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In this feature, DIRISU YAKUBU interrogates the factors responsible for the dying reading culture with recommendations on how to redress the situation
It was Mark Twain, the late American writer and public speaker, who said, “The man who does not read good books is no better than the man who can’t.” Global leaders including two former American Presidents, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama as well as philanthropist, Bill Gates are a few world citizens who continue to share the mileage of reading, encouraging their followers to embrace the virtue suit on their various social media handles.
In Gates Notes, a collection of his current reads, the American billionaire and Microsoft boss shares insight on the latest information on democracy, good governance, climate change, and Sustainable Development Goals among others. In both developed and emerging democracies, writers are churning out printed material to engage the critical minds of the public on various aspects of life ranging from philosophy, science, and drama, to mention but a few.
In Nigeria, is there still a community of students or young professionals whose purpose of gathering is not to see Arsenal playing Chelsea but to discuss the works of Wole Soyinka, Chimamanda Adichie, John Grisham or Sidney Sheldon? Nigeria’s reading culture faces a profound decline, with once-vibrant book clubs in locales like Lugbe and Karu in Abuja supplanted by businesses prioritizing immediate economic gains, such as hair salons and betting shops.
This phenomenon epitomizes a societal shift away from intellectual engagement, lending credence to Philip Larkin’s lamentation that “We may be the last generation to write to each other.” This disinterest in traditional intellectual forums underscores a broader disconnect from cultural and intellectual heritage.
The decline is exacerbated by the absence of systemic efforts to reinvigorate reading habits. Historically regarded as both a leisure activity and a tool for intellectual development, reading now contends with the pressing demands of economic survival. This transition reflects not only changing societal priorities but also the structural inadequacies undermining the value placed on intellectual pursuits. Reversing this trend necessitates a concerted effort to re-establish reading as a cultural and intellectual enrichment cornerstone.
Lamenting the dying reading culture, a librarian at the postgraduate school of the Federal University, Lafia, Nasarawa State, Dr Isaac Abu, noted that compared to the past, students no longer appreciate the value in leafing through the pages of textbooks, journals and newspapers.
Abu said, “What is happening across campuses is very sad. We have books containing vital information on multi-disciplines, but the truth is that these students no longer come to read. We have newspapers and journals, but the interest shown in reading these days is not encouraging. I can tell you without mincing words that those who patronize the libraries do so only when examinations are around the corner. This is very dangerous because, despite the advantage of the internet, there is quite some useful information that is exclusively found in printed formats.”
A contributing factor to poor reading culture is the advent of the internet, which according to a final year student in the Department of Sociology, University of Abuja, Desmond Daylop, is a “distraction.”
Daylop said, “For me, the internet is a distraction because when I’m reading, I always want to check my phone to see what is happening on the internet. However, I always endeavour to be focused so that it does not become a habit.”
James Aboki, a 300-level student in the Computer Science/Education Department at the Bauchi State University, Gadau, agrees with Daylop on why reading has become quite a difficult task for students of this generation. According to him, young men and women making a lot of money without much education are beginning to make people question the place of education in the affairs of men.
He noted, “Today, many students of our age find reading difficult because we feel it takes more time to understand the meaning of life through reading. We believe that from the influence of our friends who don’t like reading or have become successful in life without formal education, we can also make it without necessarily reading too much.
“Our phones and the internet are distractions to reading but they also help because sometimes a piece of information can pop up on your phone. You will quickly read it and make a mental note without necessarily going to read it up. I think notifications on phones are more interesting than reading books.”
Aboki’s counterpart at the Bauchi State University, Gadau, Messiah Dantani, explains that the attractive nature of social media platforms has made reading optional for most students.
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