By Mu’azu Abubakar Albarkawa, Kaduna
National Library of Nigeria has stepped down readership awareness campaign to the grassroot communities and post primary schools in kaduna state.
Prof. Chinwe Veronica Anunobi, National Librarian and Chief Executive Officer said the action was aimed at inculcating reading habit to the younger ones for lifelong learning beyond reading for examinations.
She stated this at the 2023 Annual Readership Promotion Campaign in the North-west zone held at the Sabon gari local government Secretariat in Kaduna state.
Represented by a Director in the Agency, Abdulkarim Abubakar, the National Librarian said part of the effort was to take away the mind of younger children from social media to reading culture.
Prof Anunobi said last year, “the program impacted on over 4,000 people comparising of secondary schools children, male and female adults as well as 102 secondary schools. In all, the total number of participants in year 2022, stood at 11,687.
“As part of our efforts to encourage and deepen reading habit, the National Library has within the year donated 1,855 volumes in 1,740 titles of reading materials to 16 primary, secondary and higher institutions.” She explained.
The Librarian therefore stressed that teachers, parents and community leaders must encourage the children and youth to jettison social media and imbibe reading habit.
In his remarks, Prof Muhammad Sani Bello, Kaduna state Commissioner of Education, represented by Director, Higher Education, Hajiya Huraira Ibrahim Ahmed said efforts have been to made during the last administration to provide libraries in all the 23 local government areas.
He assured that more libraries at least a mini libraries will be established in all secondary schools across the school by the present administration to encourage reading culture among students.
Earlier, Martina, Head of National Library in Kaduna state said the program is targeting “hard to reach” communities for the sensitization campaign with a view of reviving the culture of reading among locals.
She said Books, Tablets and writing materials were distributed to primary/ secondary schools and vulnerable groups in support of their learning in at least 36 local government areas across the country
