Time to get the country reading again

Time to get the country reading again

A plan by President Goodluck Jonathan to launch a national book development and reading campaign spells hope for the embattled sector, writes AKEEM LASISI Ahead of a National Book Policy that is expected to be launched by the Federal Government, President Goodluck Jonathan is set to flag off a national reading project tagged, Bring Back the Book, a campaign targeted at revitalising the intellectual and literary industry in the country.

In the past three decades, when intellect-related values were in the doldrums, the reading blood pressure of the country has been very low. Distress swept through many educational institutions, libraries, the publishing industry and other related institutions that support a vibrant reading culture. This is believed to have affected the reasoning faculty of a lot of people, just as the intellectual capacity of many graduates of higher institutions remains bruised. Of late, the apprehension has been heightened by mass failures that candidates now record in examinations conducted by the likes of the West African Examination Council and the National Examination Council.

Perhaps, as a way of asserting his intellectual background, Jonathan seems poised to ‘bring back the lost books’. According to his Senior Special Assistant on Research, Documentation and Policies, Mr. Oronto Douglas, the BBB project, which the president will launch in Lagos on December 20, will promote the book as a firm vehicle for making the 21st Century work for Nigeria.

“The time has come to activate the reading culture and promote knowledge beyond the classroom in our country,” Douglas says during an encounter with him in Lagos. “President Jonathan believes that the book is one of the vehicles that will lead us into the next generation.”

But he adds that the campaign is not going to be a one-man show. According to him, apart from literary icons that will be present at the launch, the presidency will also work with relevant organisations to realise the BBB campaign’s objectives.

Yet, December 20 promises to add another dimension to Jonathan‘s romance with Facebook as a book that documents his engagement with the social networking site will be presented at the launch of the reading project. On this, the senior special assistant notes that the book will bring into perspectives the significance of the social interaction network on modern governance.

Douglas explains, “The president joined Facebook to open door to governance, and to make the people have direct access to him. He believes that government belongs to the people, and that they should determine how government is run. He adds that through the Facebook account, the president also fulfils his desire to engage reason and learn from the old and young alike.

Even as they are still waiting for details of the reading campaign, stakeholders believe it is a welcome idea. At different fora organised by the Association of Nigerian Authors, the National Publishers Association, the Nigerian International Book Fair, Lagos Book and Art Festival, the Rainbow Book Club, among other book-promoting groups, the stakeholders had lamented the absence of a major government‘s intervention to arrest the contradictions weighing down the creative knowledge industry.

“A society cannot just continue the way we have been pretending that all is well with our intellectual and creative sector,” says seasoned writer and academic, Dr. Bayo Adebowale. “Gone were the days that people should tolerate ignorance. It is knowledge that drives the modern world. And much of such knowledge is contained in books - whether as a physical product or online version. So, if President Jonathan now shows a sign of seriousness in helping us out, we must all give him all the support the project deserves.”

Also commenting on the initiative, ANA President, Dr. Jerry Agada, notes that the association is ready to work closely with drivers of the campaign. According to him, Nigerian writers are still as active as they have always been. “There are challenges in the publishing end of the market. The poor reading culture is affecting us. And pirates are compounding the problems for us. Despite these problems, Nigerian writers have continued to do well nationally and internationally. We want to assure Mr. President that we have the capacity to fulfil the demands of Nigerians and are very willing to see the reading campaign become a success.”

Source:http://www.punchng.com/