The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) have pledged to work together to revive the reading culture and localize literature for the benefit of society and future generations.

The two organizations made this pledge today when ANA delegation led by its Chairman, Rivers State chapter, Adi Wali, paid a courtesy visit to the Rivers State Council of NUJ at the Ernest Ikoli Press Centre, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.

Rivers State Chairman of the NUJ, Stanley Job used the occasion to congratulate the ANA Rivers State Chairman, Adi Wali on his election, expressing the hope that going forward both organizations will continue to find mutually beneficial avenues for collaboration with a view to achieving societal development.

“It’s very unfortunate that people have been saying if you don’t want an African man to see something, put it in a book because reading culture is no longer there. I think there is need for us to revive the culture of reading because alot of people read just for the sake of exams; our students, our children, once it is exams they’ll carry their books and read seriously and once the exam is over, they drop their books. But that shouldn’t be,” Job stated.

“I want to use this opportunity to thank you and congratulate you on the position your people have given to you, I want to believe that before they agreed that you should be their leader/chairman they’ve looked at your credentials, your records and I want to wish you well as you carry out your duties.”

“The NUJ and ANA do very similar work as you have identified. We are into the business of informing, entertaining and educating and even we’ve added one which is mobilizing the people. The only difference is that our work can be accessed quickly and easily, like if an event is happening now, in the next few minutes you’ll hear. But your own, you’ll make research and after some time you’ll come up with a book. That is why I said we do similar work.”

The ANA delegation which comprised the General Secretary; Albert Otto, Treasurer; Jonah Okpabi, Financial Secretary; Anne Alalibo, Legal Adviser and Chief Superintendent of Police, Administration, Zone 16 Headquarters, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State; Dr. Rita Inoma-Abbey, a former National Auditor; Anaele Ihuoma, a former National Treasurer; Joy Esuku, as well as a member and Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Kristina Reports, Godswill Jumbo, were received by the State Chairman of the NUJ, Stanley Job Stanley.

Other officials of the NUJ present were the State Vice Chairman, Paul Bazia-Nsaneh, Secretary, Ike Wigodo, Financial Secretary, Martins Giadom, Treasurer, Ifeoma Osai, and Auditor; Lekia Anya Godspower. 

The NUJ Chairman drew attention to the dearth of indigenous literature, urging ANA to mainstream the need for more books to be authored by Nigerians which can be better understood and absorbed by the people given the localized contexts.  

“When we were in school most of the books we read were written by foreign authors and when you’re reading, understanding sometimes is very difficult because their way of thinking and their environment is different from ours. But if it’s done by our own people, it’s like talking to someone you know and giving examples that are very common amongst us.”

“But when you read a foreign book, it takes you time to understand what the person is trying to say. So, I want to encourage our in all areas or subjects, they should delve into writing because when you pick a book written by a Nigerian author it’s easier to read.”

Earlier, ANA State Chairman, Adi Wali informed that the visit was aimed at exploring mutual avenues for value addition to society and common grounds of partnership given that both use the instrumentality of the pen to drive societal growth, pointing out that it was imperative for writers and journalists to utilize their writing for development. 

“Nigerian authors, that is everybody who writes, like those of you in Journalism, some of us also did Journalism, should focus on the legacy that will help the young ones grow in a way that will help the society to be ahead, because we can’t live in a society where there is chaos, where there is crisis.”

“For those of us who are in this noble profession of writing, the only way we can help the society is to see how we can deepen the spirit of reading; the reading culture, and to be a very good advocates.”

He harped on the essential role of the Media in propelling society in the positive direction, stressing that while ANA is focused on deepening literary content in the nation’s intellectual space, the role of NUJ in propagating these efforts cannot be overemphasized.

“For you in the media, you have a role of surveillance, you have a role of education, you have a role of entertainment, and you have a role of guidance because it is said that the people would tell you that this is what the Media has said. That is why we are here in our capacity as Nigerian authors, to come and see how we can synergize and work as a team to make the society, especially, Rivers State, a better place to live in.”

“We know we can’t do it alone without the strong support or firmness of the Media, and we know in our developing society, the information managers like you have a role to play. Ours is to see how we can improve our culture capacity, it’s important how we can improve on Tourism, how we can make story telling worthwhile, how we can improve and bring back the true state of folklore in our schools because why the society seems to be rot is because we have left our good old ways.”

It is on record that Nigeria has been rated as one of the countries in the world with the lowest reading culture, and this is coming from no less a body than the World Culture Score Index.

Also, available statistics from the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education shows that a whopping 38 per cent of Nigerians are non-literate, as, according to them, four in ten primary school children cannot read for comprehension.

Regrettably, this adverse development is an ominous challenge the country seems not to be paying needed attention to, thus amplifying the position of both the NUJ and ANA that it needs urgent intervention to scale up the curve with regards to increasing the reading culture in Nigeria.