Would they read?

We have this general saying that Nigerians do not read. I totally diagree with this though a visit to secondary schools recently further 'confirmed' this saying. Teachers were asked what the learning problems of students were and they responded that they do not read. How would they read? What would they read?

I discovered it isn't that they do not want to read, just that they are many times not motivated to. English language is their second language and many dread that language. Who would help them overcome this fear of starting out in a strange language? A nation that reads is empowered. A child that reads is on his way to being a world leader.

Many of them also do not have the books available. I was just thinking about this. When next that child (teenagers inclusive) is receiving a gift from you, why don't you get a book he can begin with instead of building his toy pool or adding more chocolate layers to his teeth? Buy him that book but also find the time to answer the questions that arise after the reading is completed.