In 2014, the World’s Literary pendulum shall be pointing at the direction of Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State and the acclaimed garden city of Nigeria.

By location, it is Nigeria but by implication, it is a world affair.

UNESCO decided to award it’s 2014 edition of World Book Capital City to Port Harcourt, Rivers State. This is in recognition of the pragmatic efforts of the present administration in promoting the art of literature and reading in the state and especially, the educational sector. Historically and in another perspective, the huge investment and expenditure done on educational sector through the transformation agenda is evidently or justifiably enough to draw international attention. Also, the Garden City Literary Festival (GCLF) which has become a trade-mark and have annually been able  to pull remarkable names in the Pen industry and literary icons to the state contributed immensely to this global award and recognition.

It is indeed a monumental achievement and kudos to the administration of Rt. Hon. Chubuike Rotomi Amaechi, the Executive Governor of the State. He has really demonstrated his unalloyed love and loyalty for his professional discipline as an English and literary practitioner: This is one of the best, remarkable and cumbersome things that will ever happen in the history of Rivers State and Nigeria in general. To have a state of literacy above board is to have a generation of civilized people with decent ethical behavior.

The fact cannot be overruled that the gains of every society with out-standing percentage of literacy demystify that of illiteracy. This  is why I quickly agreed with Governor Amaechi when he said “literature restores value and represents the world full of opportunities and numerous responsibilities”. A state or nation where 2/3 majority of the total populace are literate, who can read and write more of less gone through the conventional basic education will always be less vulnerable to some anti-social behaviours. It can never also be easily push-over, make to be a copy-cat or relegated to the background of social, political and economic development.

Reading and writing enhances creativity, professionalism, proper planning, coordination and articulation in word processing and manipulation. There is absolutely a clear distinction between learning to acquire knowledge and putting the knowledge acquired into proper use for the benefit of others. Every foundation in the arts of basic concept, technology and ideological principle is founded on the act of reading and writing. Without this concept that is put down through publishing of books, the scientific innovations, the discoveries that is shaping the world and making it a better place today would have been an illusion. Every good reader and writer can never lack word to express him or herself or to describe a situation or event. The great work of Books and Literature can never be quantified. This is why I truly avail the advice of Hilaire Belloc (1870 – 1953) to his son. Strongly, I believe this as a fundamental instruction when he said “child do not throw this book about, refrain from the unholy pleasure of cutting all the pictures out. Preserve it as your chiefest treasure”. The book project, reading and writing fiesta will enormously propel Port Harcourt, Rivers State is such an international recognition and benefits that must surely be reaped in the long run. This is why I am enjoying all well-meaning sons and daughters of positive minds to avail themselves with this opportunity no matter the negativity against all odds and bizarre circumstances perceived to surround its peripheries.

In as much as we envisage the lots of good opportunities that are abound in the lofty project, we also have to examine the shabby and shoddy state of our educational system and sincerely acknowledge that all is not well with it. This, at the back of our mind will surely help us to look back, dot our “i’” and cross our “t” adequately in very aggressive preparation for the event.

Crystal clear is the fact that, reading and writing culture in the country has regrettably felt below average in our education.al system. Right from the fall of  WAI (War Against Indiscipline) of the Late General IDIAGBON – my most cherished Head-of-State, when the platonic, sardonic and draconic decrees that really shaped and positioned the socio-cultural behavior of our people, was toppled and abandoned, indiscipline has become the talk of the day in our schools. In those good old days, the 70’s and 80’s precisely, every school – secondary. schools especially had .prep or evening classes on their ,time table, these period, students are compulsorily allowed to go to their respective classes for studies on their own. So much readings and writings are always done at this period which was of greater advantage on the pupils performances.

Infrastructural  development especially those that has direct impact and bearing on the literal aspirations and performances of the student for instance, before the adventure of the few modern schools of the transformation policy of the governor, there hardly be any of the schools especially community schools with standard or substandard library. And there hardly be any community in the state that does not have at least one community secondary school in its domain.

There is no way I could be convinced that standard library equipped with richer, juicy and certified books from authors of national and international reputes will not enhance the standard of reading and writing of our pupils. Though I can also agree that library alone, whether befitting or otherwise cannot bring in all that we need in our students and from our system. It is not all about a beautiful and serene environment or competitive facilities, it is all about the product of such an endeavour which must come through hard-work, discipline in all ramifications.

However, I quite agreed with the governor that better dreams come as a result of readIng books and indeed good books of course. It does not matter were one is brought up or the handicap situation one found self but what could be deduced from such a situation. In the words of the Governor, “I dream because I read. I was raised up in a poor neighbourhood of Diobu in Port Harcourt, I was the only child of my parents who went to school and today I am governor because I read”. This is an eloquent testimony, true confession and practical picture of the derivative factor of devotion, hard work and disciplinary measures exemplified through reading and writing. It is very palatable to emulate but much is needed to completely bring back this dream which are the banes of. sustainable and productive educational system in our dear state. We do not want the expensive and agrarian efforts of our governor to be a wasted venture. It is e common adage that if you want to hide something from a black person, mostly Nigerians, hide it in a book.’ I have looked at the above

statement as a fiction that has no bearing, but looking at the crop of people we turn out every year from our schools, I now draw affinity with the proponent of the adage. Something needs to be done urgently before we are swallowed up in a drowsy ocean of literary helplessness.

It is against this back drop that ‘we need to look at some measures to really address the anomalies vigorously. The culture of discipline anchor on an encompass corporal punishment must be brought back into the system. No one should be above discipline as long as uniform in dressing is maintained end there should be no regard to financial, parental statue, political affiliations and social background. The concept of compulsory boarding should be reintroduced.

Today globalization has brewed in so many packages, which are detrimental and with far reaching negative implications on the. people. The youth are most vulnerable to this feast. This is because browsing though the internet has taken over 75CYo of our youths. Instead of finding time to read books, writing and solving assignments, our youth prefer to spend long hours at cyber cafe browsing irrelevant articles. This is not healthy for the system and our forth- coming “World Book Capital City”. Today also, you seldomly see a child given in

to reading of ‘newspapers, bulletins, magazines, novels etc or even listening to news on Radio and television. not even documentary, program that has literary implications, what is common is music all-round the clock. There should be an over-hauling and upgrading of our educational curriculum to accommodate the teaching of moral behaviour and value in our schools. In the same vein, certain features of the 70’s and 80’s era and style of studies which made the system thick by then should be introduced. For instance, inter-school’s competition is a formidable tool that can alleviate the system.

However, we are happy with government efforts in revamping the sector and believe that with “proper arrangement devil can see God”.

Tordee (JP) a social commentator and public analyst resides in Port Harcourt.

Manson B. Tordee