WHY NIGERIANS DO NOT READ ENOUGH
Have you ever time Traveled? I think I just did. I was having a discussion with a friend and she requested for a document that I knew I had in 2012. I had to dig through my first email address (Yahoo mail). Lucky enough I saw the document and in the process discovered this article I wrote in secondary school.
THE ARTICLE
According to the online dictionary, reading is defined as a multifaceted process involving word recognition, comprehension, fluency and motivation. Reading isn’t about escaping into the world of fiction- it is also about providing context to our environment- both real and imagined. Reading habit is having a strong desire to read everything ‘readable’ every time and everywhere.
A popular well-known phrase says ‘readers are leaders’ and amongst the things that affect people in life includes the books they read. Reading is one of the best ways for training and bringing up children. Reading for pleasure is the key to developing these skills. A good book has a productive effect on the mind of its reader. It elevates the spirit and thoughts. It increases his store of knowledge. Books help in correcting moral incompetence, especially in these days of mechanical existence, the best source of acquiring knowledge are books. Reading brings about a new change in the outlook of a person. It keeps a person busy when he has nothing else to do.
Embracing a reading culture is vital to the individual and to the overall development of any nation. The significance of reading in a nation’s development cannot be exaggerated. It is essential to uphold a reading culture to checkmate literacy from slipping back to illiteracy. No country can dream of meaningful development if its citizens cannot read. An enlightened public can readily be mobilized for the attainment of political, social and economic goals of a nation.
It is, however, sad that the reading culture is fast declining across the world. The declining interest in reading, especially among youths today, is a cause for alarm and a challenge to all. In Nigeria, for instance, it is, perhaps, safe to say that reading culture has died. Except, perhaps, in the case of students who must read to pass examinations or for any other such involuntary factors, the culture of reading is fast fading in the society. In most tertiary institution, academic libraries get filled up to the brim only when exam is at hand. Today, the youth will rather listen to all sorts of music, watch the English Premier League and party around. In most Nigerian schools, youths or students are hardly seen around reading except for reasons of test, examination or homework. They are not easily given to reading for the love of doing so. Instead most engage in group discussions or gossip, cracking of jokes, indoor games e.g. cards, ludo, chess etc during free periods. They also use break periods to play football and other outdoor games. Furthermore, students who have access to computers and internet facilities prefer to browse, chat, send email, sms, Facebook, yahoo messenger, 2go, play computer games. While at home students most times play football, watch television entertainment programmes such as drama, films, comedies, soap operas, listening to music, watch dancing competitions and so on in the absence of house hold chores. Occasionally we see isolated cases of students engaged in reading as a recreation.
The reasons for the decline in reading culture are not far- fetched. For one, reading is a tasking exercise that involves full concentration. Second, in our society today, nobody is interested in embarking on any activity that has no corresponding financial gains. Third, our socio-economic environment is not reading friendly. The daily struggle for economic survival provides little or no time for people, especially those living in the cities, to encourage a good reading habit. Also, the decline in the standard of education in the country has seriously affected reading culture in the country. Equally, high cost of books, particularly the imported ones, has contributed to a decline in reading culture in the country.
To restore the culture of reading in the country, parents are the first agents in encouraging reading habits in the society. Governments, librarians and other non-governmental organizations should be given maximum support to build up a society that comprises of intellectuals and educated minds. Every nursery, primary and tertiary institution needs to launch a readership promotion campaign which will help to inculcate the culture of reading in the children. Governments across the country must begin to subsidize the cost of publishing essential books to encourage local production. There is also an urgent need for Governments across the land to build more libraries to accommodate more users in areas yet to be reached. Private organizations, individuals, non-governmental organizations should help in the provision of infrastructures which would stimulate and foster good reading habit.
The absence of a widespread culture of reading is an effective barrier to a civilized political culture and economic prosperity. For our country to attain the socio-economic height of our dreams and aspirations, we need to build literate citizens that are able to read widely and apply it practically for development. It is, therefore, essential to make the present generation further conscious of the importance of reading as well as ensure that they have the required literacy skills in our contemporary society.
Written by ONYEBUCHI VALENTINE AHIWE.
Class- SS3.
Name of School- Immanuel International School, Abuloma, Port Harcourt
