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Quramo Publishing recently launched its maiden ‘Young Reader’s Literary Morning’ designed to inculcate robust reading culture in children who would eventually become tomorrow’s adults. Given the fiercely competitive nature of 21st Century knowledge-driven economy, literacy and numeracy have become the new normal.
The Young Reader’s Literary Morning is part of a broader initiative to foster reading and the extended benefits of improved literacy among children. This effort has the long term objective of being part of the push to raise appreciation of literature of Nigerian adults by targeting children in primary and secondary schools.
Gbemisola Shasore, CEO Quramo Publishing, said “a liberal education is the equipment needed to think your way out of tomorrow’s global challenges, from today we need to populate the world with improved adults; as future assets to development, common well being and social responsibility.”
BusinessDay’s interaction with pupils of participating schools (Lagos Preparatory School, Ikoyi; Ocean Crest School, Lekki; Pampers Private School, Surulere; Green Wood House School, Ikoyi; Childrens International School, Lekki Phase 1; Grange School, Ikeja; and Rosecroft Preparatory School, Ikeja) revealed a significant level of curiosity and imagination among the pupils.
An aggregation of the pupils’ comments on the benefits of reading and writing draws attention to the role of reading in expanding readers’ horizon, exposure to other cultures and people, enlargement of vocabulary and entertainment among others.
Koredo Bello, musician and creator of the popular song ‘Godwin’ pointed out that reading is critical for every artist or musician who desires to have global appeal. To have global appeal he said “you must read and understand other people and cultures.”
In furtherance of the necessity to return young readers to curiosity, imagination and imaginativity, Mangos Books, a subsidiary of Quramo Publishing has in place a strategy meant to roll out more books and digitally enhanced publications.
Shasore, contended that the surest way to measure a nation’s literary appreciation success is through observable signs that include: greater respect among young readers of books and digital publications; books and reading media competing favourably with play and ‘video games’; young people collecting and sharing books and stories; visible enjoyment of books and a passion for writing.
STEPHEN ONYEKWELU
