NAN-H-51
Reading
By Emmanuel Acha
Enugu, Oct. 14, 2016 (NAN) The Coal City Literary Forum has commenced the establishment of reading clubs in public and private secondary schools in Enugu State to promote reading.
Inaugurating the club at the Queen’s School, Enugu on Friday, the President of the forum, Mrs Adaobi Nwoye, said the aim was also to sharpen the writing skills of the students.
Nwoye expressed dismay that modern technology like the social media had negatively impacted on children’s reading habit.
She said that the development had reduced the interest in literature among students even in tertiary institutions.
The president encouraged the students to engage in reading to enable them to improve on their vocabulary.
Nwoye said that the forum was targeting about 50 schools before the Christmas vacation, adding that it would conduct essay and short story competitions for the schools.
She also presented some literature books by authors like Anezi Okoro, Chimamanda Adichie, Chukwuemeka Ike, Chinemerem Anyi and her own literary works.
Receiving the books, the Principal of the school, Mrs Ezigbo Nzeakor, thanked the forum for the initiative to promote reading in schools.
Nzeakor pledged to support and encourage the children to be literary conscious to reduce social vices in the society.
The President of the reading club in the school, Miss Comfort Anugwo, described the programme as one of the best things that happened to the students.
Anugwo, who is in SS2, said that the introduction of the club would boost their writing skills and promised to carry other students along.
The event featured reading sessions with members of the forum comprising writers and journalists and presentation of books to students who performed well during a quiz session.
The group had earlier inaugurated a similar club at the Command Day Secondary School, Enugu. (NAN)
EOA/MNA/MVO
(Edited by Maureen Atuonwu/Mbadiwe Okwor)