Improving reading culture in Nigeria is our target

Recent developments have revealed that the reading culture among Nigerians, particularly the youth and
students, has waned significantly. The rate of failure recorded by students in the WAEC, NECO and other examinations are clear indications to that. How then do we improve the reading culture?

This mission was what led Ovuomarhoma, Godfrey Ejovwo, a writer, trainer, youth consultant, and Education Philanthropist to  initiate Restore Hope for Nigerian Youths Foundation (RHNYF).

The young graduate of Economics   who has tried his hand in teaching job for years said that his experiences as a teacher exposed him to the dangers of poor reading skills, hence the need to use every available opportunity to promote it. In this interview, he bares his mind on a wide range of issues about the NGO and others. Excerpts.

What is RHNYF?
Participants receiving certificate from the facilitator during a workshop organised by Restore Hope.

Participants receiving certificate from the facilitator during a workshop organised by Restore Hope.

Restore Hope for Nigerian Youths Foundation (RHNYF) is an NGO committed to the promotion of better education philosophy and restoration of reading culture as a way to eradicate the menace of examination malpractices in our schools.  With headquarters at Soetan Crescent, Asero Estate, Abeokuta, Ogun State, the fast growing NGO has within its short span affected many lives through its projects.

Your main target is restoring the reading culture, how do you intend to carry out this all important issue?

You know I studied Economics in the University and it is a social science subject that deals with human behavior and strategically sourcing for ways to handle basic problems. Having that at the back of my mind, we organise trainings and workshops for students. RHNYF has organized series of programs on reading culture, entrepreneurship training, employment counseling, Parents-Teachers training, and child development workshops across Cross River, Delta, and Ogun states.

For example, recently we hosted students of public and private secondary schools across three selected Local Government Areas of Abeokuta North, Abeokuta South, and Odeda in Ogun state.

We also organised Inter-school essay writing competition and debate, cum workshop training where prizes were given to many participated schools.

We are equally running a regular campaign programs  under which we donate free books to students. Apart from that we are looking forward to donate  food and cash  to indigent students across the country which will also extend to  Internally Displaced Person(s) (IDPs). The above agenda when properly funded will help to eradicate child labor and promote a peaceful environment for our society.

We will partner withUNESCO, educational Stakeholders,  State Government,  Local Government Chairmen, Private Investors, Administrators and  Principals of Schools,  Community leaders, Churches, Corporate Organizations’, etc. to achieve our goal.

We really commend the effort of the Administration of Senator Ibikunle Amosun through the Commissioner for Education, Barr. Olusegun Odubela who has strong passion for reading and gave us an approval for the Foundation to contribute  its  quota to the restoration of reading culture among students in Ogun State.

You read economics, how come you are into the project of reading culture?

My growing up in the slum rural community where I faced problem of poor reading culture stemmed that. Even when a child is ready to read, there is no encouragement   because of environmental factor.

Apart from that,  I have been  a classroom teacher most part of my life where I saw high level of poor reading culture among students. I believe a student do not need to read streneously before he can earn a good grade in examinations.

I am equally privileged to lecture in one of the prestigious private universities with modern library facilities equipped with books that promotes reading culture and research but students are carried away with Facebook, Whatsapp, Twitter, and other social media platforms that distracts them. Some students of influential parents believes that even when they don’t read to have a good grades, jobs awaits them after graduation.

I discovered that many students, parents, teachers, schools, and even the society do not  realize the  benefits of reading. All these factors made me to look for how I can contribute my own quota, hence the formation of the NGO.

Are there plans to take the operations of the Foundation to other states?

Yes, there’s work in progress, our next point of call is Delta State. We chose the state to organize a reading culture and literacy campaign to sensitize the masses so that the problem of examination malpractice can be eradicated.

We propose to have an open campaign holding in Warri, Delta State on September 8  2015 with the theme “Our Students are genius: Say no to examination malpractices” where we will discuss the role of stakeholders investing to eradicate examination malpractices in  Nigeria.

The aim is to sensitize the Nigeria public on how our collective effort can assist to compliment the government to eradicate examination malpractices, promote reading culture and as  we mark the World Literacy Day Campaign, 2015. It will be open to both public, private secondary schools and general public.

What are the challenges and how do you plan to meet up?

The major challenge we are facing his funding because we are yet to establish strong relationship and trust with donors.

Apart from the that, many donors are scared of false NGOs who collect money dubiously and don’t utilise it for genueine purpose.

But despite that, RHNYF is optimistic with some donors who have shown interest to support our laudable course such as Indomie Food Noodle, and Peak-Olam suite Abeokuta. Apart from the few donors, volunteers and our own effort, we will use this medium to seek  donation  from well meaning Nigerians, corporate organizations that believe in our dream to come to our aid.

Looking at the NGO, where will you be in the next 5 years.

RHNYF is looking forward to establish libraries across different states of Nigeria, promote standard Reading Clubs in rural Schools, have a  publishing firm to print  books and distribute to Nigerian students for free and also hope to operate Youth Television Studio for educational purpose and reading culture.