From Rhoda Godwin, Yenagoa
In a bit to cultivate a vibrant reading culture and ignite a passion for literature among the youth, a nongovernmental organizations under aegis of the Read and Care Global foundation, has urged students and youths to develop their literacy skills through reading.
Dr Ebi Sikpi, the visionary convener of the event, disclosed this at the Bayelsa Book 5.0 Summit and Reading Competition, yesterday in Yenagoa, with the theme “Developing Reading Skills for a Secured Future,”
Dr Sikpi appreciated all the participants in the competition, judges, students and parents for being part of the Summit.
According to him, the competition spanned two aged categories: Junior (ages 6-15) and Senior (ages 16-30), offering entrants the enticing prospect of winning remarkable prizes, including N150,000 for the top position, N100,000 for the runner-up, and N50,000 for the third place in each category. Beyond the competition, the event featured thought-provoking panel discussions and a captivating book exhibitions.
He noted that, the summit is an annual tradition which, holds the primary goal of positively influencing the younger generation in society, emphasizing that, this year’s theme underscores the pivotal role of education and reading in shaping the future.
Sikpi underscored the profound impact of the seminar sessions, where speakers elucidated the significance of education and how fostering robust reading skills can empower individuals to achieve their educational goals.
He passionately encouraged parents and Bayelsans to embrace this annual initiative, ushering in new dimensions of educational advancement in Bayelsa State.
“In this summit, we want to hear these young ones read to impress the judges and win awards, we also want them to learn something that would help them in their future,” Dr Sikpi said.
In his remarks, Trade Union Congress, TUC Chairman, Comrade Layeh Julius who double as Association of Nigerian Authors Chairman lauded the event organisers for bringing children together through this competition, that nurtures talents, skills, and improved education.
Layel said despite the challenges facing the state, he commended the participating schools and urged Bayelsans to champion the reading culture, offering moral and financial support to organizers of such programs.
He emphasized that engaging children in forums like this could deter them from succumbing to societal ills, underscoring that a reading society is a developing society.
Also speaking, Member Representing Southern Ijaw Constituency in National Assembly, Engineer Rodney Ambaowei commended the young children who read fluently during the competition.
He urged the organizers of the event to continue to sustain the yearly summit in order to discover more talented youths in the state.
In his good will message, Mr. Gift Natus, CEO of The Gifted Natus Foundation, emphasized that the initiative aimed to equip children with the tools and capacity to play pivotal roles in the destiny of Bayelsa State.
Natus commended the program and advocated for the promotion of similar educational initiatives in the state.
He said, significant investments had been made in the educational sector, encompassing infrastructure, teacher salaries, and a good curriculum. He further expressed the foundation’s commitment to supporting the youth, including scholarship opportunities for competition winners from their current academic levels through university.
Natus encouraged parents and guardians to guide their children in cultivating a reading culture, enabling them to excel in their chosen fields. He proposed a collaborative forum involving foundations, private individuals, parents, and the government to develop sustainable programs that would shape the destinies of children effectively.
Dr. Ebideyenfa Nikade, the lead judge of the competition, stressed the importance of children understanding that reading goes beyond perusal.
Nikade said, reading involves mastering skills and parameters to communicate effectively, also outlined criterias for assessing participants, as including diction, pronunciation, comportment, sense grouping, expression, creativity, and appearance. An objective of the event was to teach participants to confidently present themselves in public.
Dr. Nikade encouraged parents to engage in reading activities with their children, initiate reading challenges at home, visit libraries and bookshops, introduce educational channels on television and digital platforms, and encourage participation in educational events like this one.
The highpoint of the event was the announcement of winners in the senior category: Miss Egba Blossom in first place, Miss Agali Gloria in second place, and Miss Victoria Okelekele in third place.
