Reading culture contributes immensely to national development. However, that culture is now in a moribund state, especially in Nigeria where many youths are engaged in social media activities in order to make money to support an ostentatious lifestyle. Many times, these youth aim to “oppress” their contemporaries by showing off wealth.
The main purpose of education is to acquire knowledge through constant reading of relevant books. Ironically, those who refused to read in the past are now patronising various universities in the country in order to obtain degrees that they have not laboured for.
In recent times, a senior lecturer was suspended for planning to issue degrees at different prices to those who are interested in acquiring them even without attending the university
The fact remains that a good reader is a potential good leader. Knowledge can only be acquired through constant reading. It is commonly said, “you cannot give what you don’t have.
Plagiarism is rampant these days. People are no longer developing themselves, seeking knowledge through constant reading. Truly, pirates are many in various professions and they lack innovation. The fact is that if people lack innovation, it will be difficult for them to become pathfinders in their fields of endeavour.
Apparently, Nigeria is lagging behind in all sectors owing to the fact that many professionals are not developing themselves in seeking knowledge. In the Western world, the reading habit helps tremendously in making people to excel in their chosen careers even without attending any university.
Microsoft founder, Bill Gates, actually acquired knowledge through the reading habit. As an author, I have decided not to produce a voluminous book as it will definitely scare the potential readers away before they open a page, especially those who are not interested in reading books.
Those who are not developing their reading abilities can never perform excellently in their course of their study in tertiary institutions.
I, therefore, implore the stakeholders in the Ministry of Education to organise periodic seminars on reading in public schools across the country.
Oladimeji Michael Olalekan, Ibadan
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