FIC Report (Abia State) – The Wife of the Governor, Mrs. Nkechi Ikepazu, Ph.D has charged Abia Children to imbibe the culture of reading at their early age to widen their horizon and intellectual capacity.
Mrs. Ikpeazu gave this charge at the 2021 Readership Promotion Campaign with the theme “Building a Nation of Readers: Share your story” organized by National Library Nigeria, held at the Vicar Hope Foundation Auditorium, Umuahia.
She described reading as the only known way to achieve academic excellence even in other endeavours maintaining there is always a difference between someone who is always reading to know and improve and someone who doesn’t read at all.
Mrs. Ikpeazu who was represented by her Principal Secretary, Elder, Mrs. Love Ezema described the Programme as an intervention at a time when the advent of Social Media is gradually swinging our Children off their reading culture.
She, however, enjoined Parents to always encourage and monitor their Children and Wards.
In her Speech, the National Librarian and Chief Executive Officer, National Library of Nigeria, Prof. Chinwe Anunobi, raised the alarm over poor reading culture in Nigeria, describing it as a dangerous challenge to National Development which must be addressed urgently.
Prof. Anunobi represented by Dr. Mrs. Kalu Oluchi Ichie harped on the need for critical Stakeholders to brainstorm collectively and seek solutions to address identified obstacles to reading culture in Nigeria.
She pointed out that the Readership Promotion Campaign embarked upon by the National Library of Nigeria was designed to encourage and revive the moribund reading culture among Nigerians.
“This Year’s Theme is hinged on the fact that reading is a springboard for change and growth. Our democracy, economy, education and quality of lives are all enhanced by reading well and critically. Generally, the objectives of the campaign are to encourage and revive the moribund reading culture among Nigerians by way of promoting the availability of good reading materials, and to collectively with other stakeholders seek solutions to address identified obstacles to reading culture in Nigeria, she stated.
Continuing, “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”.
The Head of Branch, National Library of Nigeria, Abia State, Mrs. Chika Ezulike who exposed and expounded the benefits of reading, expressed optimism that the year 2021 Readership Promotion Campaign in the State would succeed in sensitizing and reawakening the consciousness of Abians on the need to building a Nation of Readers.
Mrs. Ezulike who also revealed plans to reach out to the grassroots and other Members of the society with the campaign through a Radio Talk show Programme, lauded the Wife of the State Governor, Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu for her commitment to the improvement and sustenance of the reading culture in Abia State.
Also Speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. Eze Ajuzie advocated that Parents especially the Literate Ones should enhance the reading culture of their Children by supplying them with standard novels, reading aloud to them and encouraging them to build good vocabulary in order to develop their potentials. He also noted that reading is best form of brain exercise even as he commended the National Library of Nigeria for the Readership Promotion Campaign in Abia State.
One of the pupils, Miss. Jachinma Raphael, who also authored the book, “Fruit Of Diligence”, appreciated the efforts of the National Library of Nigeria for reawakening the reading culture and consciousness among Nigerians and promised to be the Vanguard in encouraging other children to read in order to compete favourably with others.
Highlights of the event were interactions with the Children selectively drawn from both Private and Public Schools in the State and reading aloud sessions by the Wife of the Governor, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. Eze Ajuzie, ABSU Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Prof. Emezu, Lady Delphine Chioma Nwagboso among other Personalities and Presentation of Books by the National Library and Miss. Jaachinma Fifi to the Wife of the Governor.
