Reading Culture Comes Alive with ‘Book the Kids Again’

Kuni Tyessi

The cliché that necessary information is often hidden from Nigerians when documented in books seems to hold sway with the dwindling culture of reading in young people. This can be attributed to the fact that many are yet to understand and appreciate the benefits derived from reading- not just school books which have been tailored with specification- but books, particularly from literary circles which have been known over time to be didactic and laced with aesthetics for personal growth and development.

In bringing back the positive habit, which was relished by beneficiaries, convener of the ‘Book the Kids Again,’ Goodluck Hayi said the initiative which targets young people within the ages of 14- 18, and will commence on December 9, is aimed towards using the best part of the Christmas holidays to build pleasant memories that only books can give.

He said it is an initiative whereby young people are recruited to read books, and the ultimate goal is to bring back the reading culture in communities and starting from homes where children can have a bond with their families.

He added, “The holidays are fast approaching, and this is the time we can get kids and their families to stay together and build memories. So, with this initiative, memories will be created and after kids resume school, they can share with friends the pleasant memories that only the reading of books could give.

“This came about when we considered the cost of things in the country and most families can’t afford many things. With this, we felt having books to keep kids busy as against going online will encourage them to discuss and create a community where ideas can be discussed and strong minds built. The ultimate goal is to see that we get books to individuals who will read books and get others to come on board and it is a drive we will show and build with time.”

With the dream of ensuring that young people are also beneficiaries of what many notable leaders including himself have benefitted from, he disclosed that 2025 will be very interesting and a lot of projects will be come up, not just in Abuja, but with expansion Lagos, adding that “every have projects that will be used to educate and each will be different from the previous quarter.”

He added that another motive is the deliberateness required in raising today’s children and ensuring that their future is not wasted by getting themselves involved in the negative aspects of social media and discussing stories that are not necessary, noting that “We don’t own what they do, buy we can guide them to do right. It has helped many of us in the past and we are leveraging on it because it has the potency to do a lot in the future.”

The co-convener of ‘Book the Kids Again,’ Eldad Onojetah who revealed that the initiative was in the second phase, said the project would keep running after being mindful of what the children can do during the holiday period.

He added, “We understand that holidays are periods for resting and playing generally, and this is a long-term thing that requires constant engagement.”

 He went ahead to reveal that after the second phase, another will be done for valentine and another for when the children will be vacating for the long holidays, and this is to keep them excited and busy and with long-term effects on their quarter of next year will psyche.

He said as a result of reading, it has been proven that the level of focus and concentration increases and with life expectancy to as much as 20 percent.

According to him, “When reading books, scenes are mentally reenacted and this keeps the reader active and on their toes by visualising what has been written, and the brain is enacted compared to when one is watching a movie. The more you read, the bigger the brain neurons become and the ability to internalize things are birthed.”

Concerning the place of religious books in homes and the depletion of classical works from authors like William Shakespeare Virginia Woolf, George Orwell and many others, the co-convener advised that parents should not give children a tunnel vision of the world based on the tenets of their religion, but to permit children to have diverse opinions to issues, with the assurance that such will not spoil the children if allowed to read controlled diverse books.

He encouraged that during the yuletide season, book lovers should see the need to out books as gifts as they give hampers and with the promise that receivers of the book gifts would remember the givers and thank them for the gesture which ultimately is another way to bringing back the culture of reading in youths.

On his part, the Head of School, Aduvie International School, Abuja, Olufemi Folaponmile, said reading is actually a good way to release stress to as much as 68 percent.

He emphasised that in terms of critical thinking, the mind and thought process gets sharpened.

As a school administrator and being in the education sector for over 25 years, he noted that he has observed and detected that children who read, excel and think better than those who do not, hence the need to model reading to children.

He added, “If you want your children to become readers, it has to start with you being a reader and there is a lot parents can do to achieve this. The configuration of a house to include a library is of huge importance. So, there’s the need to model good reading skills by having portions of the house that can be referred to as a study or library. Children can also be encouraged to read by investing in books for them.

“The greatest legacy schools can bequeath to students is not necessarily getting them to score A’s in exams but getting them to become addicted to reading. When you are a reader, you end up becoming a leader.

“They should help children to imbibe reading skills by creating programmes that favours reading in schools. It’s not also about just reading but enjoying what you’re reading and loving the activity. That’s when it’s no longer stress because there’s no force involved.”