KAOLI OLUSANYA, Founder, Kith and Kin International School:
What inspired me to organize this sort of thing is because of the importance and treasure of books in shaping lives. It helps the children to develop reading skills and habits.
Books make them good leaders and we know that ‘readers are leaders’: Unfortunately, we know that the reading skills of children in Nigeria is very low. But the children are not really at fault and so the blame should go to their parents. They expose them to watching all sorts of programmes on television without watching good educational programmes and reading newspapers and books.
The parents should guide their children properly because there is time for everything, and also ensure that they become good future leaders.
Apart from my advice to parents, I want to encourage corporate organisations to key into celebrating the “World Book Day” to promote the reading skills of the young ones in Nigeria. I must say that this is the first time we are celebrating this type of event in an elaborate way.
But we have been doing it internally to support and improve the reading standards of our students and we also plan to be having it every year. I am called the Chief Learning Officer (CLO) because anywhere that I am, I am there with my books. I also use the library to motivate the students to do likewise.
KUNLE KASUMU, Presenter, Channels T.V Book Club: The idea of introducing and celebrating the World Book Day in this school is a good one. There are two dates that the day is celebrated, which is the March 2 and April 23 every year. We need to really continue to talk about reading because in Nigeria, most people don’t value reading; they just want to go to school and graduate.
It should be the duty of everybody to begin to encourage and promote reading habits. The media also has a vital role to play in this regard by laying more emphasis on educational programs both on radio and television. I see the issue as a collective responsibility.
Furthermore, the government should also encourage the development of reading skills by making sure that old libraries are renovated and equipped with modern facilities to make reading interesting and attractive to the youths. The education budget should also be improved to take this into consideration.
There is also the need to have more competitions both reading and writing competitions by the public and private schools so that Nigerian students can be more pro-active when it comes to reading aspect. The country should have more reading contests to celebrate outstanding students.
AYODELE A. ADEBUKOLA, author and civil servant:
I feel good and relieved because this is the type of programme that would help the youths to develop reading habits. By the fact that students from other schools were invited to celebrate the World Book Day together, it will go a long way in directing them towards improving their reading skills.
I make it clear that I started writing since I was in secondary school and I am now a proud author of two books, which I later upgraded. I would also like the corporate organization to come in and sponsor reading competitions and celebrate good students, not just entertainers alone. This is because education is the best legacy we can bequeath to our children.
MRS. ADEGOKE C.F: English Teacher, Kith and Kin International School: This programme was organized to promote reading culture. This idea is from the Chief Learning Officer (CLO), that is somebody who likes reading and wants other people to emulate the reading culture. According to him, “readers are leaders”
Because we did not want to under estimate anybody, all the students who participated in the reading and review were from across the departments, from JSSI to SSS3.
My advice to corporate organisations and government is that they should begin to celebrate the World Book Day since in doing so, they would be celebrating the promotion of intelligence of our future leaders.
PASTOR NELSON AYODELE, Chairman, Board of Governor, KKEC: Our goal is to be a global school that sets the pace for other schools by celebrating the World Bok Day like other International schools. It is part of the plan and strategy to make the school outstanding among others and to make sure that every child that comes to Kith and Kin must be exposed to the world academically.
Furthermore, we are celebrating this event because we want to raise awareness and educate the children on the importance of books. We have been contributing to the improvement of reading for a long time by organizing seminars, conferences and also giving scholarships to students. We also ensure that teachers are well trained and some of them are sent on training abroad.
By way of advice, I urge the corporate organisations to do the right thing by helping in improving the reading skills of our future leaders by organizing contests and awarding scholarships.
OMODU OYE, SS2 Student, KKEC: Today’s programme is a successful one and it is really educating and interesting. It also tells us more about our reading habits. I will like to tell my colleagues out there to keep reading, because one day, you will be discovered, and what you read and know will help you. Regardless of any motivation, we should just keep on reading.
ABDULAZEEZ ALOWONLE, SS1A Student: This programme is an exciting one to me, because I have learnt a lot from it. It teaches us how to read better. And we are told that reading books can take you to a place, where you never imagine to be.
BODUNRIN OLUWADUROTIMI: My advice is that we should keep reading because the more you read, the more you learn.
OLUKOYA BUKOLA, Student: I like this programme because it encourages us to read and we were told that you can become a great leader when you are a great reader. Let us embrace reading.