LNG Finalist Chinyere Obi Obasi donates 500 books to FCT schools

Mrs Obi-Obassi, who was last year shortlisted for the prestigious LNG Nigerian Prize for Literature, donated copies of her shortlisted children book, The Great Fall and her earlier work, The Brave Driver to the board for distribution for schools in and around the FCT. She said she was driven by “the love for children” and […]

Mrs Obi-Obassi, who was last year shortlisted for the prestigious LNG Nigerian Prize for Literature, donated copies of her shortlisted children book, The Great Fall and her earlier work, The Brave Driver to the board for distribution for schools in and around the FCT.

She said she was driven by “the love for children” and also because she has noticed a decline in the reading culture.

She said that despite the availability of TV and increasing access to the internet, some children are still reading and others who are discouraged by the absence of books are her main target.

“Imagine a situation where a child turns and sees newspapers everywhere, he will be tempted to look at it and perhaps say oh, this thing is fun. And when most parents are just trying to make sure there is food on the table, they may not be able to buy books,” she said, describing her act as a small gesture aimed at addressing the situation.

Responding, director of FCT UBEB, Malam Adamu Noma said it was a “wonderful gesture” and assured her of the equitable distribution of the books to public schools in the capital and said it will go a long way in boosting the reading culture.

The presentation was witnessed by top officials of UBEB and members of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Abuja Branch led by their chairman, Mr Edwin Ohribabhor.