Revive Reading Culture For National Devt; FCTA Enjoins Residents

By: Sunday Shekwonya

Moved by the drastic and worrisome drop-down on the level of reading culture in Nigeria, the authorities of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), have called on the residents of nation’s capital to reawake the tempo of reading culture for national development.

The call is in consonance with the efforts of the Federal Government to emplace an enduring reading culture that would give birth to national growth in all positive ramifications.

The Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Chidi Amadi, made this call, while addressing the stakeholders at the opening ceremony of the 29th FCT Annual Book Fair, held Thursday, at the Education Resource Centre (ERC), Zone 7, Wise I District, Abuja.

Amadi emphasized that there is no doubt that reading culture globally and in Nigeria is on severe decline, which could basically be attributed to the advent of and addiction to ‘Social Media’ and the general rise in the cost of literary works.

Amadi, who was represented at the occasion by the FCT Education Secretary, Danlami Hayyo, reiterated that if books are completely replaced with Social Media and ‘Information and Communication Technology’ (ICT), the education system would be affected beyond measure.

He said there are too many benefits for every society that embrace good reading culture, which he said include: cognitive development, value reoriented, moral re-awakening and entrepreneurial skill development for the youth, among others.

Welcoming guests to the event, the Director of ERC, Dr. Neemat Daud Abdulrahim, said that the essence of FCT Annual Book Fair, which began since 1996, is a better avenue that enables the book Buyers/Sellers to buy books directly from the Publishers, buy them at subsidized prices, fight against Piracy, fight against substandard materials and beef up schools and public library collections.

The Director warned those that are behind the evil act in the education system called ‘Piracy’ to desist from it, and described such act as the worst enemy of ‘literary works’ in the education system, which she reiterated commitment not to allow to continue to cause further harm to the education system in the FCT.

Abdulrahim, who affirmed the progress made in the FCT Annual Book Fair so far, disclosed that the event had 9 Publishers from its inception in the year 1996 and it had 36 Publishers that participated in 2023; adding that the 2024 Book fair will record a higher number of participant Publishers.

She used the opportunity to inform Principals and Heads of Schools to avail ERC Teaching Scheme and Recommended Booklist in the schools; saying that the FCT-2022-2025 recommended booklist that was released for use in all schools in 2022 is still relevant till July, 2025.

The Director also used the opportunity to appreciate the FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, the FCT Administration as a whole, Publishers and Book sellers for their maximum support and positive impact made in their own different ways.

In his good will message, the Chairman of the Nigeria Publishers Association (NPA), Mr. Innocent Agbanu, called on the authorities of the FCT Administration to put in more effort in fighting against Piracy in the FCT.

Agbanu, who spoke on behalf of other Publishers, appreciated the ERC Director and described her as a woman with good vision for quality education and used the opportunity to solicit for sustainability of the Annual Book Fair for national development.