Today, illiteracy still looms large in the Nigeria. It doesn’t matter the age you are considering whether old or young; a lot of Nigerians find it difficult to pick up a book and read. At first look; this may not be considered a serious but it does have huge consequences for a large nation like Nigeria. The Nigerian reading culture is a sad tale of societal inefficiencies. Libraries don’t work well, and schools do not focus on teaching literature.
Who is responsible?
A good reading culture is in place when every one is always eager to pick up books, journals, magazines, and newspapers to understand for themselves what information is out there. Having a reading culture has become imperative in the 21st Century for everybody, especially our children, the future of the nation. To participate effectively in our children is a task that we must take very seriously. This should be the primary goal of institutional heads, teachers, parents, and our communities at large. The declining interest in reading exhibited by our children today is a cause for alarm and a challenge to all.
What to do?
Reading is obviously one of the basic things a child begins to do in the early stages of formal education, within the school building. Some children also learn to read from the parents even before they start schooling. It is through reading that children broaden their understanding of life. When children read, they learn. With carefully designed programs like essay, debate or spelling bee competitions, students can begin to see the value of reading again. So far, the Nigerian education sector have really suffered from neglect; and mediocre programs. Students no longer see the need to read when they can just take other options. To make Nigeria a better place, we must begin to revive the reading culture that existed in the days of Chinua Achebe, Cyprian Ekwensi, and the rest.
