Uyo Book Club marks World Book Day with ‘You are a Reader’ scheme

*…Apostolic Faith School wins maiden trophy

AS people across the globe last weekend commemorated the 2022 World Book and Copyright Day, Uyo Book Club hosted a reading session for book lovers at Helema Events Centre, Uyo.

The session which had as theme, “You are a Reade.r,” featured various activities including book reading, book reviews, quiz competition and folk presentations.

Students of Apostolic Faith Secondary School, Ikot Enwang in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, took home the maiden prize for the day.

The Chief Reader for the Day was the Advisor, Inoyo Toro Foundation, Udom Uko Inoyo, who is also immediate past Vice Chairman of ExxonMobil Companies in Nigeria.

Speaking virtually to participants at the event, at the event, Inoyo noted: “This year’s theme, You are a Reader, is both inspirational and a clarion call. For those who read, it is a good reminder of the benefits of reading. But for those who do not, it is a call to action; a plea that one must not be prompted, pressured, persuaded, or incentivized to read.

The Chief Reader identified the factors responsible for a decline in reading culture, which include near absence of public libraries, influence of disruptive technologies as well as the overwhelming challenges of daily survival.

While appreciating the contributions of the founder of Uyo Book Club, Dr. Udeme Nana, to spreading the gospel of reading generally, Inoyo encouraged Akwa Ibom youths to rekindle the habit of reading and sued for the intervention of all concerned stakeholders to revive the culture of reading in the state.

Inoyo continued, “Unfortunately, today, there are many who do not read. This was not the case when I was growing up as I recall how we used to take turns to read novels either purchased by a friend or found in the school or public libraries. There was a recognised community of readers, and each member was assigned a dateline within which a borrowed book had to be returned. There was also a commitment to keep the book in good condition. In secondary school, most found themselves savvy in current affairs and active in the debating society.”

The Chief Reader, who also shared thoughts with participants on one of his favourite books, “The Tipping Point” by Malcolm Gladwell, concluded: “Times have changed, and we now have young ones who seem unconcerned about reading. We have a responsibility to understand why this is so. Could it be the absence of facilities such as libraries, or are they overwhelmed with day-to-day challenges? Or could it be that technological advancement has become a barrier?”

On his part, Dr. Udeme Nana noted that the vision for Uyo Book Club is to drive the spread of book clubs such that Akwa Ibom State would begin to have multiple sit-outs for reading, not just for beer and pepper-soup.

He expressed delight that what started in his house in 2015 as a gathering of just 12 persons in Uyo now has over 250 members across Uyo, Ikot Ekpene and Eket centres, and was able to host the first Network of Book Clubs and Reading Conference in 2021.

While other dignitaries at the 2022 World Book and Copyright Event included the patron of Uyo Book Club, Dr. Ekong Sampson; author of “Village Boy”, Anietie Usen; author of “Ekong Nke”, Uboho Bassey; a cross section of secondary schools which participated in the event included Apostolic Faith Secondary School, Ikot Enwang in Ikot Ekpene; AdiahaObong Secondary School, Eniong Offot in Uyo; Notre Dame Girls Secondary School in Essien Udim; as well as Nigerian Christian Institute in Uyo Local Government Area.