By Jude Atupulazi
Former Governor of Anambra State and the 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has expressed concern over what he considers the dwindling state of Reading Culture in Nigeria.
Obi stated this at the 2024 Chinua Achebe Literary Festival and Memorial Lecture (9th Edition) organized by Mr Izunna Okafor, in collaboration with the Anambra State Library Board, Saturday, November 16, blamed parents for the decline.
The politician who was represented on the occasion by Professor Stella Okunna, noted that children had become narrow-minded and could no longer read beyond recommended textbooks.
Obi advised that students should be encouraged to widen their scope in reading and be persistent and consistent in doing so.
His words, ‘Many parents are not helping matters. The children are not encouraged and that’s one of the key factors that have been responsible for the reduction in the Reading Culture.
‘Schools should encourage students to read beyond their recommended textbooks.’
He identified the Internet and the social media as contributing to the dwindling interest in reading, noting that many students now paid greater attention to their cellphones without devoting time to their books.
On the event, he commended the coordinator and host of the programme, Mr Izunna Okafor, a journalist, who, Obi said, should be encouraged in his efforts to immortalize Prof Chinua Achebe.
The Anambra State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Comrade Don Onyenji, who represented Governor Chukwuma Soludo, described the event as a well thought one that could increase literary awareness of the young ones.
The Commissioner said the reduction in Reading Culture had been a critical issue and cankerworm that had eaten deep into the fabrics of the literary world.
He also blamed the scenario on the social media and advancement in information technology and communication, which, he said, had reduced the world to a global village.
‘Students, these days, find it difficult to burn the midnight candle, as all of us did those days.
‘Parents on their own part, are busy chasing money up and down, leaving the children on their own. The young people find it hard to concentrate on printed materials.
‘That’s why Mr Governor is investing heavily on education with the recruitment of qualified teachers and the enabling environment within the school system to change the narrative.
On the influence of Western Culture that, he said, had affected people’s cultural heritage in society, Hon Onyenji admitted that the Western Culture had tried to overshadow the traditional culture in many spheres.
He said foreign culture had had a critical influence as the world had become a global village.
‘Every culture is pushing to be dominant and we should also be pushing to promote the core values of the Igbo.
‘That’s why on our own part, we are promoting our culture through ceremonies, festivals like “Iriji”, and all of that,’ he said.
He later called attention to the book, “Things Fall Apart”, one of Chinua Achebe’s series which he described as a must read because of its richness in the Igbo Cultural Heritage with a sound literary background.
In his address, the host of the occasion, Okafor, said it was an annual literary event organized by the Society of Young Nigerian Writers, Anambra State Chapter.
He explained that it was in commemoration and celebration of the life, works, and legacies of the late Achebe.
He described Achebe as one of the world’s greatest literary legends and father of modern African literature.
The journalist disclosed that the event started in 2016 which clocked nine years in 2024.
He said for the past nine years, he had been grappling with the sponsorship of the event and was therefore soliciting for help.
‘The event holds on November 16 annually to coincide with the birthday of Prof Achebe who was born on November 16, 1930,’ he said.
This year’s event, with the theme, ”Remembering Achebe in a Time Like This”, attracted many personalities, including Mr Peter Obi ably represented by Prof Stella Okunna; Mr Oseloka Obaze; Igwe Sir Ben Emeka of Umueri; Anambra State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Comrade Don Onyenji; Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Anambra State Council, Dr Emeka Odogwu; Managing Director, Civic and Social Reformation Office, Sir Chuka Nnabuife, who was the Chairman of the occasion, among others.
The event featured lectures, drama, poetry, award presentations, writing competition, anthology and other items.
Representatives from eight secondary schools were on ground to grace the occasion and fully participated in all the activities.
