LTV Book Fair rekindles quest for improved reading habit
As part of efforts to alleviate the hardship faced by parents and students in obtaining reading materials especially at the onset of a new session, the Lagos State Television (LTV) recently organised a Book Fair with the theme: "Education: A Legacy for advancement."
The fair, which had in attendance publishers like Macmillan, Literamed, Longman, Africana and Onward Paper Mill, Town Planners amongst others, is aimed at creating a platform among schools, publishers, students and parents.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Government on Education Dr. Elijah Adewale said the state places a high premium on qualitative education. According him, the government intends to take advantage of the use of books for the reactivation of reading skills among children, vis-?-vis the teaching profession, by vigorously pursuing and revamping library in the state.
"It is in the same vain that the state will not consider any investment in the provision of library services too outrageous in order to actualize the dream of making Lagos State a mega city. The expo is timely as it will afford the participants the opportunities to stock their personal libraries and also equip their children for the new session," he said.
Explaining the motive for the fair, the Permanent Secretary, Radio and Television Services, Lagos State, Mr. Olalekan Ogunbanwo said the event, which took off last year, was part of the corporation's contributions for the improvement of the reading habits of Nigerians.
"Beyond these goals, our organisation also nurture a vision of providing a forum at which publishers, booksellers, librarians, educationist, authors and other key players in the book industry can interact and rub minds for the development of the industry, because our nation can only be great now and in the future if there is a strategy for the strengthening of the education system at all levels," he stated.
Marketing Manager of Onward Paper Mill, Mr. Olatunde Adebiyi said the company was at the fair to give back to the society which had been patronising the company since 1957. He said, "the management has specially dropped the prices of exercise books so that it will be affordable for parents. Our goal is to encourage students in the society because if we neglect them, they will become a menace to the society".
Also, the Communication Manager, Lantern publications, Mrs.
Solape Farotimi explained that the fair creates the opportunity for parents and guardians to interface with the right publishers and also afford them the opportunity to buy at a cheaper rate.
"Our focus is to encourage a reading culture in the country not only through academic books but also through books such as comics and story books. We are advocating that as parents are picking up the serious textbooks, they should also pick up other reading and storybooks for their children. Book should not be compared to other technological development like the television or Internet because it is invaluable," she said.
