FG laments poor reading habit, launches campaign

The Federal Government has lamented the poor reading habits among Nigerians.

This is as it launched a nationwide reading campaign to improve reading skills across the country.

Speaking during the launch of the 2022 readership campaign organised by the National Library of Nigeria, the Minister of State for Education, Goodluck Opiah, said efforts were ongoing by the Nigerian Government to entrench, stimulate and enhance the reading of books, newspapers and magazines.

He said this was especially important at a time when an increasing number of people spent less time reading, leading to a decline in skills.

“This may have been the cause of suicide bombing, banditry, terrorism and other societal vices,” Opiah added.

He commended the management and staff of the National Library of Nigeria for taking this year’s readership promotion campaign to the grassroots where it is most desirable, saying that a reading society was an informed and knowledgeable society that contributed positively to economic transformation and all-round development of the country.

“The general notion that Nigerians are reading less than they used to, and that a worrying percentage of children have trouble with reading comprehension have prompted the various readership promotion campaigns by the National Library of Nigeria and other stakeholders.

Also speaking, the National Librarian and Chief Executive Officer of the National Library of Nigeria, Prof Chinwe Anunobi, said the habit of reading was speedily approaching a freezing point in Nigeria.

She, therefore, insisted that Nigeria must put reading at the top of her priority list in the quest towards the attainment of the all-inclusive sustainable development hinging on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals to be achieved and sustained, particularly SDG4, which is centres on education.