…the 2023 World Book Day held at the Prof. Festus Aghagbo Nwako Library, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka
Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has decried increasing flooding of pirated, badly published and printed books in open markets from authors and publishers who had earlier submitted good books for review.
Soludo therefore instructed that on no account should any sub-standard book be found in schools across the state, insisting that only good and quality books must be used in Anambra schools.
The governor was represented by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, who spoke through Dr. Bryan Udeh during the 2023 World Book Day held at the Prof. Festus Aghagbo Nwako Library, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka.
He called on authors and publishers to ensure the production of quality books for use in the State school system.
He said, “The rate at which pirated, badly published and printed books flood the market from authors and publishers who had earlier submitted good books for review is alarming.
“The end users of the books sometimes complain that some of the books have pornographic, violent and other unwanted contents inimical to the moral upbringing of the envisioned digital tribe that will be useful at home and exportable abroad.”
Meanwhile, Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh had during a meeting with publishers and authors, on assumption of office, informed them of Government’s policy of yearly book review to actualize the mandate of production of quality books for students in the state.
She said the policy was adopted to give room for removal of pirated and badly written books after one year, as against former practice of allowing the system to be saddled with such bad books for a whole six years.
Commissioner Chuma-Udeh admonished all stakeholders to cultivate the habit of reading in order to build the confidence needed to pass examinations without malpractice.
Appreciating the University Library management for organizing activities to mark the occasion, the commissioner restated that the war against examination malpractice by her Ministry was still in force.
Earlier, Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof. Charles Esimone, represented by Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Prof. Frederick Odibo had charged stakeholders to go back to the old habit of reading in order to reap the dividends.
He regretted the negative effect of mobile phone on reading culture.
Other speakers at the event including the University Librarian, Dr. Ngozi Anasi and former Director of Anambra State Library Services, Dr. Nkechi Udeze x-rayed the importance of books, while corroborating Commissioner Chuma-Udeh’s assertion that reading builds the desired confidence needed to pass examinations without malpractice.
The event featured poetry renditions, cutting of the anniversary cake and presentation of prizes to winners of the essay competition organized by the Library.
