Literature
- Nigerian Literary Scene Is Vibrant ? Agada
Dr. Jerry Agada, the immediate past president of Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA),is not just a renowned writer but a veteran administrator. He was Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, 1999 to 2000; Permanent...
- Niger State: The Making Of A Literary Capital
Once upon a time the area known today as Niger State was famous mainly for its strategic position as a major railway station that drew together people from diverse ethnic groups. But the literary revolution, which began with Abubakar Imam?s legendary...
- Awf: A Commitment To Literary Service
DR. EMMAN USMAN SHEHU, founding President of Abuja Writers Forum (AWF), and Director of the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ), Abuja, hails from Maradun in Zamfara State. The holder of doctorate in African Literature in English has published...
- Reading Enhances Good Governance - Gov Aliyu
To Nigerian writers, Governor Mua?zu Babangida Aliyu is not just the Chief Servant of Niger State, but Patron of the Arts, given his interest and tremendous assistance to writers through the Niger State chapter of Association of Nigerian Author, ANA....
- Eugenia Blazes The Trail In Book Promotion (report)
Eugenia Abu of the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, has held a public reading of her book, In the Blink of an Eye, on 24th June, 2008, at Protea Hotel, Maitama, Abuja ? the 26th public reading since the book was published last year. Hosted by Abike...
Literature
Can Jonathan bring back the book?
There was this legendary farmer who owed his popularity more to his dream of being a great farmer than the actual farming. He had several farms and at each of them he would spend the whole day telling every passerby how he intended to cultivate the land and produce the best crops ever known. This great man comes to mind each time I think of our leaders. And as the Jonathan administration talks about reviving our reading culture through the Bring Back the Book programme, I can?t help the feeling that it is just another dream. Like the dream of housing for all by the year 2000.
This is not a wish. I?m just expressing my fears. No one would wish for a situation worse than the one we are in. The popular joke about hiding something in a book if you want to conceal it from a Nigerian is now obsolete. Today you don?t have to hide it; put it right on top of the book. He will not see it.
I have my fears because since the likes of Sir Ahmadu Bello, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief Obafemi Awolowo left the political stage, it has been a display of beautiful visions with little or no commitment towards realizing them. Excellent policies and programmes are articulated in colourful development plans comparable only to those of advanced countries. Yet, we are gradually being overtaken by smaller countries like Ghana and Cameroun in terms of development because of poor implementation, corruption and other manifestations of official laxity and criminal tendencies.
From the mission statement and objectives, the Bring Back the Book concept is quite appealing; well crafted. Formally launched on the 20th of December 2010 in Lagos, the initiative ?seeks to empower the youth for the future by preparing them for the opportunities and challenges faced by us as a people by engaging in series of activities designed to encourage the culture of reading amongst the youths?. This is because ?the president believes the secrets of governance, amazing discoveries, development, progressive management principles and every other desire of any nation are hidden in books, books written over generations, and that only through reading can the leaders of tomorrow nurture dreams and values than can change society.?
To realize this noble objective, a long list of activities was drawn. These include organizing book readings in educational institutions at all levels across the country, supporting the production of books locally by encouraging publishers via buying of books for distribution to libraries nationwide, and supporting literary events and projects.
Again this is an excellent line-up. Workable. As the president himself put it, ?the goal of the Bring Back the Book is an achievable one.? But I?m still haunted by this lingering fear that this might turn out like the previous reading project; National Read Campaign, ?powered? by the Federal Ministry of Education. The project started with grand ceremonies in Abuja and other places. And that was where it ended. When you see any child reading today, it is not because of that failed attempt called National Read Campaign, it is by the special grace of God.
To allay my fears and those of other concerned Nigerians, therefore, President Jonathan must push this project beyond verbal ornamentation. This should not be another lip service project meant to score cheap political goals. There should be the political will to make this work through a holistic approach involving a vigorous resuscitation of the dwindling standard of education.
It is only well educated people that can read and write. In those days when the education system was something to talk about, there was no need for a special progrmme to persuade people to read or write, it came as a matter of course. For instance, in the 1970s, Muhammed Sule of blessed memory was only in secondary school when he wrote his first novel, The Undesirable Element. According to him, ?I started it in Form One. And by the time I got to Form Four I had finished it and sent it to Macmillan for publication.?
Which Nigerian child from the public school system can tell the same story today? Such feat has more chances of manifesting today only if the child is in private school or is based abroad enjoying the required public educational and other facilities. And the ?abroad? might not necessarily be the US or Europe, it could be Ghana here, to which Nigerian parents now fall over each other to take their children. Ghana!
What this means is that, while the Bring Back the Back programme is a welcome idea, raising the standard of our public schools is central to achieving an enduring reading and writing culture.
It is heartwarming that out of the 4.92 trillion naira total expenditure of the proposed 2013 budget, education got 426.53 billion naira, thereby leading several other sectors in terms of allocations to key areas of the economy. It is a step in the right path. But it should not end on paper. It should be translated into enabling teaching and learning environment. That?s the sure way to bring back the book.
http://blueprintng.com/2012/11/can-jonathan-bring-back-the-book/
- Nigerian Literary Scene Is Vibrant ? Agada
Dr. Jerry Agada, the immediate past president of Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA),is not just a renowned writer but a veteran administrator. He was Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, 1999 to 2000; Permanent...
- Niger State: The Making Of A Literary Capital
Once upon a time the area known today as Niger State was famous mainly for its strategic position as a major railway station that drew together people from diverse ethnic groups. But the literary revolution, which began with Abubakar Imam?s legendary...
- Awf: A Commitment To Literary Service
DR. EMMAN USMAN SHEHU, founding President of Abuja Writers Forum (AWF), and Director of the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ), Abuja, hails from Maradun in Zamfara State. The holder of doctorate in African Literature in English has published...
- Reading Enhances Good Governance - Gov Aliyu
To Nigerian writers, Governor Mua?zu Babangida Aliyu is not just the Chief Servant of Niger State, but Patron of the Arts, given his interest and tremendous assistance to writers through the Niger State chapter of Association of Nigerian Author, ANA....
- Eugenia Blazes The Trail In Book Promotion (report)
Eugenia Abu of the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, has held a public reading of her book, In the Blink of an Eye, on 24th June, 2008, at Protea Hotel, Maitama, Abuja ? the 26th public reading since the book was published last year. Hosted by Abike...