Sen. Sampson identifies poor reading culture as bane of education in Nigeria

Tony Okoh, Uyo

Senator representing Akwa Ibom South (Eket Senatorial District) at the National Assembly, Senator Ekong Sampson, has decried the poor attitude by students towards reading in Nigeria as the bane of the educational sector insisting that students must cultivate the habit of reading regularly to move with the tide of events around the world and also excel in their chosen career.

The lawmaker has instituted a tradition of celebrating his annual birthday ceremonies with students of schools within his constituency, where he meets with students, every year, to teach them on various subject matters, and also intervene in areas of needs in the schools.

Speaking while celebrating his 2024 birthday with the students and management of Regina Coaeli Secondary School, Essene, in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of the state on Saturday, Senator Sampson expressed disappointment that reading culture.among students and spirit of competition has diminished over the years.

He said he was there to encourage them to read more in order to brighten their chances of becoming future scholars and leaders, adding that without reading, they are likely to end up becoming a burden to themselves and the society in general.

“We are here to inspire and encourage you about the fundamental of reading, Last year, i went to St. Francis School, Eket, I taught the students in Secondary School 3 who were about writing their final year exams. Today, we are here to encourage you to read, because the more you read, the more your chances of becoming successful students, scholars and leaders.

“The missing link in this country has been our poor attitude to reading; our reading culture has diminished, so we are here to encourage you to read more”, he added.

Sampson who is the Senate Committee chairman on Solid Minerals and Vice chairman Committee on Education ( Basic and Secondary) said he was committed to educational advancement of his constituency.

He noted that he has sponsored a bill which has passed through second reading to give the Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi, (FUTA), a legal backing and another one for the establishment of Federal University of Medical Sciences in Eket

According to him “We are on break now, when we resume the law establishing FUTA, will be passed into law, i have sponsored a bill which is going through second reading, to give legal teeth to the establishment of the University.

“There is a Bill that i have also sponsored for the establishment of a Federal University of Medical Sciences in Eket. The idea is that Akwa Ibom South should have at least three Federal Universities. There is one that we are pushing for Oron,” he assured.

The senator who announced a N1m donation to the management of the school also pledged to carry out electrification project of the school.

In his remarks, the Convener of Uyo Book Club, Dr Udeme Nana, while commending the senator for instituting a tradition to teach and interact with students during his birthdays, urged them to devote their time to reading and leaning.

Nana, a former Director Press Affairs to former governor, Victor Attah, told the students that reading is the only password to academic excellence and success in life.

He said “We are here to encourage you to read because reading is the password to academic excellence and success. There is no human being who has excelled in life who has not been a product of hard work, study, comprehension and practicalising the information gathered from books. This is the time for you to build your future, your future begins today and it begins when you begin to apply yourself to reading”.

Highlights of the event were the spelling dictation by the senator to the students some of whom won various cash prizes and presentation of exercise books and black boards and other educational materials to the institution.