Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has lamented over the “poor” reading culture among Nigerian youths.
Speaking at a dialogue organised by the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) in Abuja, Obasanjo stated that the trend could derail the nation of its literary heritage.
Obasanjo spoke on the theme ‘The Writer’s Role in Nation-Building and Africa’s First Presidential Library’.
The former president said Nigeria boasts of literary giants whose works have received global recognition.
Obasanjo warned that if the poor reading culture is not quickly addressed, Nigeria could produce “uninformed” and “incompetent” leaders in the future.
“Nigeria is blessed with good writers who have used their craft in nation-building, and one of the most distinguished authors is Chinua Achebe,” he said.
“He exposed Nigeria to the world and used his writings to elevate Nigeria’s culture, particularly his own culture.”
Obasanjo commended the association for driving initiatives that inspire young Nigerians.
Shehu Sani, the former lawmaker, corroborated Obasanjo’s stance on the reading culture of Nigerian youths.
Chukwudi Eze, chairman of ANA, said the association is committed to engaging young scholars through mentorship programs.
He described Obasanjo’s presence at the event as “a motivation to the association, especially for young creative minds”.
