The Oyo State Library Board (OYSLB) recently organised a one-day readership campaign programme tagged ‘Reading for Success’ for junior secondary school 2 and senior secondary school 2 students from selected schools in Ibadan.
The guest speaker and the keynote speaker, Femi Taiwo and Kolawole Aramide, respectfully from the Department of School Library and Media Technology, University of Ibadan, emphasised the significance of libraries as hubs of knowledge and the importance of cultivating a reading habit.
They also encouraged students to explore library’s resources and become regular visitors, as “readers are leaders”.
The chairman of OYSLB, Yemi Taiwo, said the initiative was a testament to the library board’s commitment to promoting a culture of reading and learning in the state. He stressed that reading is a fundamental skill that unlocks the door to knowledge, wisdom, and progress.
“I am excited, knowing that we are about to embark on a journey that will transform the reading habits and attitudes of our students ─ and, ultimately, impact the overall success of our state,” Taiwo said.
He however said that, in today’s fast-paced world, many students are struggling to find the time and motivation to read. In light of this, he pledged his commitment to promote literacy and love for reading in the state.
“‘Reading for Success’ is designed to achieve this goal. Through this programme, we will be providing our students with a range of activities and resources that will help them develop a love for reading and improve their reading skills,” said.
Taiwo charged students to embrace reading as a habit and extended his gratitude to all who collaborated on the programme.
The state librarian, Kayode Awotona, said that the Oyo State Library is committed to literacy and providing access to information that can empower individuals to achieve their goals.
Awotona further said the programme is a reminder that reading is a key factor in achieving success and a skill that can be developed and nurtured from an early age.
“Reading has been recognised as a key factor in academic and personal growth. It is also a tool that empowers individuals to acquire new knowledge, develop critical thinking skils, and improve their communication skills,” he added.
The director of School Services, OYSLB, Mrs Oluwatoyin Falana, who also served as the chairperson of the planning committee, stated that OYSLB would continue to work tirelessly to ignite the passion for reading and library use among young people in the state.
“It is a continuous programme that will reach all schools in Oyo State. The next one will hold in October,” Falana said.
One of the notable aspect of the event was the introduction of Library Ambassadors. Twenty-three students were selected from eight schools to be ambassadors. The selected students thereafter took oaths and received symbols of their offices, the ambassador’s tags.
The library board donated educational books to the participating schools.
There was a ‘Book Tasting’ session, where over 10 students read excerpts from Wole Soyinka, Charles Dickenson, William Shakespeare, and Niyi Osundare works.
At the end of the book tasting session, three schools emerged as winners, and the top three readers from the schools were presented with gifts. Methodist Grammar School, Bodija, took the first position.
In attendance were the acting state librarian, directors of OYSLB, teachers, and students.
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