Winners emerge at reading contest

It was a memorable day for Junior Secondary School Karshi when one of the students, Peculiar Olajide, emerged overall winner of a reading competition organised by Bratim Training Limited in partnership with Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria, (LRCN), in Abuja.

Olajide, a 12, student won with 80 per cent, Madukwe Nmesomia from Junior Secondary School, Life Camp, emerged second with 79 per cent, while Dauda Adedoyin of JSS Life Camp and Okedu Pius of JSS Karshi tie for the third position with 75 per cent each, while Audu Cathering from JSS Life Camp and Bako Favour Danladi from JSS Karshi came fourth with 70 per cent each.

The winners received their awards at an event titled, ‘Launching of Book Clubs in FCT Schools’, from the Chief Executive Officer, (CEO) of Bratim Group, and the Registrar and the Chief Executive Officer of Librarians Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN) Prof. Michael Afolabi.

Speaking after receiving her award, Peculiar Olajide ( JSS2) said she was happy to win the award and that her parents encouraged her to start reading at an early age.

“God gave me courage through my parents that encouraged me to read at the age of five, she said.”

She advised students to make friends with good reading habit.

In his opening remarks, the Chief Executive Officer, (CEO) of Bratim Group, Tejan A. Ibrahim, said the gesture was to promote and improve reading culture in the society.

“We cannot sit back and see the future fade away; we can’t continue lamenting the standard of education and reading habit and yet do nothing about it.”

He said the standard of education had been declining for decades, saying students denied books the comfort of spending time with them.

Ibrahim further said that reading culture had diminished and that the libraries got empty due to the level of interest students exhibited towards them.

He said the rationale behind the partnership with LRCN was to address the challenges facing reading culture in the country.