BENIN CITY: Edo State Governor Mr. Godwin Obaseki has said an enlightened Society is that Society that reads hence his administration set up the Library Review Committee to revive the reading culture in the state.
He stated this when he received books donated to Edo State Government by Rotary Club International District 9141 at an event held at Edo State Library Complex in Benin City yesterday.
Represented by the Chairman of the Library Review Committee Mrs. Grace Sanni, Gov. Obaseki said the reading culture in the society has declined because of focus of youths on social media rather than on their books as they prefer watching movies in the heat of their examination hence entering into examination hall depending on malpractice to pass their examinations.
“Government is interested in education and the welfare of our youths hence this collaboration between Rotary International and Edo State Government. We appreciate Rotary for these books as it is the right step at the right direction in helping our government to revive the reading culture in the state.
Obaseki said his administration is prepared to encourage the youths to embrace reading thereby restoring the reading culture in the state. He added that reading culture can only be restored when there are books in the libraries and students ready to read these books hence the importance of the collaboration.
“Edo State Government is determined to revive both private and public libraries in the state, that was why my administration set up the Library Review Committee to help the government with a blue print on how to achieve this feet” he concluded.
In his remark, the governor of Rotary District 9141 Mr. Ikponwosa Ogiemudia said his research on the steady decline on the reading culture experienced in the nation was due to the establishment of more video shops than book shops. “I discovered that there are more video shops than book shops and where you find a book shop they sell stationeries’ rather than educative novels or books that will add to the body of knowledge.
Ogiemudia said researchers embrace internet more than reading books and their actions has lead to further decline in the habit of reading culture in the society.
He said it is very easy to give out books but the challenges before the donors are the task and challenges of clearing these books from the Port. “The books we are donating to Edo State Government today took us three weeks to clear and it cost us two million naira and someone donated that to the body” he concluded.
The high point of the ceremony was the handover of the donated books to Edo State Government as some of the books were presented to some school present. Some schools present at the occasion include Franej Group of School; Patricia Group of School and Winfosa Group of School.
