By Kayode Babatuyi

As Nigeria joined the global community to mark this year’s World Book and Copyright Day, Stakeholders have called for mandatory reading programme for all schools across the country so as to encourage reading culture.

Those who spoke including an educationist, Dr. Olusola Muka, a former Speaker, Ekiti State Youth Parliament, Toba Fatunla and a former Commissioner for Information, Lanre Ogunsuyi affirmed that reading culture has reduced drastically hence the need to come up with radical approach to address the situation.

According to them, there are numerous benefits of reading among which are knowledge acquisition, improved vocabulary, better writing skills, promotion of critical thinking and enhancement of personal growth and development.

The respondents also identified the introduction of Artificial Intelligence as a major factor responsible for poor reading culture among students, urging government to equip schools with AI detectors so as to discourage students from over dependence on it.

Some other respondents noted that AI should not be discarded outrightly but rather be used in schools with caution.

When contacted, the Ekiti State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Adebimpe Aderiye said Ekiti has always been known for excellence in education, adding  that the present government would continue to do everything possible to uphold such legacy through promotion of reading among students.

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