WRITTEN BY NNAEMEKA EGWUONWU
When he took over the mantle of leadership in Anambra state, one of the major concerns of Governor Willie Obiano was to enhance literacy and improve reading culture. Apparently worried by the declining reading culture and perhaps, having remembered the roles played by library books in his formative years, resulting in his literary exploits, including winning the coveted John F. Kennedy Award for essay writing in 1974, Governor Obiano immediately embarked on spirited drive to enhance literacy and improve reading culture among Umuakwukwo Ndi Anambra
First in the series of activities was the provision of fund for the development and improvement of school libraries. The Sustained Silent Reading, introduced in schools, which is an outcome of the collaboration between Anambra State Ministry of Basic Education and Reading Association of Nigeria (RAN), in the Literacy Enhancement Achievement Project (LEAP), was another major landmark achievement.
Then came the first and second editions of the Anambra Literacy Festival, which were climaxed by the presentation of real role models to Umuakwukwo Ndi Anambra. Professor Chukwuemeka Ike was presented first in his fiftieth anniversary as a trail blazing novelist, while in the second edition, Governor Willie Obiano was presented in his intimate biography, written by his wife, Chief Dr Ebelechukwu Obiano (Osodieme).
Large volumes of assorted books were acquired for distribution to school libraries. To further drive Akpokuedike’s return of school libraries to their past glories and restoration of reading culture, another phase of activities is due to commence tomorrow, February 8, 2019.
For the governor, infrastructure being one of his approaches to education, does not simply mean the buildings. It includes the state of the art equipment in them, for actualization of the goal of ensuring that the learning needs of all are met. Consequently, a number of novel programmes are coming up in this second phase. Apart from the distribution of books to both public and private schools in the state, Obiano is widening the horizon to include high institutions, community libraries and reading hubs, which will also receive books for their libraries.
One unique feature of this second phase is the inauguration of community reading hubs in all communities, with particular attention to educationally disadvantaged areas. This will involve parents and elders in reading activities at community level, as it takes the community to bring up a child.
The flag off ceremony will also feature the inauguration of special reading ambassadors and reading champions, as well as distribution of laptop computers to Education Management Information System (EMIS) officers. All these are some of the innovations Akpokuedike has lined up to further consolidate the achievements he so far recorded in the education sector.
Ndi Anambra are today witnessing with delight, the results of Obiano’s commitment and efforts already made in enhancing literacy and improving reading culture. Evidence abounds in the laurels won by Anambra school children in national and international competitions.
Anambra came tops, for the fourth consecutive time, during the 58th independence anniversary edition of the President’s Schools Debate championship. Team Anambra has also been selected to represent Nigeria in Sri-Lanker. All these are happening at a time when the state was still in joyful mood following the gold medal won at the Silicon Valley Technovation competition.
It is right therefore to say that the program of enhancing literacy and improving reading culture is yielding the desired dividend. As Governor Obiano performs the flag off of the second phase of activities for the enhancement of literacy and improving reading culture in Anambra state tomorrow at the Community Education Resource Center Okpuno, all education stake holders are enjoined to be part of the program.

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