Ondo: The Reading Culture Is Dying.
By Our Reporter.
The President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Ondo State Chapter, Sunday Afolayan has said the reading culture is dying in our society. He said this at the Literary Awareness Campaign which was organised by the association. The programme, which is in conjunction with Yusuf Alli Foundation. The event was held at Oyemekun Grammar School, Akure.
According to Mr Afolayan, reading a book is very important to the Human development as the act helps in sharpening human memory and also make one important in the society. His words ” you can not be an important person if you are not reading” . Afolayan, who believed that the only Way we to bring back lost values in our society is for us to continue to encourage our children to be reading and by this the society would be better. He advised learners to shun drugs and evil, the duo are capable of destroying their destinies. He encouraged them to write a story book about their schools in order to bring out the creativity in them.
Meanwhile the Chairman, who berated the poor reading culture in our society, said students in the higher Institutions of learning too are affected by this menance as some of the students find it difficult to read and do assignment on their own. According to him, most students if given assignment, what they do is to copy other people’s work directly from the intent. He now called on government, NGOs and other stakeholders in the society to partner with ANA in order to solve the problem of poor reading culture in our society.
In the same vain, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, pastor Femi Agagu, ablely represented by Mrs Mapayi Olufolake – a Director in the same ministry of Education charged the learners to face their academics seriously, I if they want to become an important person in life.
According to her, she said in a situation where you learners are spending most of their quality time watching jagons on Aocial media or on the internet is not the best, as this would not help the learners to develop or become productive in life. She asked the students to marry their books at all times for the purpose of their future, if they know that they want to succeed in their academic careers.
She thanked the ANA members for putting up this type of event together for the benefit of our little children and prayed to God for guidance and protection for the members, in order to do more in their line of activities for the benefit of Humanity in general.
Highlight of the event include quiz competition, debate, recitation of poems by students and cultural display by Fiwasaye Girls Grammar school, Akure. Also featured, was the distribution of books written by dofferents Authors to the students free of charge.
I AM GRATEFUL FOR YOUR UNALLOYED SUPPORT— Goke.
The Chairman of the organising committee of Yusuf Ali literary awareness campaign in Ondo State , Mr Goke Williams appreciated the ANA Chairman and other members of the Association for the confidence reposed on him in leading the event.
He appreciated the efforts of the technical committee and other member of the association for making the event come to reality. Details of his full text below :
Welcome Speech Delivered by Goke Williams; Chairman, Organising Committee of Literary Awareness Campaign/Book Distribution of Association of Nigerian authors (ANA), Ondo State, at the event being organised by the Ondo State ANA in conjunction with Yusuf Ali Foundation which took place at the conference hall of OYEMEKUN GRAMMAR SCHOOL, AKURE, on Thursday, 6th of July 2023
It is my good fortune to be privileged to address you all, first I ascribe all glory, honour and adoration to Almighty God whose grace is always sufficient for us, and for making today a reality. I cannot but thank immensely, the Organising Committee for their unalloyed support and incredible commitment towards making this day a huge success. I must commend you for a job well done. We had series of online meetings, we agreed to disagree and we also disagreed to agree. They have all sacrificed greatly for this Literary Campaign. I say a big thank you to you all and for the confidence reposed in my leadership– though being the youngest, I guess in the committee. I am very grateful to you all.
As a body, we are grateful to the Ondo State government, and in particular, Pastor Femi Agagu, the Ondo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, for giving us a level playing ground.
Let me heartily, also appreciate ANA in Ondo State under the chairmanship of Mr Sunday Afolayan for the privilege given to us to serve in this capacity. Mr Chairman, Sir we owe you collectively, a debt of gratitude. We appreciate all our Elders, past Chairmans of this great intellectual Association for their indespensable role as guiding angels. They have been the lamp to our feet and the light to our path.
I am deeply grateful for the outstanding contributions of Yusuf Ali Foundation and every ANA member towards the success of this Literary Awareness Campaign. Indeed, a tree does not make a forest. Sirs and Mas, your valuable contributions made this day a wonderful one. You have all written your names in gold and surely, posterity would be kind to you.
I must thank the management of Oyemekun Grammar School, Akure, for making this venue Conference Hall, available for our use free of charge.
I heartily welcome you all, thank you and God bless.
