LAGOS (Sundiata Scholar) – The National Library of Nigeria (NLN) in Lagos has organised a readership promotion campaign on expanding reading activities beyond the accessible, to capture the unreached.
Mrs Chinwe Anunobi, National Librarian, during her remarks at the 2024 edition of the annual event, held on Wednesday in Makoko, Lagos, said that it was also to give the unreached the opportunity of being educated.
Anunobi, represented at the event by Dr Adejumoke Ajibola, Director of Legal Deposit of NLN, Abuja, also commended the Minister of Education for the flag- off held in Abuja.
She noted that the support of the ministry had been instrumental in reaching out to students in communities in states including Oyo and others, since the flag off of the 2024 edition.
reports that the theme of the 2024 edition is : “Reading without boundaries: A Renewed Hope”.
also reports that no fewer than 100 students from public secondary schools including the School for Blind. attended the one-day event, which doubled as an award of recognition to the Baale- a traditional leader.
“The readership promotion campaign this year is to take reading activities to areas that we have not been concentrating on.
“This is through the interland measure and the idea is to ensure that the unreached will be reached as well as giving them opportunity of being educated.
“We presented pen board, marker and other writing materials to the community leader of Makoko the Baale himself so that people in the community will have access to reading materials.
“The event has been going on for over three to four decades, now we have been able to impact positively on people, communities as well as individuals who are now doing well,” she added.
In a remark, Mr Orioye Jephta, the Baale of Apolo, Makoko community, thanked NLN, Lagos, for bringing the programme to the community, said it’s good a development that will enhance reading culture among students.
“It is very important to know how to read and write for anything one wants to do in life.
“We appreciate the presence and gifts from NLN, Lagos branch, for this initiative; it will empower and motivate our children academically.”
The event featured reading/questions and answer competition from literature book – Things fall Apart’ by Chinua Achebe, while winners smiled home with books and other gifts. (NAN)