Major stakeholders in the Nigeria education sector yesterday bemoaned the lack of libraries in many public schools in the country.
The vice chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof Idowu Olayinka, his deputy, Prof Yinka Aderinto, ex-chairman of the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, Prof Olusoji Adejumo, Prof J.A Ademokoya and others spoke yesterday at the International School library month celebration.
Marked every October, it is designated by the International Association of School Librarianship to highlight the importance of school libraries the education of children.
The event had in attendance pupils from selected schools in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Olayinka, who was represented by the Dean of the Faculty of Education, Ademokoya, promised to do everything to support the aspiration of the young children to attain their full potentials.
Adejumo, who was one of the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship aspirants, advised the pupils to make it a date to read a book a month.
According to the Ibadan-born professor of animal science, “You must learn beyond the class. And the only place for that is the school libraries.”
He, however, berated the government for not funding libraries. “My love for libraries started from my love for music. You cannot play music without books. I started acquiring music books and then those that will teach me the meaning of those music. Any opportunity for you to read a book, grab it.
Aderinto, who spoke later, explained that libraries are needed to gain more information. “When you read, your mind is free. Seek knowledge. Have an idea of what you want to become in the future. For whatever aspiration you have, you have two ways: seek God’s face, study very well. Don’t spend your free time on frivolities. Whatever you want to become, start now. And that way is by reading. If you don’t read, you do not know.
