CAUSES OF DECLINE IN READING CULTURE EXAMINED

Reading is no doubt an integral part of education, no wonder it is said that readers are leaders.

Unfortunately, it has been observed that most people no longer visit the libraries to read but spend time at viewing centres to watch football or play games, while the reading clubs of the old have turned to cult groups.  Reading culture is one of the valuable assets which boost human generative power of thinking for innovation, envelopment of personal talents and natural endowment.

According to research, only twenty percent of adults read at least a book every month.

Most people just do not seem to read anymore, except reading daily newspaper and weekly magazine or glancing at labels on products.

This type of reading cannot be compared to reading volumes of pages on William Shakespeare or Wole Soyinka’s book.

The society today has turned the electronic media especially the use of internet to a source of entertainment than education.

A Liberian in Enugu Central Library, Mrs Caroline Okoye noted that most Nigerians no longer had interest in reading, attributing it to distraction from modern technologies.

Mrs Okoye also stressed that the use of conventional books could not be under estimated, despite the advancement in technology.

A number of students in Enugu Metropolis said they only read for examination, noting that they could browse information from their phones or laptops.

A lecturer with the Enugu State University of Science and Technology ESUT, Mr Emmanuel Ezeh blamed the decline on reading culture on laziness and spending more time on chatting on internet.

This he noted, had reduced the performance of students.

He therefore, called for change of attitude.

Miss Deborah Edika a teacher, advised students to develop interest in books to acquire in-depth knowledge that would help them in their future.

The respondents called on various governments to close any school without a functional library, while school management should make it compulsory for students to visit the library at least, twice a week.

OLAYIWOLA OJO