Reading is a universal phenomenon
and tradition, as there is practically no vocation across the world that
does not require reading.
Even in contemporary times, artisans and tradesmen ought to be able
to read and write so as to enable them to function properly in their
day-to-day activities.
In all educational systems the world over, reading is considered to
be a dependent variable, as no educational endeavour could thrive
without the reading culture.
In a learning environment, the ability of a child to survive is
anchored on reading, which requires some language skills, and pedagogues
insist that a child’s reading skills have to be developed and
strengthened, as he or she moves up the education ladder.
These days, however, there has been a growing concern that the
reading culture among Nigerians, particularly the youth and students,
has waned significantly.
The older generation of Nigerians recalled with nostalgia, those days
when virtually all the towns and cities had public libraries, which
catered to the reading needs of the residents.
Nowadays, the interest of most Nigerians in reading has dramatically
diminished, as the people are now more interested in watching television
and films or browsing the web, among other forms of entertainment.
The problem is becoming more alarming, as students of schools that
have the privilege of having functional and well-quipped libraries do
not patronise them.
Observers note that many students of such schools have never borrowed
or read a single book in the libraries throughout their stay in the
schools.
These developments, among other factors, perhaps, propelled the
National institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) to organise in
December last year, the 7th Annual Round Table on Cultural Orientation
(ARTCO), with the theme: “Promoting Reading Culture in Nigeria: The Role
of Institutions”.
The Executive Secretary of NICO, Mr. Barclays Ayakoroma, said that
the theme of the roundtable was considered timely and apt because of the
deteriorating educational system of the country.
He said that NICO’s desire to aid the reading culture campaign
through the roundtable was partly informed by President Goodluck
Jonathan’s efforts to promote the reading culture in Nigeria via the
“Bring Back the Book” (BBB) campaign.
Ayakoroma said that the 7th ARTCO was geared toward evaluating the
role of various institutions in improving the dwindling reading culture
in Nigeria.
“The crucial role of parents, as the first level of contact with the
children, is on the verge of collapse. Many parents hardly spend time
with their children to groom them academically, spiritually, socially
and so on.
“The required foundational orientation is usually lacking or in some
cases, left in the care of house-helps who may also require such
attention,” he said.
Ayakoroma noted that in Indonesia, for instance, pupils spent only
three hours in school during weekdays and one hour on Saturdays.
“The implication of the arrangement is that Indonesian pupils spend
more time at home for enhanced parental guidance, while they grow up
appreciating their cultural endowments in a pragmatic way,” he said. “As
it were, when complete attitudinal change is encouraged, the potential
for achievement in our children is further strengthened,” he added.
Ayakoroma bemoaned a situation in which reading was only accorded
priority attention whenever examinations were in view, adding that
research, one of the major factors stimulating the people’s desire to
read, had been largely abandoned.
Sharing similar sentiments, Mr Edem Duke, the Minister of Tourism,
Culture and National Orientation, particularly blamed the students’ poor
performance in external examinations nowadays on their poor reading
habit.
Citing the 2011 WASCE results which he described as “discouraging” as
an example, the Minister noted that less than 22 per cent of the
candidates who sat for the examination, passed with credits in five
subjects, including English and mathematics.
“It is, therefore, imperative that we work together to promote the
reading culture, especially among our children and youths,” Duke said at
the NICO roundtable.
“It is part of government’s strategic plans to promote the reading
culture that libraries, which are well-stocked with good books, will be
cited in different locations across the country.”
The minister stressed the need for churches, mosques, the media,
parents and non- governmental organisations to actively participate in
the nascent crusade to restore the reading culture in the Nigerian
society.
Prof. Olu Obafemi, the Chairman of the NICO roundtable, nonetheless,
said that Nigeria had yet to have any realistic project that could
foster a purposeful reading culture in the country.
“Let no one make the mistake about the critical location of reading
in a nation’s life; even the survival of our fledgling democracy
depends on it,” he said.
Sharing similar sentiments, observers say that reading is a dependent
variable in efforts to evolve a democratic and cohesive society.
Alhaji Abubakar Jijiwa, the Director-General of vo ice of Nigeria
(vON), however, noted that the promotion of a reading culture
transcended efforts to make reading materials available, adding that it
also necessitated the ingenuity of teachers, care givers and parents.
“In the 1970s, pupils in primary schools were made to read according
to their levels. Some pupils then sat under trees and read interesting
books.
“Poems were memorised in such settings, where some literature were also dramatised,” he said.
Jijiwa stressed that efforts to relive the golden era of the reading
culture should entail the sponsorship of workshops, seminars and
discussions where a National Book Policy (NBP) could be developed and
adapted toward specific societal needs.
“A Holiday Reading Programme can also be developed and sponsored by
companies, while reading competitions can be organised by corporate
organisations,” he said.
Even the labour movement is also involved in the campaign to revive
the reading culture, as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is striving
to play an important role in the campaign.
This is because NLC’s affiliates in the education sector are somewhat
promoting the reading culture by actively engaging the government to
initiate purposeful plans to develop the education sector.
Affiliate bodies such as the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and Academic Staff Union of
Polytechnics (ASUP) are very much involved in the campaign to promote
the reading culture in Nigeria. Mr Muttaqa Yusha’u, an official of the
NLC National Headquarters, said that the reading culture could be
improved via the creation of incentives and sanctions for teachers, as
well as the promotion of the reading habit in the home setting.
“Part of the NLC’s contributions to promote the reading culture is
our two national schools, labelled ‘Rain and Harmatan Schools’,
organised every year.
“The essence of these schools is to promote the culture of continuing
education among the working class, so as to enhance their productivity
in spite of the challenges of the working environment in 21st
Century,” Yusha’u said.
However, Mr Seyi Adigun, the Chairman of the FCT chapter of
Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), recommended the use of
indigenous languages in the country’s educational system and for the
conduct of business and governance. “Books written in Nigerian
languages can, therefore, become more useful tools as potent stores for
our national memory and as priority choices for our leaders. “The
establishment of an Indigenous Languages and Literacy Taskforce (ILLT),
involving agencies and organisations, to articulate the ideas is also
considered imperative,” he said.
In a nutshell, there is growing consensus of opinion that concerted
efforts should be directed at reviving the reading culture in Nigeria,
as this will engender the country’s development in pragmatic ways.
Analysts are, however, of the view that such efforts must necessarily
involve strategies to instill library discipline among Nigerian
students.
They also stress the need for Nigerian homes to promote the
resuscitation of the reading culture by encouraging children to read
more at home and give less attention to watching television, among
other time-consuming activities.
Onifade writes for the News Agency of Nigeira.
Olasunkanmi Onifade
