The National Library of Nigeria (NLN) in Lagos has organised a readership promotion campaign on expanding reading activities beyond the accessible, to capture the unreached.
Mrs Chinwe Anunobi, National Librarian, during her remarks at the 2024 edition of the annual event, held in Adekunle Anglican Primary School, Makoko, Lagos State. Makoko, Lagos, said that it was also to give the unreached opportunity of being educated.
The 2024 edition had the theme: ‘Reading without Boundaries: A Renewed Hope’.
Anunobi, represented at the event by Dr Adejumoke Ajibola, Director of Legal Deposit of NLN, Abuja, also commended the Minister of Education for the flag- off held in Abuja.
According to her, the event has been going on for over three to four decades, now we have been able to impact positively on people, communities as well as individuals who are now doing well.
“This campaign fosters inclusiveness and encourages reading in diverse formats such as print, audio, visual, braille, etc., irrespective of geographical location and language.” she said.
In her remark, Mrs Obianuju Onuorah, Head of NLN in Lagos State, called on students and other Nigerians to read more to know more.
Onuorah said that the campaign is an annual programme organised by NLN as part of its obligations to ensure that Nigerians cultivate reading habit.
“It has been observed that people are no longer mindful of the advantages attached to reading which include improved educational outcomes, overall wellness and understanding.
“The benefits of reading cannot be over-emphasised, reading goes a long way to improve physical and mental health,” she said.
Onuorah added that the campaign aimed at renewing the hope of the hard-to-reach, the marginalised and the vulnerable through establishment of literacy centres and provision of literary materials.
She said that the campaign featured a road walk around Makoko community where market women, artisans, traders, mechanics, and out-of-school children were sensitised to the importance of reading and the need to be literate.
The literary materials such as whiteboard, exercise books, pencils, markers and storybooks were presented to the traditional ruler of the community for the establishment of a literacy centre in the community.
The NLN head branch applauded partners and publishers for their supports.
Similarly, Mr Orioye Jephta, the Baale of Apolo, Makoko community, thanked NLN, Lagos, for bringing the programme to the community, said it’s good a development that will enhance reading culture among students.
“It is very important to know how to read and write for anything one wants to do in life.
“We appreciate the presence and gifts from NLN, Lagos branch, for this initiative; it will empower and motivate our children academically.”
The event featured reading/questions and answer competition from literature book – Things fall Apart’ by Chinua Achebe, while winners smiled home with books and other gifts.
No fewer than 100 students from public secondary schools including the School for Blind. attended the one-day event, which doubled as an award of recognition to the Baale- a traditional leader. “The readership promotion campaign this year is to take reading activities to areas that we have not been concentrating on.