It
is worrisome to note that reading culture in the Nigerian society has
drastically dwindled to the extent that Nigerians do not want to read even a
page of a book, but are now embracing other things such as; watching of home
videos, navigating the Internet in search of easy answers to their academic
problems. This was content the opening speech by the Acting Head of Branch of
National Library of Nigeria, Plateau State Branch Mrs. Sarah Emmanuel Mshelia.
She
said “These acts also expose them to harmful behavior like drug abuse,
pornography and violence etc that are posted on the internet by the bad
elements of the society, even though, there could be other things they can get
from there that are beneficial to them”.
Sarah
noted that the benefit of a good reading culture cannot be over emphasized. “ It
is in the light of this that the National Library of Nigeria, under the able
leadership of our amiable National Liberian/CEO Professor L.O Aina launched a
readership promotion campaign nationwide where this programe is held in all the
23 functional branches to sensitizes Nigerians on the importance of embracing
reading culture by the Nigerian public.
She
said “the theme of this year’s campaign is working together to build a virile
reading nation; challenges and strategies and the objectives of the campaign
include: to encourage reading among Nigerians particularly the people of
Plateau state, to promote the increase of reading materials and to identify
obstacles that inhibit and find ways of eliminating them”.
“As
a way of encouraging the reading culture, the Plateau state branch has
initiated an award for two personalities who have distinguished themselves in
the area of reading and provision of reading materials respectively. She added
“Reading
is an indispensable cornerstone to the development of any nation and Nigeria
cannot afford to lack behind. If we want to develop and reach out full
potentials, we cannot afford to relegate the issues of reading to the
background.
She
called on parents, teachers, authors, publishers, booksellers, Liberian, government,
policy makers and non-governable organization to brace up to restore a good
reading habit that will help our young ones take to reading not just for
academic purposes but also for leisure which will lead to a full
development of Nigeria.
In
his opening remarks the National Liberian Chief Executive Officer, Professor
Lenrie O. Aina said, “ it is right to say that reading culture in Nigeria is
poor and that the benefit of good reading culture in any country cannot be over
emphasized given the fact that reading enriches the knowledge to full
participation in modern society. He said “reading is one fundamental building
block of learning, noting that reading is not just for school purposes, it is
for life long-learning. It is a way to get better knowledge from others
experiences or research findings and it can be a journey to self-recovery to
the reader, he added.
Lenrie
noted that leading world nations pride themselves on their promotion of
reading, that they see a high level of literacy as a major source of their
competiveness and social maturity. He said, the absence of widespread culture
of reading in the case of Nigeria acts as an effective barrier to our
development and international competiveness.
He
said, “it is in the light of the above that the National Library of Nigeria, which
is the apex library in our country Nigeria. He called on parents, teachers,
authors, publishers, booksellers, Liberians, government, policy makers and
non-governmental organizations to brace up to restore a good reading habit that
will help our young ones to reading not just for academic purposes but also for
leisure which will lead to a full development of Nigeria.
In
his remark the chairman of the occasion Hon. Joseph Alex Mairiga, commissioner
for primary and secondary education Plateau state, said, knowledge is not only
acquire in the four corner of the classroom, but a lot is imbedded in the
books. He said book is the classiest teacher to the students and if you develop
a reading habit you will be able to develop well and improve academically.
He
called on students to develop their English skills because it is the gate to
other subjects.
The
occasion was also witness poem presentation, reading competition and debate as
while as gifts and award presentations, as the famous Aharuwa Dance and
choreography dance, thrill the staff, guest and students.
