The National Library of Nigeria (NLN) has called for the promotion of reading among Nigerians to end illiteracy and crime in the country.

The Chief Executive Officer, of NLN, Prof. Chinwe Anunobi, said this during a two-day Readership Promotion Campaign in Enugu on Wednesday with the theme, “Reading as a Panacea for Societal Problems.”

Anunobi, represented by the Director of, the Public Service Department, NLN, Dr Oluchi Kalu, said good reading culture was a panacea for insecurity, terrorism and banditry in the country.

She added that reading was also the solution to mental degeneration, misinformation, fake news, get-rich-quick syndrome and Yahoo business among youths.

She described the theme of the campaign as aptly tailored to reawaken the subconsciousness of Nigerians to embrace reading at the grassroots and to educate them on the importance of reading.

Anunobi stressed that reading would bridge the gap between uninformed and informed, poor and rich, and leaders and followers.

“This will surely address these personal, educational, socio-political, security and economic concerns,” she said.

The NLN chief explained further that a strong reading culture enhanced independence, leadership, and confidence was a key component of social and emotional development.

She added that the campaign was designed to awaken reading consciousness among Nigerians by way of promoting the availability and use of good reading materials.

“This engagement will take place in all 36 states including the FCT with a focus on the donation of books and other materials to primary/secondary schools and other vulnerable groups in support of learning.

“The campaign is expected to impact the indigenous people ‘Hard to Reach’ through the help of traditional rulers,” Anunobi said.

In his opening remark, the Chairman of the event, Prof. Agu Gab Agu, highlighted the importance of reading, saying it aid character formation and human development.

Agu, who is a lecturer, in the Law Faculty, at Enugu State University of Technology (ESUTH), noted that the world literacy rating of Nigeria stood at 59.9 per cent.

He urged the students to strife and continue reading to acquire knowledge, stressing that knowledge is power.

“Do not be ready just to pass your exams but read every text you come across for your mental development,” he charged them.

On the proposed study centre in Ngwo Community in Udi Council Area of Enugu State, Agu said the community would support NLN to establish it.

Speaking on the theme, the Chairman, of the Nigeria Library Association, Enugu Chapter, Dr Jacinta Eze, described reading as an activity that changed peoples’ perception of certain issues.

Eze, who is also the Head of Library and Information Science, at ESUTH, said reading habits would help solve the issue of bad governance and low human and capital development in the country.

Speaking to the students, Eze said active reading would brighten their academic performance and inculcate set values and logical thinking in them.

Earlier, the Head, of NLN, Enugu, Rachael Neboh, said reading was a veritable tool for national development, which should not be overlooked.

According to her, educational development is possible only when citizens embrace the culture of reading.

“In our bid to catch them young, we have invited schools to participate in the reading exercise.

“The first day, we had a road walk where we sensitised women, farmers and out-of-school children in your community.

“With your support, NLN will create a literacy centre for those that indicated an interest to learn.

“Whiteboard, relevant books and writing for setting up the centre will be presented to the royal father of the day,” Neboh said.

The event featured a reading and spelling competition among students, cultural dance and a recitation of the National Anthem in the Igbo language.