Reading: A Panacea for Youth Empowerment in Nigeria

Abstract

Reading is a crucial aspect of learning process. It is also a way of life which must be encouraged even outside the four walls of institutions. Apart from the knowledge gained by readers from the various documents they lay their hands, it is a means of engaging the readers to spend their time meaningfully thereby preventing them from being involved in social vices. Using a descriptive approach of data analysis, this study finds out that poverty contributes greatly to the down turn in youth reading habit as many parents could hardly afford textbooks and other reading materials for their wards. The advent of ICT in terms of computer, cell phones etc which allow people to dabble into internet to get information on any issue without stress just at a click on a button is a “necessary evil” making students to lose interest in extensive reading. However, adequate rewarding of students who read recommended text and supplementary books coupled with provision of well stocked libraries in various learning institutions from primary to tertiary institutions in this country will surely revamp the reading culture that has really dwindled among our students. The paper submits that if proper steps are taken by engaging our youth in reading culture a lot of social vices in which youth are deeply engaged in will be reduced to a minimum level.