The Rivers State Government in Partnership with Nigerian authors had reiterated its commitment  in the promotion of reading culture among students in the state.

The Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi, disclosed this when the Association of Nigerian Authors, Rivers State branch paid her a courtesy visit in her office.

Dame Lawrence-Nemi said that the government has done so much in the area of promoting the reading habit of students by organizing academic competitions such as quiz, essays and debates.

The commissioner also said that the ministry has re-introduced adult education programmes in the rural areas of the state.

According to her, even people in the rural areas are not left behind as we have re-introduced adult education programmes in different communities in Rivers State.

The Ministry’s aim, she noted, is to ensure that literacy is entrenching in all the nooks and crannies of the state.

The education boss assured that the ministry would partner with the association in the area of promoting literary activities, revealing that the ministry would ensure a smooth organization of the essay and quiz competition which the  association is planning for Rivers students.

The commissioner hinted that the competition would be spread across the three senatorial districts of the state and has already set up a committee to surprise the smooth conduct of the two academic competitions.

Earlier in a remark, the chairman of the Association of Nigeria Authors (ANA), Rivers State chapter, Mr Obinna Nwodim, commended the Rivers State government for its giant strides in reviving education in the state.

Mr Nwodim said the manifestation of the free education policy of the Rivers State government model primary schools is seen in all nooks and crannies of the state.

The ANA chairman stated that the association would partner with the ministry in the area of promotion of literary activities through the organization of quiz, essay and debate competitions for students in the state.

Eunice Choko-Kayode