March 9, 2018

Some book sellers within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Friday in Abuja, decried low patronage of educational story books, saying such could further hinder the reading culture among children.

Some of the book sellers, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews, urged parents to buy more of educational story books for their  children to improve their reading and spoken ability.

Mrs Ebere Nonso, a book seller at Gwanrinpa, said that there had been a very low patronage of books, adding that such development was not good for the children.

“The level at which parents come to buy toys compared to books is so wide. I sell both toys and books but when parents come to buy things the children will be crying for toys.

“No child has ever come in and cries for a book only toys.

“I think parents need to encourage their children to read by buying books for them instead of toys,’’ She said.

Mr Chris Ericson, a book seller in Wuse Market, also lamented the low patronage of books, saying reading would expose children to new ideas and help their thinking ability.

According to him, children now don’t like reading; all they do is watch cartons, play with toys and nothing more.

“ I think schools should organise reading competition and award should be given and by so doing it will help our children to cultivate the culture of reading books.

Mrs Omari Ruth, a teacher, advised parents to always engage their children by ensuring that they read to their hearing as well as monitor what they read to ensure that they study educative material.

“ The different activities today that kids engage in are mostly not allowing them willingly to read all they want to do is watch TV programmes that are sometimes not educative.

“Some primary schools have gone above mere reading books; they are encouraging pupils to  use laptop as the world is now technologically incline and this is also exposing the children to learn more,’’ She said.

Mrs Teresa Amed, an Author, popularly call Aunty Talatu, said the reading culture among children was dying, saying “we all have to do something to correct that by encouraging our children to read”.

“ I think reading should be fun, parents need to see that they create environment conducive for the children to read and teachers need to ensure that they make reading interactive and exciting.

“ To encourage children to read, I organise a reading club where parents can bring their children between the age of three and 12 every Saturday.

“I also encourage parents to come and read to the kids and together we maintain a good reading culture.

“So I urge schools to organise competitive reading quiz because such exercise will attract the children`s interest in reading,” she said.

Mrs Joy Adeshina, a parent, said some parents do not buy story books because most of the books the children needed were been sold in the school.

“ As I am paying the school fee, I am paying for all that my child will need like books, uniform, bag and so on, so this does not give me the opportunity to go to bookshops. I buy books only when I come across them,” she said.