As part of efforts to tackle the backwardness in the education sector for greater efficiency and productivity in Nigeria, stakeholders have called on governments at all levels, religious groups, corporate bodies, traditional institutions and the media, including the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), to concentrate on the development of the people educationally through reading of books. This they say, is paramount before success can be achieved, as it will widen the scope of their knowledge.
Declaring open this year’s International Mother Language Day and the unveiling of a reading centre in Opobo recently, National Director of Reading Association of Nigeria (RAN), Prof. Priye Iyalla-Amadi, disclosed that the greatest task facing experts and other scholars in the education sector, especially government, is to resuscitate the long-forgotten culture of reading in schools as it affects Nigerians. She noted that the absence of such culture in the school curriculum destroys the dreams of the founding fathers, as far as education is concerned.
Amadi said that despite the huge financial investment in the sector, many people, including teachers, still prefer the short-cut syndrome of copying other persons’ work as a result of poor reading culture. She decried a situation where most students and other individuals pick interest in social media, in stead of reading their books, adding that it does not speak well of the education system.
The Don used the opportunity to admonish Nigerians, especially youths, to shun the temptation of pirating people’s works due to lack of reading culture, as their success lies in the possession of sound orientation in their course of study.
Also speaking, Chairman of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, Hon.Enyiada Cookey-Gam, lauded the association for the initiative. He urged students and Nigerians to embrace the opportunity as provided by the group to study their books.
Cookey-Gam assured of his administration’s preparedness to support the effort of the organisation to create awareness for the culture to be resuscitated.
In his remarks, Chairman of River State Council of Traditional Rulers and Amanyanabo of Opobo, His Majesty, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja, called on parents, school heads, leaders in the sector to Join forces with the association to pass the message across in all schools. This he said, will help the students in their quest to achieve better academic feat, instead of being exposed to piracy, an act he described as inimical to the growth of education in Nigeria.
King Jaja, who was represented at the occasion by a one-time executive secretary of Opobo/ Nkoro Community Development Foundation (ONCDF), Senibo Dienye Bellgam, described the choice of Opobo for the hosting of the event, as a welcome development and thanked the organisers for the opportunity.
The monarch assured of his readiness to partner with the group to ensure that government resuscitates the eluded culture of reading books.
Meanwhile, President of Opobo Women Welfare Association (OWWA), Amaopuorubo Felicia Pepple, has thanked the group for partnering with the association to spread the message across.

By: Bethel Toby