Reading Culture: NGO donates 1000 books to Osun library

An Osun State-based Non-Governmental Organisation, Refuge of Life Foundation, has donated about 1,000 books to the state library as part of its efforts to encourage the culture of reading amongst residents.
The ReIFond Director of the project, “#Donate- 1000Books to Osun State Library”, Mr. Bolarinwa Olabode, while delivering speaking during the presentation of the books at the premises of the state library, Oke-Fia, Osogbo tasked youths on reading culture.
He urged the people of the state, especially the youths to make positive use of the books in order to improve themselves.
Olabode had led members of the NGO, Permanent Secretaries of the state Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Olajide Festus, a Director in the ministry, Mr. Dapo Ajayi, Chief Librarian of Osun state, Mrs. Funke Kolawole, students and library users in an awareness walk from Ola-Iya junction to the library premises before formally presenting the books.
The project director described the “#Donate- 1000Books to Osun Sate Library” as a project that originated from the desire to encourage the youths to read.
He said, “As an educationist, I found out that people only read for examinations and get certified; little wonder, exceptional brains are rare in the community.
“We have been made to believe that reading will fetch us white collar jobs and means of livelihood. No wonder when the promise failed, we concluded it is not worth it to read. Rel- Fond’s vision is to encourage people, most especially the youth because leadership starts from today with them.
“It was in the past we used to hear statements like, ‘Youths are the leaders of tomorrow,’ but now the quote has changed because a youth that believes and act based on such quote will live in his yesterday tomorrow. I have heard several times that readers are leaders, but this is only for those that will go to school for knowledge and not just for the certificate; these are the educated.
“Certificates is the indicator for schooling, not for education. Knowledge is what shows that a man is educated. Don’t tell me your age, tell me what you have done with it; it is just numbers, if it lacks fundamental impact on humanity.”
On how the NGO was able to procure the 1000 books handed over to the library, Bolarinwa explained to our correspondent that academics, corporate bodies, individuals, students and friends helped in donating the books after public awareness and sensitisation.
The young educationist said the organisation was paying its dues of giving back to the society, saying the project was embarked upon with the vision of achieving ,”increased awareness on the importance of reading books; increase the number of books on the state library shelf.
“Increase the number of patronage to Osun State Library; positive change in the reading culture, amongst the in and out of school youths of the state using this platform to found literary and reading club in schools within the state.”
He, therefore, pledged to ensure that the books were put to proper use by monitoring the books and how they were being read on quarterly basis.
“RelFond is not happy with the appellation the black race has carried over the years that “books are the best place to hide ideas and innovations from Africans.
“I look forward to a great nation full of intellectuals, inventors, solution givers and movers of the world, but this cannot be achieved by wishing, we have to be on our toes by reading our way up,” Olabode said.