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                                       WHY NIGERIANS NEED TO READ

Nigerians are readers but it seems we are not just reading enough of the right things or  have the right stuffs to read. The classic excuse why we are no longer fond of books and reading is that the INTERNET has everything we will ever need to read. This is typical of us, making excuses where even non exist. Reading seems to remind some of us that we have not achieved any anything by reading even afters years of handwork in the  university burning the midnight candle.We instinctively, tie acquiring a university education to having the good life of money and social recognition. It is so sad that such dreams are dashed every day yet our greatest aspirations still tilt towards
life on a platter of gold. I know by reading that what we call graduation in Nigeria is what they call Commencement in the U.S.

By graduating, we declared  that we have reached the apex of learning and  are certified competent in both learning and character. But the truth is that learning is a continuous process even after graduation. And you can not afford to drink from shallow streams if you desire to flow out abundantly. I used water because water is neutral and transparent, so it is a fitting analogy to knowledge. Water bears the colour of the container it is poured into, meaning that the kind of knowledge you put into yourself, will, to a great extent, tell how much problems you can solve with it.That is  why at the beginning of this article, I said we are either not reading enough of the right things or not reading at all.. Our youths, though, read a lot. Yes, they read a lot on Facebook, twitter, and others. Blogs like Linda Ikeji, Nairaland, Nariabet  are popular with our youths and their host are rich for creating the platform for them. I am sure sports newspapers sell the highest among male youths while fashion magazines outsell others as far as the females are concerned in this country. It is possible after writing this article, which may be too boring and unappetizing for some to even read through, I may not have more than few likes or comments, but that is exactly the  point i am making. We don't like to be reminded that we are not reading. It is our best kept open secret. Most of us have heard this statement "if you want to hid something from a black man, put it in a book" and we cringe at such an uncomplimentary remark. Others prefer to maintain the status quo and even add, shamelessly, that they have finished reading books or they have  all the books they would ever need to read. I know there is an end to ignorance but i don't know the end to knowledge and please do tell me if you do.

If I can remember exactly how Chimamanda Adiche put it " people (Nigerians) come up to me and say, 'i like your works but i don''t read ' with no shame whatsoever. We are raising a generation of young people who think reading is not important. Thanks to the advent of television, internet, social media, and the likes. The bookworms are really fighting an uphill battle to make reading cool again." 

Take note of the italicized 'with no shame whatsoever'.  In primary school, we were made to shame the student who could not read after series of drills in reading exercise.  Today, such students go unnoticed and unhelped from from primary to secondary and most tragically through the NIGERIAN university system. I think they call them Educated Illiterates and you can only find them in this beautiful country of ours. Why not when reading as a subject is not in our curriculum. Please note that reading is a special skill of its own and is a professional subject matter. They are experts in reading development and i have benefited from such expert training through UNESCO Program. There is even a speed reading course and a reading development clinic in the Western world. Is somebody saying "but here is niga? another classic self delusion that we practice daily. 

I run a private library, reading clubs, and children mobile library all because I am passionate about books and reading. and for being odd, that is a bookworm, i am almost considered eccentric or slightly mad to say it mildly. I reside in a school premise and have my over 10000 books library there, but in a population of over 300 students, i can hardly spot 3 bookworms. Taking about an uphill battle. There is no exaggerations in what i am writing here. I am not guessing, it is purely experiential. If Chimmanda knew this though she lives overseas, imagine it for someone like me who has been  in  reading advocacy for the past 15 years. I tell you, school administrators have given up, teachers have given up, parents have given up. Just last week, I also would have given up if  not that i received a consolatory  award from a sympathetic organization, acknowledging me for my selfless service to society. It was a spirit lifting,  timely dose of encouragement. Sometime i wonder if i had not invested my all in a not-for-profit social service like this, how rich i would be. Don't pity me. Altruistic people are also selfish. They want praises, awards but most importantly fulfillment and Gods blessing through their services. He that waters,the Bible says, shall himself be watered. Even writing this articles require some of such quality because it is awareness and sensitization i am bringing which ultimately feeds on my scare resource to buy data bundle. Airtel just rang me that my data is getting low, so see you later.