World Book Day, also known as World Book and Copyright Day, or International Day of the Book, is an annual event organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to promote reading, publishing, and copyright. The first World Book Day was celebrated on 23 April 1995 and continues to be recognized on that day.
The promoter of the initiative and the CEO of OpenWay Global Concepts, Adesina Adetola during a special reading visit to selected schools in the Local Government Area said the idea is not just to observe the World Book Day marked every 23rd of April worldwide, but also to get the younger generation to know the benefits of reading.
According to him, “there is an urgent need to revive the dwindling reading culture. And the best way to do this is to instil the culture at a tender age. That is why we are catching them young. And with our theme for this year’s edition, ‘Reading Is Fun’, we are encouraging the kids to know that reading is not as hectic as they thought. It could be as interesting as watching a cartoon program on the TV. With this idea, we are building a generation that is required for the nation-building”.
The renowned author, publisher and socioeconomic development strategist further said, “at this critical stage of our nationhood, we could not afford to toy with the future of our children and youths. They must get the right materials, mentality and mindset to develop. Therefore in doing this, it is not how much you have, as an individual or organisation, but your impact to make the world a better place.”
The Principal, RUTNEL College, Abaranje Road, Ikotun, Mrs Ofem thanked OpenWay Global Concepts for the laudable initiatives during her remarks in one of the schools visited. She wished the school reading visit could be a regular event. “This is indeed encouraging. And we want to appreciate the organisers for choosing our school for this. The students have really had fun amidst the resourceful atmosphere. We wish to have you again and again”, she said.
Meanwhile aside from the distribution of free books which include children storybooks, poetry, motivational and documentary books, the organization also held reading workshops and competitions for the students in their respective schools and locations where the students were made to understand the best way to read as well as know the benefits of reading among others.
