Inculcate Reading Culture In Children – Osun First Lady Tells Parents

By Julius Ibikunle

Wife of the Osun State Governor, Mrs. Kafayat Oyetola, has urged parents and guardians to encourage their children to read books.

The wife of the Governor made the call during the 2019 World Book Day, with the theme “Bring Back Our Books-Bridge the Gap between Mediocrity and Excellence”

Mrs. Oyetola, however urged teachers and school administrators to adjust school timing system by making library as a major component of school calendar.

According to her, it is important for parents to encourage their children to read, assuring that government has put measures in place to ensure that teachers in primary and secondary schools in the state are not found wanting.

Stressing the need for parents to give their children good education and why children should read their books always, Osun first lady noted that education plays significant roles in social, technological and all aspects of development in the world.

She further explained that it cannot be argued that the major gap between the western world and that of the black population was the dwindling interest in book writing, stocking and reading.

Mrs. Oyetola noted that books serve as repositories through which yesterday was preserved for the generation of today, saying all hands must be on deck to ensure they preserve the cultures, values and findings of today for generations to come.

The wife of the Governor pointed out that Nigerians must renew their interest in books by adopting the actively and aggressively western world format of book reading so that country like Nigeria can meet up with the developmental strides of the nations in the developed world

She promised that her foundation will play an active role in the campaign for behavioural change in collaboration with the current administration in Osun which she said intends to focus largely on the knowledge component of school system.

Earlier, Chairman of the Occasion, Professor Michael Ologunde, Vice-Chancellor Ladoke Akintola University who was represented by Mr Shade Ademola urged parents to inculcate reading culture in their children.

Echoing a similar view, the General Overseer of Victory Life Chapel, Bishop Mike Bamidele, charged students in attendance to cultivate the habit of reading for them to be leader in future.