Library organises reading contest for students in Bauchi

National Library of Nigeria, Bauchi State branch has conducted a reading competition among secondary school students in the state. The competition was part of the 2017 Readership Campaign to encourage reading culture among the public. The 2017 Readership Campaign with a theme ‘Working Together ýTo Build A Virile Reading Nation: Challenges And Strategies’, drew stakeholders […]

National Library of Nigeria, Bauchi State branch has conducted a reading competition among secondary school students in the state.

The competition was part of the 2017 Readership Campaign to encourage reading culture among the public.

The 2017 Readership Campaign with a theme ‘Working Together ýTo Build A Virile Reading Nation: Challenges And Strategies’, drew stakeholders and the public, seeking their attention towards the revival of reading culture among Nigerians.

Ten secondary schools attended the occasion, which included; Government Day Secondary School Bakari Dukku; Al Iman Secondary School, Government Day Secondary School Sa’adu Zungur; St Paul Anglican Secondary School and Federal Government Girls College (FGGC) Bauchi.

Others include; Sardauna Academy; General Hassan Usamn Katsina Unity College; Immaculate Conception Secondary School, Fariah Foundation Secondary School and Sabel Sunlight Secondary School.

Five schools later participated in the reading competition which include; General Hassan Usman Katsina Unity College; Federal Government Girls College (FGGC) Bauchi, Fariah Foundation Secondary School, Fadaman Mada; Immaculate Conception Secondary School, and St Paul Anglican Secondary School.

At the end of the competition, Immaculate Conception Secondary School clinched the first position, St Paul Anglican Secondary School came second while Fariah Foundation Secondary School emerged third.

In his opening remark, Chief Librarian and Chief Executive Officer, ýNational Library of Nigeria, Professor Lanre O. Aina said that the campaign was scheduled to take place in the 23 branches of the Library.

Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) librarian, Dr Musa Ayinla Bello lamented that poor reading culture has contributed to the slow development being witnessed by Nigeria over the years. He said a survey has revealed that an average Nigerian rarely reads a novel or a non-fiction book at his leisure timeý and that only one percent of Nigerians read a book in a year, adding that the advent of technology, especially the Internet, helped the decline of reading culture not only in Nigeria, but in other parts of the world.

On his part, Head of National Library Bauchi branch, Abubakar Hussaini Hambagda said that utilisation of public libraries and encouraging reading culture among Nigerians will open the world ýof information, create possibilities and provoke inspiration.