The National Library of Nigeria (NLN) has bemoaned how little Nigerians read.
This was said at the national program to raise reading proficiency levels across the nation.
The National Librarian and Chief Executive Officer of the NLN, Prof. Chinwe Anunobi, stated that the habit of reading was quickly approaching a freezing point in Nigeria during the flag-off of the 2023 annual Readership Promotion Campaign (RPC), themed, “Reading Your Way to the Top,” on Tuesday in Abuja.
In order to achieve all-inclusive sustainable development, she maintained that Nigeria must place reading at the top of her list of priorities.
According to Anunobi, “I need not over emphasize the position that we must encourage our children and youth to jettison social media and read because independent reading leads to an increased volume of reading.
“The more one reads, the better one reads. The more one reads, the more knowledge of words and language one acquires. The more one reads, the more fluent one becomes. The more one reads, the easier it becomes to sustain the mental effort necessary to comprehend complex situations. The more one reads, the more one learns about the people and happenings of our world.
“The National Library of Nigeria will never rest on her oars until she achieves a reading nation, for a reading nation is a leading and developed nation. We are open to collaboration with stakeholders in the world of reading as well as concerned citizens of this Country to achieve a reading Nigeria.”
The campaign’s goal, according to Ms. Amaka Ojielo. Chair of the 2023 RPC, was to urge everyone—young and old—to read. For at least ten minutes each day.
She added that “Another objective is to encourage publishers to print in indigenous languages. Books are important hence they offer a way of expanding cultural and imaginative horizons and also introduce children to a wide range of vocabulary as well as grammatical structures”.
cc: Daily Trust Ng
