NGO Charges Youth to Develop Literacy Skills Through Reading
NGO Charges Youth to Develop Literacy Skills Through Reading
In a bid to cultivate a vibrant reading culture and ignite a passion for literature among the youths, a non-governmental organisation under the aegis of the Read and Care Global foundation, has urged students and youths to develop literacy skills through reading.
Dr Ebi Sikpi, the visionary convener of the event, disclosed this at the Bayelsa Book Summit and Reading Competition 5.0 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 books exhibition.
He noted that, the summit is an annual tradition with 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 session, 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 the future,” Dr Sikpi said.
In his remarks, Trade Union Congress, TUC Chairman, Comrade Laye Julius who doubles as Association of Nigerian Authors, Bayelsa State Chapter Chairman lauded the event organisers for bringing children together through this competition that nurtures talents, skills, and improved education.
Laye 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 Federal 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 goodwill 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. Sje also outlined criteria for assessing participants, 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 for first place, Miss Agari Gloria for second place and Miss Victoria Okelekele for third place.
For the Junior Category,
Master OLALI PRINCE of Belary schools clinched the 1st prize, miss Rowland A. Winnie won the 2nd prize while miss TAWARIOWEI OYINDOUBRA of Belary school took third position.
