She made this call at the UN House where she read to pupils of some schools in Abuja as part of activities marking the World Book and Copyright Day organised by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in collaboration with the Rainbow Book Club.
“I think that parents have to introduce reading to their children at a very early age. The earlier you start, the easier it is and it becomes a natural thing to do,” she said.
She further lamented the distractions children of this generation are exposed to such as the internet and video games and stressed the importance of parents reading to their children even before the children could read so as to influence them to pick an early interest in reading.
The minister, who had delighted the pupils with her reading from the book Nelson Mandela by Dapo Adeleke said she started reading from her childhood and encouraged the pupils to do same.
Earlier, the Director General of UNESCO Ms. Irina Bokova, in a message read at the event, said the importance of books to development cannot be overemphasized saying, “Books are works of art and science, and vehicles for ideas. They magnificently materialize creative diversity, generate universal knowledge and contribute to intercultural dialogue. They are instruments for peace.”
The pupils, drawn from several schools in the FCT were also addressed by Nigeria’s award winning author, Uwem Akpan, who talked to them on “The Joy of reading.”
April 23 of every year is set aside by UNESCO to mark the World Book and Copyright Day.
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