Minister Donates Books To Promote Reading Culture

MINISTER of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Edem Duke, has offered to give a total of 270 books to winners of The Reading House (a new education television reality show for primary school pupils scheduled to start later in the year) and their schools.The gesture, he said, was to revive reading culture at the primary school level, just as he expressed worry that the problem had assumed a national proportion.The minister promised to give 50 books to star winner of the competition while 150 books will go to beneficiary's school's library. First runner-up will get a library of 20 books while the remaining 50 will be given to his school.Duke, who was represented by General Manager of National Theatre, Kabir Yusuf, spoke in Lagos recently during the lunch of the premier television show. He called on private institutions to initiate programmes to spice up reading culture among Nigerians at foundational level with assurance that relevant government agencies would support such moves.The one-month competition, which will be hosted from August to September, will see the star winner emerging with N5m scholarship; first runner-up, N2m scholarship while second runner-up will get N1m scholarship.The competition is opened to all Nigerian children between six and 12 years. Entry has commenced according to the organisers who also disclosed that auditioning would hold in Abuja, Asaba, Calabar, Enugu, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Uyo by first week of August.Managing Director of The Reading House Academy, organiser of the show, Mrs. MarianStella Victor Mkpong, said the project was aimed at securing the Nigerian child's destiny. She said the idea was born out of the desire to increase Nigerian children's understanding skills 'as effective reading is fundamental to understanding.'As part of its plan to ensure the continuity of the show, Producer of the academy, Kelvin Otung, said his team had secured a three-year from sponsors. He said the programme, by design and need, could sustain itself.'It is a programme that can sell itself. However, by signing a three-year contract, it allows room for continuity. What this means is that a sponsor cannot exit until the contract expires. And before it expires, we would have renewed it or review applications of others waiting to come on board,' he said.He said contestants would be trained in fluency, stress, intonation and other technicalities of reading. They would also be nurtured in moral values, dancing, acting and other extra-curriculum activities.Last year, the competition was held in Akwa Ibom as a state project (but not as a television reality show) where Gideon Ekong emerged the star winner. Young Ekong, who spoke with confidence and excitement about his future, said he won because he was determined and dedicated.
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