The chairman of the Aca

demic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Port Harcourt Chapter, Dr. Kinikanwo Anele, has decried the poor reading culture of Nigerians, saying, the trend has contributed to the fallen standard of education in the country.

Anele who bared his mind at the launch of a book titled, ‘Malpractices in Education Sector, the Anti-Corruption Perspective in Port Harcourt recently, said because of the poor  reading culture of Nigerians, they were equally averse to attending book launch.

He also lamented Nigerians’ reluctance to identify with the vision of book authors in educating the people through their books, describing it as pathetic, while commending the author of the book, Mr. Ejike Wodi for taking the pains to write and be published.

According to him, what had made Wodi’s initiative more commendable was the fact that he had written on corruption and staked his life for the good of the country.

Also speaking, the chairman of ASUU, in the Niger Delta University, Dr. Beke Sese decried the increasing incidence of corruption among Nigerians, saying, the publication of the book was timely.

Sese regretted that people in positions of trust meant to manage the common wealth, rather indulge in corrupt practices at the expense of majority of Nigerians, and called on the Federal Government to declare a total war against corruption instead of scratching it on the surface.

The university teacher also criticised the ostentatious lifestyles of leaders who drive exotic cars and jeeps as well as live in posh houses while the people are dying in poverty.

The Abia State Director of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr. Chinedum Adiele who reviewed the book said going by the content of the publication, it would stand the test of time, and recommended it to Nigerians.

The ICPC director noted that Nigeria had remained a sleeping giant in spite of blessed abundant human and material resources blaming it on corruption.

He said the problem of the country had not been the economy but greed of the citizens.

Earlier in his welcome address, the author of the book, Mr. Ejike Wodi said corrupt practices which he observed while monitoring national examinations in Rivers State, had inspired him to write the book, saying, the book was aimed at exposing all forms of examination malpractices in schools.

Donatus Ebi