As the 2014 draws near, the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Engr. Tele Ikuru said the choice of Port Harcourt, Rivers State is a reward of good partnership.
The Deputy Governor made the remark at the Reading Tree Pilot Programme in Port Harcourt organized by the Rainbow book club.
The event which was held at the weekend at the Port Harcourt Primary School, Old GRA, Port Harcourt was to test run the activities that will take place during the event.
Engr. Ikuru commended the Director of the Port Harcourt Book festival, Mrs. Koko Kalango for her initiative and consistent in the delivery of such project.
Represented at the occasion, the Commissioner for Youths, Rivers State, Sir Owene Wonodi advised the children to be upright and do things that are not inimical to the society.
The Commissioner tasked the children to read extensively and reduce the time for playing games so that that they can move the country to an enviable position.
Sir. Wonodi stated that the children in Book Club have all what it takes to do better than late Prof. Chinua Achebe because this present administration has provided a very conducive learning environment than the days of Prof. Achebe while in primary school.
The Commissioner for Youths also assured the children that the world will celebrate them as they are celebrating Prof. Chinua Achebe and Koofi Awonor today.
In an interactive session with the children, some of them shared their experience on some of the book they have read.
The children ask if those in the prisons have the opportunity to be leaders. The Commissioner cited the example of the former President Olusegun Obasanjo who came out of prisons and became President. The example of Nelson Mandela of South Africa was also shared among the children but they doubted if Mandela were a Nigerian whether he could be able to get his degrees from the prisons.
Some of the children said the government should organize a competition for them to test their knowledge.
In an interview shortly after the event with journalists, the Commissioner for Youths, Sir. Owene Wonodi thanked Mrs. Koko Kalango as the programme has raised the reading culture in the Niger Delta, especially by making UNESCO chose Port Harcourt to be the world book capital 2014. She said the event will bring academia all over the world to Port Harcourt which is a very good development.
Mrs. Koko Kalango said the pogramme is prelude to the Work Book Capital 2014. She said the pilot programme was to enable the children to prepare for greater performance when the time comes. She pointed out that there are different programmes for the primary and secondary, three of each group have been chosen.
Mrs. Kalango noted the children made some requests rather than mentioning challenges.
One of the children interviewed said they need more books at the Book Club as they learn more knowledge, vocabulary, reading more books among others.
Highlights of the event was the presentation of bag of books to outstanding pupils and award of certificate to outstanding facilitators. Some of the books read by the children are “King Jaja of Opobo, How the leopard got his claws and Alfred Nobel”. ###
