…celebrates World Book and Copyright Day 2025
Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, maintains that reading culture is vital to students’ academic dream; hence, it is poised to bring students and the university community back to a reading ethos.
Fehintola Onifade, the university librarian at OOU, disclosed this during her address at the 2025 World Book and Copyright Day, organised by the Olabisi Onabanjo University Library, on Wednesday, April 23, when she said, We want to bring back our students to the culture of reading.
“We believe that when we introduce them to reading, they will get engaged positively and also shun all these negative vices going on.
“Besides, they will become productive in their life, and be able to think critically and develop an excellent mindset that’s proper for humanity,” she said.
Onifade said the institution chose to celebrate the World Book and Copyright Day in style in line with the vision of Ayodeji Agboola, vice-chancellor for academic excellence, and to expose students and other community members to the impact of books.
“Books have the power to educate, inspire, and transform us. They’re the tangible representation of knowledge, creativity, and human experience and therefore help to enrich our understanding of the world and ourselves,” she said.
Onifade emphasised that in the digital age, where the touch of traditional pages still resonates with people’s hearts, protecting the invaluable expressions of human creativity becomes even more essential.
“We believe that if our students are brought back to books, they will be engaged positively and shun all negative vices,” she stated.
Adesola Kosoko, general manager at Lagos State Television, Ikeja, in her keynote address, called on all Nigerians, especially students, to consciously start building a love for books to revive the declining reading culture.
Kosoko, who spoke on “Reviving the Reading Culture: Why It Matters Today”, decried the fact that Nigeria was rated to have 38 per cent illiteracy in 2023; and wondered why people are losing reading culture every day while more books are being written.
“We’re losing our reading culture every day, and there are more books written today. Why are we losing our reading culture? There is a need to consciously start the love for books,” she said.
The renowned broadcaster highlighted the numerous benefits of reading books, revealing how reading books helped her excel early in her career.
“Reading increases your vocabulary, vital for mental, social, and educational development; and also increases one’s analytical ability and empathy.
“When you read and learn from others, you have a collection of knowledge, making you more knowledgeable,” she stressed.
To bring back the reading culture, Kosoko enjoined the students to leverage online resources, and engage in book exchange, and for the schools, she encouraged the adoption of reading clubs, a day with an author, and creation of a platform to engage local content authors, among others.
Ayodeji Agboola, vice-chancellor at OOU, who was represented by Olatundun Oderinde, the deputy vice-chancellor in charge of academics, in his speech, reminded the students that readers are leaders, and that they cannot do much without reading.
“Treasures are hidden in books, and only readers can discover them; hence, readers are leaders. As a student, you can’t do much without reading,” he said.
However, the vice-chancellor noted that because students are not interested in reading, there is a noticeable decline in education quality.
Titilola Aluko-Arowolo took the students through the world of copyright and the different ways people infringe on others’ intellectual property, which is what the law seeks to protect.
Tunji Olugbodi, executive vice chairman at Verdant Zeal Group, represented by Cornelius Onuoha, managing director at Redgecko Limited, a subsidiary of Verdant Zeal, co-sponsors of the event, enjoined the students to bear in mind that there is no shortcut to success and becoming a leader. “Readers are leaders!” he said.
One of the highlights of the day was the announcement of Akinyemi Jesuloba, who was the overall best student of OOU staff primary school last year, as a one-day university librarian.
Jesuloba, in his speech as the one-day university librarian, urged everyone to keep the reading culture alive.
“Keep reading, love reading, and be creative,” he said.
Every year, on April 23, UNESCO celebrates World Book and Copyright Day to recognise the power of books as a bridge between generations and across cultures.
The 2025 World Book and Copyright Day’s theme is “Read Your Way”, and being able to read for pleasure. Hence, children were given the opportunity to come to school dressed as a character or a person from a book they enjoy reading.
