Nation
National Library Intensifies Campaign On Reading Culture
The National Library of Nigeria (NLN) has embarked on awareness campaigns across the country with a call on school children and the youth to have attitudinal change and imbibe a reading culture.
The National Librarian and Chief Executive Officer of NLN, Prof. Chinwe Anunobi, made the call on Tuesday in Lokoja at the 2021 Readership Promotion Campaign tagged: “Building A Nation Of Readers: Share Your Story”.
Anunobi said the campaign was aimed at encouraging and reviving the moribund reading culture among Nigerians by providing good reading materials.
Anunobi, who was represented by the Head Legal Deposit Department, NLN, Abuja, Mr Idongesit Akpabio, added that the campaign was also to collectively, with other stakeholders, seek solutions to the identified obstacles inhibiting reading habit in Nigeria.
“To achieve these over the years, the NLN has continued to embark on readership promotion campaigns focusing on children and the youth in primary and secondary schools by sensitising, informing and educating them on the reading culture.
‘“The campaigns are also extended to some identified groups in the society, such as the expectant and nursing mothers in maternity homes, workers and travellers in motor parks, inmates in the correctional centres and rural communities across the country”, he said.
The Head of Kogi branch of NLN, Mrs Oyiza Agu, said the programme was initiated following the prevailing decline in the reading culture of Nigerians.
She added the programme was an annual ritual aimed at promoting reading beyond mere utilisation and examination reason.
According to her, it is to support the creation of model reading clubs in Nigeria and empower stakeholders to actively promote reading, as well as make Nigeria a reading nation through partnership and collaborations.
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Nation
Alliance Française PH, FIGN, Nexal Move To Eradicate GBV
The Alliance Française Port Harcourt in conjunction with the Embassy of France Nigeria over the weekend joined the globe to campaign against the 2025 gender- based violence (GBV) with the theme: “16 Days of Activism Against Gender- Based Voice”

The event which took place at the event Hall of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt was in collaboration with the Female in Gaming Network, ( FIGN) and partnership with Nexal a body that seeks to promote online safety and responsible digital behaviour.
The Tide reports that the project which was aimed at promoting digital safety and girls inclusion in Gaming, with the initiative tagged ‘Gameover Gender- Base Violence’was part of the global campaign against gender- based Violence.

The activity which experienced a flavour of festivity was full of fun and excitements as participants took part in tournaments on popular digital games such as Mario kart and EAFC 25, with an intent to creating safer and more inclusive digital spaces.
The Director of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt, Mrs Marina Lacal said that these activities were designed to encourage inclusion of girls, team work and fair play on online gaming spaces, saying that the gaming world reflects these inequalities, where female players are often under represented.

According to her the main objectives of the initiative was to provide a supportive environment for girls and female in gaming network.
“GameOverGBV” is a project created to reshape this landscape by offering an innovative inclusiveness of girls on online digital Gaming community and digital environments that provide opportunities for creativity, learning and connection, but also fight against Gender-Based Violence Digital Gaming,”she said
She however, explained that the Digital Game, sport competitions, was launched to strengthen social and digital skills through games, workshops, and raise awareness among all young participants about respect, equality and digital citizenship.

The Tide News reports that in Port Harcourt, the competition brought together 100 young participants from three major universities: University of Port Harcourt, ( UNIPORT),Ignatius Ajuru University of Education(IAUE) and Rivers State University (RSU)as well as students from four selected secondary schools, Oginigba comprehensive Secondary.School, Vine lnternational, Virgo predicanda lnternational, and Excellent Montessori Secondary school.
“This is an approach where girls and boys can learn, play and collaborate in a more respectful and safe space for young women, while ensuring a safe, enjoyable and respectful digital environment. It also expose young women to cyberbullying, exclusion, sexist comments and online hate,” Mrs. Lacal said.
Earlier, a game developer Sophia Nei and her. team had engaged participants in an interactive session with the theme: “Can Video Games Be Safe Spaces For Girls?”
However, Mrs Nei and her team educated the girls on the benefits and violence on online digital gaming and urged them ( participants)to learn to say ‘No’ to Online hate, sexist and cyber bullying, while encouraging them(students) to stand up for themselves by reporting such issues to the appropriate authority.
Highlight of the competition was the awarding of prizes to winners by the Director of Alliance Française, Mrs Marina Lacal.
