At 58: Nigeria’s literacy, reading culture dismally poor -Obafemi

President of the prestigious Nigeria Academy of Letters, and renowned playwright, Professor Olu Obafemi Tuesday, regretted that Nigeria’s literacy level and reading culture was ‘‘dismally poor’’ even after 58 years of the nation’s independence.

To salvage the situation, he advocated that government at all levels must invest in education and give ‘‘generous subsidies to literary institutions’’ to enable them fulfil their objectives.

He spoke at the maiden National Conference on the ‘‘Dynamics of Language, Literature and Culture in the New Age ’’of the department of English of the University of Ilorin held at the institution’s main campus.

Over 90 papers are to be presented from scholars across the country with no fewer than 21 sub-themes outlined for discourse during the conference which would hold a language clinic on Thursday.

In his keynote address titled ‘‘Language and Literature for National Development’’, Obafemi also said ‘‘the implementation of mother tongue education should be encouraged’’ despite the promotion of English language and Literature.

Vice- Chancellor of the institution, Professor Sulyman Abdulkareem who had earlier declared the conference opened, charged participants at the conference to ‘‘embrace the dynamics of change’’ in the contemporary world.

While describing the theme of the conference as appropriate, he emphasised the place of language in all facets of life.

In his address, Head of the department, Dr. Abdullahi Abubakar said the conference was organised to proffer solutions to the emerging challenges affecting language, literature and culture.

‘‘The aim and objective of the conference is problem -solving and solution-driven. As papers are presented on diverse aspects of theme, it is our hope and expectations that it would serve as the springboard for cross-fertilisation of ideas and also offer pragmatic solutions to age-long and immediate challenge.”