According to the World Culture Statistics, Nigeria has been listed as one of the lowest reading culture countries, this was in a statement revealed by the Chief Executive Officer of the National Library of Nigeria (NLN), Professor Lenrie Olatokunbo Aina.
Aina made this known in Abuja when he led top officials of NLN to the headquarters of the Nigeria Correctional Service to donate books worth over N2 million to 37 custodial centres in the 36 states of the federation and Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He said the report had propelled the NLN to intensify reading campaign across the country, including visits to nursing mothers and vulnerable group in the society.
He also revealed that “In the last three years, we have been very active because there is what is called World Culture Statistics that tries to measure arts of reading all over the world. In the statistic, only two African countries were listed amongst countries that are reading. These countries are South Africa and Egypt; Nigeria was not among these countries.
The National Librarian noted that his organization had to embark on reading campaign to primary and secondary schools across the country as well as approaching nursing mothers and hospitals to read to their children.
According to Aina, research found out that reading actually starts from the unborn baby as when such a child is born, it will embrace reading culture, and he also disclosed that he sought the permission of the Controller-General last year to visit correctional centres all over Nigeria as part of the initiative to promote reading culture among the vulnerable.