The need for Nigerian publishers to organise re-orientation programmes for teachers, parents as well as students on poor reading culture and use of libraries was the main thrust of this year's Nigeria International Book Fair (NIBF) International Conference.
The conference with the theme Publishing, Education and Global Economic Trend was held at the Multi-Purpose Hall of the University of Lagos.
In his speech, the Chairman, NIBF, Mr. Samuel Kolawole, said the theme was carefully chosen to examine the roles publishing and education can play to impact positively on people in the face of subsisting global economic trends.
Speaking on the theme, the Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Ahmed Modibbo Muhammad, represented by Mr. Rasheed Aderinoye, said the importance of the publishing industry to the implementation of the universal basic education programme cannot be overemphasized.
Dr. Muhammad noted that the poor reading culture of Nigerians constitutes a major drawback, adding that the electronic media has become an attraction rather than reading.
“Parents and children, most of the time are preoccupied with movies, especially the ones powered by the popular African Magic, which we now have in all Nigerian languages. Thus, the time that is supposed to be used by our children to read is now devoted to movies,” he stated
Dr. Muhammadsaid the trend must change if the country wants to rejuvenate the dying reading culture among Nigerian youth, calling on publishers to start thinking in the same direction.
The chairman of the occasion, Senator Ike Nwachukwu was highly impressed with the organisation of the book fair. He called on parents and institutions to encourage their young male and female to read, stressing that "if we fail to read, there is no way we can attain the rank of one of the 20 advanced countries of the world in the 2020."
The International Book Fair, which started on Monday 10 May will end tomorrow.
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