Written By Izunna Okafor


The auditorium hall of the Prof. Kenneth Dike Central E-Library Awka Anambra State was indeed filled to the brim yesterday as a titanic crowd gathered from all parts of the state and beyond to mark the World Book Day cum International English Language Day.
The felicitious event grandly hosted by the Anambra State Library Board had in attendance over five hundred participants drawn from students of various schools across the state, teachers, government functionaries, educationists, parents, librarians, journalists, authors, readers, lovers of literary arts, and the general public.
Presenting her address of welcome, the acting director of the Library, Miss Nkechi Udeze who noted that the day 23rd April of every year is set aside by the UNESCO for celebrating the value, importance and beauty of book all over the world, also said the merits of books in the life of a man cannot be over emphasized. She described book as a great treasure, and reading as a lasting pleasure, even as she encouraged students to read harder as that is the only key to academic excellence.
On her own part, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education ably represented by Mr. Samuel Obi pointed out that much has been done by the state government to promote the reading culture in the state, while the Governor Obiano has registered his administration's commitment to take the state's educational sector to a higher level, especially by creating two ministries for education in the state.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Azubike Okoro said the aims of the event included but are not limited to encouraging students to embrace reading culture and practice reading daily. He emphasized the need for every Igbo student to learn how to read and write in the Igbo Language, and also charged Igbo students not to neglect choosing the Igbo Language as a field of study in the higher institutions, given that the demand for such Igbo Language graduates is now growing rapidly, both within and outside Nigeria.
Other speakers at the event which include: Mrs. Ijeoma Anyadike (a great Educationist and retired Civil Servant); Mrs. Amaka Okafor (the state Chairman Reading Association of Nigeria); Mrs Obalum (Head Lending Section, Professor Kenneth Dike E-Library); Mrs Hope Nwakwesili (The Author of Widow's Window); Mr. Ezeh Onwuji (a renowned Journalist) inter alia, all appreciated the organizers of the event, and actuated the students and the participants to make the maximum use of the enabling and literacy-promoting environment provided by the state government to advance and take their love for reading to a higher level.
The high points of the event included reading, drama and poetry presentation by selected schools; lectures, and presentation of books to various schools for their library use.