Learn to read to be successful, ANA Chairman tells youths

June 23, 2018

By Ijendu Iheaka


The Abia State Chapter, Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), has called on Nigerian youths to cultivate the habit of reading as a means of laying a solid foundation for their sucessful future.

The state chairman of the association, Elder Nwokeoma Nwigwe, made the call in Aba on Friday during the third edition of the Enyimba Reading Festival.

The festival was organised by Artrise Book Club and Rural Readers Club of Aba.

Nwigwe said that this year’s reading festival, with the theme, “Reading to rebuild”, reflects the ability of books to influence readers’ lives for good.

Such positive changes, he said, were expected of Nigerian youths who read.

He noted that if the Nigerian youth would revive the reading culture, lives of the nation’s citizens would improve through the knowledge and wisdom acquired from books.

Noting that the Enyimba reading festival had come a long way and had gotten better by the year, he urged governments and all residents to support the event.

He lauded the project for creating reading awareness in youth around the city and building young people capable of representing Abia state in any literary event worldwide.

Meanwhile, Mr Obioma Okezie, Coordinator, Artrise Book Club, said the club organised the programme to revive reading culture in Aba and to improve the city’s status.

“The club targets young people to encourage them to read because what you learn at a tender age will be hard to forget in adulthood,” he said.

Okezie said this year’s theme was chosen after considering the ability of books to inculcate good manners and success habits in readers.

“At a time when Nigeria is seeking progress in every sphere of its existence, reading will help the youth to create a better culture that will help rebuild the country.

“The club hopes to improve the festival and its reading project until Aba is placed on the world’s reading map like Port Harcourt,” he said.

Over 500 copies of books, including, “Now I know”, by Vincent Okoro; “Weep Not Child”, by Ngugi wa’Thiongo  and  “Girls at War”, by Chuna Achebe were donated to participants.