Nigerians not listed among nations that read

National Library Chief Executive Officer Prof Lenrie Aina has identified the lack of reading culture as a major impediment to Nigeria’s development.

Aina lamented that Nigeria is not listed among nations that read, while other African countries, such as Egypt and South Africa, are among the first 30 nations with reading culture.

The National Librarian stated this in Kaduna at the Readership Promotion Campaign organised by the library.

Aina, who was represented by a Deputy Director in the library, Mr Abel Odhigba, said the readership campaign was introduced to encourage reading among Nigerians, especially youths.

Similarly, Head of Kaduna branch of the National Library, Muhammad Ndagi, said studies had shown that an average Nigerian reads less than one book yearly, while only one per cent of successful men and women in Nigeria read one non-fiction book monthly.

Ndagi lamented that students lack reading skills; “instead, they spend more hours on electronic media, watching television and movies, browsing the net and playing with handsets”.

He however said most of the reading problems could be prevented if the government, libraries and teachers apply what is known as reading instruction or techniques.

He told teachers and parents on the occasion to cultivate the habit of presenting books as gifts to their children and students during their special occasions, such as birthdays and others.

The event themed, ‘Working together to build a virile reading nation: Challenges and strategies’, was attended by students from various private and public secondary schools, who participated in a reading competition.