Dying reading culture among Nigerian students

Reading, whether for pleasure or for academic purpose, is an essential habit that forms the bedrock of greatness in everyone, regardless of age, gender or status is hardly disputed. However, a major phenomenon that has been linked to dwindling reading culture is low level of computer literacy among citizens. Added to this are the distractive […]

Reading, whether for pleasure or for academic purpose, is an essential habit that forms the bedrock of greatness in everyone, regardless of age, gender or status is hardly disputed.
However, a major phenomenon that has been linked to dwindling reading culture is low level of computer literacy among citizens. Added to this are the distractive and wrong application of information and communication technology device and the high cost of books. As good as ICT is, many observers say it has also cast some measure of negative effects on Nigerians, especially on their reading habits. This is also, as they say internet obsession has caused many kids to waste valuable times surfing diverse anti-moral and socially inclined websites. Also, the introduction of the Global System of Mobile Communication (GSM) in Nigeria has been viewed as one progress that has come with certain negatives tendencies that are detrimental to the culture of reading in the country.
Furthermore, many people’s general perception is that reading is meant for academic or school work alone, reading for other purposes such as for pleasure, fun and recreation, is considered by some people as not quite essential. Libraries are essential instruments for promoting reading culture as they serve as recreational centers and provide creative development to the children and local young adults.
Nevertheless, Nigerian students need to be strongly educated on the importance of reading, and parents in particular have a very good role to play in teaching their children how to read. To help children learn to read as well as read to learn, it is better to introduce them to reading right from the homes in their early years. To channel children’s interest towards reading, parents should ensure that their children observe them while they are reading, keep reading materials in the house take children along to public libraries, buy books as birthday gifts or reward for good. There is need for a paradigm shift in Nigeria’s poor book buying habit to a good book-buying habit that private and home libraries must be established by parents in their house to stimulate reading. At the primary and secondary educational levels, teachers should make it a point of duty to encourage pupils to imbibe the culture of reading through inauguration of reading clubs as well as introduction of activities like reading competitions, library or reading day. This will go a long way to minimizing the poor reading culture among students in Nigeria.
Sarfatu Andrew Bissala, IBBU, Lapai, Niger State.