Adamu Adamu, Nigeria Education Minister

Mr Ibrahim Yaro, Etsu of Bwari in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has urged government at all levels to encourage reading competition and overhaul libraries to promote reading culture.

Yaro gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bwari, FCT, on Tuesday.
He said that reading culture was fast eroding in schools, thereby, contributing to the fall in standard of education in the country.
According to him, government must take urgent steps to encourage students imbibe reading culture, so as to excell.
“Young people no longer read as they should, reading culture has dropped because young people no longer read.
“There should be enough libraries and reading competition among students.
“There is need for alternative strategy; government must create room for reading competition as one of the ways to improve reading culture especially in schools.
“There is also the need to ensure school libraries are well equipped with books, even though young people want to read, the books in the library are not up to date.
“Lack of books make young people indulge in social media like facebook and twitter; if there are books, definitely young people will be able to engage meaningfully in reading.
“Government must make school libraries to be functional by equipping them with modern electronic books and internet facilities to revive reading culture in Nigeria.”
Yaro advised that people should always read variety of everyday materials, such as newspapers, magazines and websites, to develop good reading culture.
The monarch said that poor reading habit was not only common among young people, but adults as well, adding that lack of reading affect people negatively in terms of self employment.
He further advised parents to inculcate reading habits in their children by creating avenues for them to take interest in reading while at home.

(NAN)