Desmond Iwuchukwu
Authors, Poets, and stakeholders in the education sector have called for on government to make reading more entertaining for kids across the country.
The call was made during the second edition of the Port Harcourt Club 1928 Book Festival with the theme ‘Revamping Our Reading Culture’.
Speaking at the event, a University Lecturer at the Ignatius Ajuru University, Prof Priye Iyalla-Amadi called on Federal Government to adopt the use of local languages to teach students at various institutions in the country.
The Professor of French and Translation Studies said this during the second edition of Port Harcourt Club 1928 Book Fair in Port Harcourt.
Prof Priye Iyalla-Amadi while calling for the use of technology in curriculum development said teaching students with their local dialect will improve learning in the country.
She said that most countries embedded their technology in their indigenous languages.
”The truth of the matter is that it is when you’re very well vast in your mother tongue that you can grasp other concepts and really explore yourself and give much to the world. You need to start from home but am actually more for promoting our indigenous languages as a better well of getting children to assimilate concepts and develop faster cerebrally. It has even been proven that when you’re taught in your mother tongue you perform better” she said.
In his comment, the Captain of the Book Section of Port Harcourt Club 1928 Samson Fiberesima said the aim of the book festival is to re-ignite the culture of reading among kids and youths in Nigeria.
He said that children are inspired when they read the right books.
The Chairman of the Reading Association of Nigeria RAN, Rivers State Chapter Prof Ibiere Ken-Maduako said reading inspires individuals to think better for the development of society.
Prof Ibiere Ken-Maduako, who is also a lecturer at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education also said that the book fair will expose kids to different reading activities that will motivate them in life.
She also asked curriculum developers to adopt technology in the development of academic activities.
Prof Ken-Maduako said technology makes children comprehend faster than using normal learning methodology.
In her response, the Founder of Anita’s Book Club and the initiator of the Book Fair, Anita Ekwedigwe said the group is using the festival to inspire kids with books that will boost their learning abilities.
Anita Ekwedigwe also called for the introduction of technology in the education curriculum in the country.
Our correspondent reports that 18 schools across the state are currently taking part in the three-day Book Festival.
