In Anambra, Library Board marks World Book, Copyright Day

ANAMBRA State Library Board has joined the rest of the world to commemorate the 2022 World Book and Copyright Day.

  Held at the Prof. Kenneth Dike State Central E-Library, Awka, the event, themed “Read, So You Never Feel Alone”, attracted both primary and secondary schools students in Anambra State, as well as educationists and some top govt functionaries.

In her address of welcome, the Director, Anambra State Library Services, Nkechi Udeze explained that the day was set aside by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for celebrating the value, importance and beauty of book all over the world. She encouraged students to read harder, as that is the only key to academic excellence.

“The library is always here for your usage; make the best use of it,” she said.

In her remarks, the state’s Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh commended  libraries for their good works in promoting the reading culture.

The commissioner, represented by the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry,  Nnaemeka Egwuonwu highlighted challenges faced by authors and publishers to include piracy, noting that the Anambra State Ministry of Education in its various activities is trying to improve the reading culture in schools.

Contributing, the state’s Commissioner for Information, Sir Paul Nwosu, represented by Emmanuel Ikeagwuani, charged students to make reading and books their companions to widen their scope of knowledge.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Occasion, Dike Ndulue said it is good to commemorate the efforts of the great writers who contributed much to writing books and literature, urging the students to form the habit of reading.

In her keynote lecture, the keynote speaker at the event and former Head of Department of English Language and Literature, UNIZIK Awka, Prof. Jane Ifechelobi, outlined four essential parts of academic to include listening, writing, reading and the comprehensive aspect of it, reminding the participants that when they read, they exercise their comprehensive and analytical abilities.

In their separate remarks, some of the discussants at the event, Dr Paul Ifeanyi, Dr Ngozi Osuchukwu and Dr Chinelo Ezechukwu who discussed the topic “Poor reading Culture among School Children” highlighted distractions from social media and television as some of the causes of the worsening poor reading culture among school children today.