Chimamanda advocates improved reading culture among children

A renowned Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Adichie has urged parents to encourage their children to read in order to improve reading culture in the country.

She gave the advice during the literary evening organised for participants of the annual Nigerian Breweries and Farafina Trust Creative Writing Workshop held in Lagos last Friday.

According to her, the country education system has failed, people, especially parents would therefore need to encourage their children to read books and other useful materials.

“It’s very easy for us to complain that we are not reading but parents instead of buying recharge cards, they should buy books, instead of buying two new dresses, they should buy one dress and a book because we have to make children know it’s important. It’s an essential step in improving reading culture,” she advised.

On the achievement of the workshop which is in its sixth year, Adichie said it had brought together talented people and helped in giving them information and knowledge. Advising new writers, she said for them to write well, they need to cultivate the habit of reading and writing continuously until they are almost perfect.

Thanking Nigerian Breweries for sponsoring the workshop, she said the future of African writers was very bright ‘as we are going to see in the future more people who will be publish and known all over the world.’

Earlier in his speech, the Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Nico Vervelde said the partnership was founded on the company’s desire to encourage the development of literary writing skills in the country.

“As part of our strategic corporate initiatives for talent development and youth empowerment in Nigeria, the Creative Writing Workshop has become a major chapter in our corporate social responsibility calendar,” he said. A total of 32 people participated in this year’s edition of the programme and were given certificates at the ceremony

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