National Library of Nigeria (NLN) has donated books and other writing materials to Gyel community of Jos South local government area of Plateau State for the take-off of a literacy centre in the community.
The donation of the items is to commemorate the Readership Promotion Campaign 2023, hosted by the Jos branch of the National Library.
The theme of the three-day event: “Read your way to the Top” was aimed at sensitising all Nigerians, especially those in the hinterlands about the importance of reading and not only those in the city.
The activities engaged in during the programme included a road walk, visit to market men and women to talk to them about the importance of reading while doing their businesses, visit to selected schools to talk about the importance of having library hours in the school, among other things.
At the grand finale in Gyel Community Hall, the chief executive officer of the National Library of Nigeria, Professor Chinwe Veronica Anunobi, said for both elderly and youths, reading is key as it opens one’s horizons and ensures a better life at all times.
She stressed on the need to inculcate reading in indigenous languages and also domesticate it, rather than in English language alone.
According to her, reading in indigenous languages will preserve the people’s culture and history, and that beginning to read and write in local languages boost the understanding of reading and writing in English.
In her remarks, head of Plateau State branch of the National Library, Mrs Sarah Emmanuel Mshelia, said reading develops and builds the mind, and that its importance cannot be overemphasized.
One of the highlights of the event was a reading competition among 10 selected schools as well as book presentation to the schools.
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