the campaign is to encourage and revive the moribund reading culture among Nigerians by promoting the availability of good reading materials and to collectively with other stakeholders seek Solutions to address identified obstacles to reading habit in Nigeria.
🔸️Mrs Oyiza Agu presenting her speech
The National Liberian who was represented by a Deputy Director with the National Library, Abuja, Idongesct Akpabio, explained that”To achieve these over the years, the National Library has continued to embark on readership promotion campaigns with the focus on children and youths in primary and secondary schools by way of sensitizing, informing, and educating them on reading culture”
Prof. Anunobi hinted that the campaigns were also extended to some identified groups in the society, such as the Expectant and nursing mothers in maternity homes, workers and travellers in motor parks, inmates in the Correctional centres of the Nigeria Correctional Services and rural communities across the country.
The Kogi State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Wemi Jones stressed the need for children in both primary, secondary and tertiary institutions to embrace reading habit which he said is the surest means of developing their knowledge for global information.
/🔸️Pesentstion of certificate to one of the participants by the representative of the Commissioner Wemi Jones.
Wemi Jones represented by a Director in the Ministry, Augustine Omede, admonished them to shun much concentration on internet browsing that has less value for their educational attainment.
He reiterated government’s desire to continue to give education sector topmost priority.
Highpoint of the event was a talk on the importance of Liberary/Reading presented by the Head Kogi Branch of National Library of Nigeria, Mrs Oyiza Agu and presentation of certificate of participation to the school children.
End.