By; MATTHEW UKACHUNWA, Lagos
A total of 243 Public School Libraries have been digitized by the Lagos State government.
This was revealed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Barrister Tokunbo Philip Wahab, at the commemoration of Year 2022 World Book Day in the State on Tuesday, 26th April 2022.
The occasion was organized by the Office of the Special Adviser on Education(OSAE) in collaboration with the Lagos State Library Board.
The theme of the event is: “You’re a Reader.”
In his remarks, Barrister Tokunbo Philip Wahab who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Special Adviser on Education (OSAE), Mr. Adeniran Waheed Kasali, harped on the importance of reading .
He said ” The World Book Day is a global event initiated by UNESCO to celebrate readers. This event is therefore unique as it further encourages youths to develop their intellectual knowledge through books.”
While noting that the 21st Century is technology-driven, Wahab said that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration priortises education as a tool for development which is why the third pillar of the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda focuses on Education and Technology.
“About 243 public school libraries have been digitalised across the three senatorial districts to enhance reading culture,” Wahab said, adding: “The OSAE, through the Lagos State Library Board, recently organised the Lagosreads Inter-Schools Quiz Competition geared towards promoting reading culture. I therefore urge students to read continuously in order to profer solutions to leadership challenges,” Wahab said.
In his remarks, Director, Lagos State Library Board, Mr. Oyadipe Asimiyu Amoo, stated that books are capable of changing the world as readers are leaders.
“Reading is an intellectual activity that is driven by knowledge and we’ve all gathered to celebrate ourselves as readers.
“Today, students from 12 selected public schools will interact and share knowledge to mark the World Book Day.
“Reading must therefore be taken seriously as it helps actualises dreams,” Amoo said.
President, Network of Book Clubs and Reading Promoters in Nigeria, Mr. Richard Mammah, declared that readers can fix problems in the country and that the goal is to establish reading clubs in the 774 LGAs in the country.
“To achieve this, reading spaces must be readily available and we’ve identified 39 of such in Lagos with a view to discovering more,” Mammah disclosed, adding that Lagos has also been selected as the National Book Club City for 2023 with various activities lined up.
According to Comrade Odifa Adebayo Alfred, Assistant Director, Public Affairs of LSLB, other highpoints of the event include rendition of poems, drama presentation by students and reading of a book titled “You Have A Brain” by Ben Carson by guests and top government officials.
Those who participated in the reading include Director, Administration and Human Resource, Mrs. Oluranti Fadipe; Director, Finance and Accounts, Office of Special Adviser on Education, Mrs. Lola Akinsola; Mr. Richard Mammah; Mrs. Funmi Ilori of iRead Mobile, as well as selected authors and publishers, among others.
World Book Day was first observed by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation(UNESCO) on April 23rd, 1995 as a worldwide celebration of books and reading and holds special significance as it marks the death anniversaries of two of the world’s greatest writers, namely: Inca Garcilaso de la Vega and William Shakespeare.
