As the world celebrated World Book Day on April 23, Fombina Imprints Limited, an indigenous publishing outfit, urged Nigerian youths and students to rekindle their passion for reading, emphasizing that books remain essential in shaping minds and transforming the nation’s struggling education sector—despite the dominance of the digital age.
Speaking during a symposium held in Kano with the theme, “Crisis of Standards, Decline of Reading Culture, and the Challenges of Publishing in the Digital Era: The Place of Books in the Restoration and Transformation of Our Education Sector,” Malam Yunusa Zakari Ya’u, the Managing Consultant of Fombina Imprints, stressed that the reading habit must not be allowed to fade with time.
Represented by Mr. Isa Garba, Malam Ya’u said, “We must not allow the digital era to swallow the reading culture. Technology should be a bridge, not a barrier, to learning. Our youths must be guided to see that the phone in their hands is also a library, not just a source of entertainment.”
He emphasized that literature is not just a pastime but a tool for transformation. “Books shape values, guide the conscience, and prepare young minds for leadership. This is why we deliberately chose to mark World Book Day with young people—to reconnect them with the written word,” he said.
Emphasizing the need to adapt to modern realities, Malam Ya’u encouraged a blended approach to reading. “Both printed and digital books have a place in our learning journey. What matters is the quality of content. If we want a different Nigeria, we must cultivate minds through deep, reflective reading—whether on paper or screen,” he added.
The event featured panel discussions and an exhibition by local bookshops. Speakers drawn from the publishing industry, academia, and literacy advocacy emphasized the urgency of restoring the reading culture and supporting indigenous publishing as core strategies for rescuing the education system.
Panelists decried the growing apathy toward reading among youths, noting that attention spans are shrinking as screen addiction rises. They called for deliberate interventions by families, schools, and the government to make books more accessible and appealing.
Students and pupils from schools across Kano who participated in the event described it as inspiring. “It reminded me of why I used to love reading. I’m now motivated to make time for books again,” said Fatima Sani, a secondary school student.
World Book Day was instituted by UNESCO in 1995 to promote books and reading as powerful tools for dialogue, education,and development.
