In a bid to combat the declining reading culture among children, a new initiative called ‘Book the Kids Again’ is set to launch a campaign to drive change in Nigeria next month.
The project Spearheaded by the Chairman of 0410 Consultd Limited Mr Goodluck Hayi, the project aims to encourage secondary school students to rediscover the joys and benefits of reading.
The event, scheduled for October 4, 2024, will bring together 60 students from private schools in Abuja. ‘The program focuses on secondary school students, with the goal of nurturing a new generation of avid readers and thinkers,’ Hayi said.
He lamented that attempts to include public schools in the project faced bureaucratic hurdles. ‘We encountered resistance and inefficiencies with public schools. By working with private schools, we can ensure that the resources directly benefit the students,’ Hayi explained.
The program will feature a variety of activities designed to engage students and enhance their reading skills. Participants will be enco
uraged to read and analyze books, fostering critical thinking and a deeper understanding of the material.
Hayi hopes it will serve as a model that could inspire broader educational reforms. ‘We want to demonstrate the impact of reading and show how private initiatives can complement governmental efforts. We’re focusing on grassroots engagement first,’he added.
Otuya Okecha, Chief Executive Officer of Fibresol Nigeria Limited and a member of the team, emphasized the importance of role modeling in fostering a reading culture. ‘Books have had a tremendous impact on me. They’ve stretched my mental capacity, helped me to be more reflective, and improved my strategic and analytical skills. Books generally help to give hope,’ he said. Okecha encouraged parents to develop reading habits so that children can emulate their actions.
‘I believe in modeling, and the best way is to show an example,’ he added.
Another member of the ‘Book the Kids Again’ team, Martha Kama, stated that reading books provides incredible in
spiration that can shape the future of children.
Source: Voice of Nigeria