OUR READING CULTURE: Going Back To The Basics.

Some books to read

It is popularly known that a man who is not informed would be deformed. Information can be acquired by reading; and reading is the means by which we gain access to information offloaded by either ourselves or someone else. It is a source of recreation, ideas and teaching.

Interestingly, everywhere one goes there is something to read: from daily newspapers, internet, television screens, etc.

In the past, people loved reading but the reverse is what we have today. The likes of Nelson Mandela, Chinua Achebe, Albert Einstein, etc were known for their intellectual prowess, because they sacrificed play for their studies, hence, they are renowned for their contributions to humanity.

In September 2013, the Liberian government in partnership with the U.S government launched a National Campaign to raise awareness on the importance of reading by students and pupils in Liberian schools, as well as the entire citizenry.

Today, Japan is one of the world’s leading economies due to their innovative spirits, brought about by their high level of reading and research. They are always deeply immersed in their reading, thus, building milestones for themselves.

Coming back home, our reading culture is so low, such that an average Nigerian only knows very little about our history as a nation.

How can we grow from being referred to as a developing nation to a developed one, when we don’t imbibe reading culture at all levels, irrespective of ethnicity, religion and age? Readers are leaders!

Our poor reading culture has really affected us in a number of ways:

• ·        Poor academic performance in examinations.
• ·        Poor communication and writing skills.
• ·        Increased level of examination malpractices.
• ·        Increased level of illiteracy.
• ·        Increased level of corruption, and many others.

Youths today are not encouraged to read due to

• ·        Poor research and development by teachers and educators in learning environments.
• ·        Poor funding to provide reading rooms or libraries.
• ·        Inadequate study materials
• ·        Changes in government policies.

Should we then with the aforementioned challenges allow illiteracy to prevent us from passing meaningful information to our posterity? No!

Imbibing the culture of reading stimulates the imaginative power of the mind and widens one’s horizons. With it, one can handle complex issues and proffer solutions.

It expands one’s life-long potentials to become empowered and productive for the society.

It helps students to be at par with their contemporaries around the world, as it is the key to education and national development.

We need concerted efforts both in public and private schools, to ensure that the libraries are well equipped with relevant books.

Teachers should encourage their learners to read daily newspapers in prints or electronically.

We are a great people, and great people are great thinkers; great thinkers are great readers. Build your archive!