TAPPINA’s On The Green Grass promotes reading culture at IGS

ONE of the challenges facing the younger generation is the lack of the reading culture, and this is what Professor Simiat Olanike Elias noticed, when she, along other ex-students of Ibadan Grammar School, decided to initiate a book club two years ago.

The idea behind the initiative is to encourage students to imbibe the reading culture, while also providing books for them to build the mental capacities.

This year, the club celebrated its second anniversary, and the event had in attendance several established professionals who encouraged the students on what they stand to benefit when they dedicate their time to reading.

In his opening remarks, the coordinator of TAPPINA, who is also an old student of the school, Mr Ayo Opakunbi, commended Professor Elias for the initiative, saying the number of students joining the club has shown that students are ready to embrace reading once they have access to books.

Teacher in charge of club, Mrs Chioma Otote, appreciated the old students of the school for coming up with the club, adding that more students are now joining the club.

She, however, lamented the misplacement and mutilation of some books, just as she pleaded with members to handle the books carefully.

Mr Femi Adelugba, who represented the president-general of the school’s old students’ association, Mr Adedayo-Onakoya, appreciated the teachers for keeping the project alive.

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He, therefore, charged the students to focus more on reading, saying it would broaden their horizon.

The initiator, Professor Elias, in her message through Engineer Olukayode Adepoju, said the project has shown that anything is possible when a community commits itself to intellectual growth.

She said she is glad that in the last two years, “we have watched our students embrace reading with enthusiasm, engaging in thoughtful discussions, participating in healthy literary competition and, most encouragingly, choosing books over the many distractions of the digital age.”

The guest author on the occasion, a renowned finance expert, tax practitioner, consultant and author, Prince Oyebade Oyedepo, encouraged the students to be readers, adding that through reading, they can aim for any brighter future.

Prince Oyedepo then donated some of his books to the club.