Afenifere leader decries poor reading culture among Nigerians, says education is dying
A leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, Basorun Seinde Arogbofa, has lamented the dwindling reading culture in Nigeria, adding that education is dying in the country because people no longer read to improve their knowledge.
Arogbofa said this on Saturday in Akure, the Ondo state capital, on the occasion of his 85th birthday and public presentation of his new book, “The Psychology of Growing Old: A Personal Experience for Both Old and Young”.
The Afenifere stalwart, while addressing the people present at the event, noted that education would die without books, according to NAN.
Arogbofa observed that the book publishing industry was also dying, mentioning some of the renowned publishing companies that had gone into extinction.
“Education is dying. I know we have modern technology like this and that, but we can’t begin all this without writing; without producing the books, and we are not producing. Where do we go?
“This is a challenge for us in education. And of course, without books, we can’t move ahead.
“I’m aware that some will write in their bedroom or publish in the kitchen, and nobody, no editor will know what they have written, and they will go in front of their house to start selling the books.
“The next thing is that we find them in the hands of our students. And that is where education is going,” he said.
Arogbofa appealed to the state government and all stakeholders to see how to revive the reading culture in the country.
Speaking at the event, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State congratulated Arogbofa on the occasion of his 85th birthday.
Aiyedatiwa, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr Segun Omojuwa, saluted Arogbofa’s courage, mental alertness and scholarly exposition which he said were visibly demonstrated in the new book.
The governor said the occasion was not just for the presentation of another book by one of the most versatile authors, but for celebrating the hard work, focus, and resilience of an icon who had served the Yoruba nation and Nigeria.
“It gives me great honour to be present at this auspicious occasion of the public presentation of the latest book of our revered elder statesman, Basorun Seinde Arogbofa, OFR.
“Let me first of all congratulate Baba on his 85th birthday anniversary. Four scores and five years are no mean feat. It has undoubtedly been by the benevolence of the Almighty.
“This is even more outstanding and commendable when one takes into consideration his age.
“Baba is an exemplary leader and elder, I admire for his forthrightness, honesty, truthfulness and for always standing for a just cause.
“We hope to continually tap from your knowledge and wealth of experience,” he said.
Also speaking on the sideline of the event, former Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko, said the government needed to do more in terms of social security for the elderly.
“As part of social security plan, we must take care of our old ones, especially the healthcare, there must be a healthcare security mechanism to take care of our old ones,” he said.
A former Governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, identified inadequate funding and population challenges as the bane of education in the country.
Shekarau said that the rate of population growth has outgrown the planning and funding of the available facilities.
“I and those before us, the maximum in a class was 30, 40. I remember in the 80s, my government decided to make maximum in a class 50, but today, we have 100,150,” he said.
Shekarau later said all these were not beyond what the government could still address.
The book was reviewed by the Ondo State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Kayode Ajulo, SAN.
