Don decries declining reading culture, urges library revamp
Ahmed Ahmed
An educationist at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, Malam Aminu Makama, has raised concern over the declining reading culture among Nigerian students.
He warned that the trend poses a serious threat to academic excellence.
Makama, who spoke in an interview with Journalists in Bauchi, blamed the neglect of libraries and the overreliance on unverified online sources for eroding the quality of education.
He stressed that in spite of advances in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), traditional libraries and printed books remained essential for academic development due to their credibility and editorial rigor.
“It’s very important for students to realise that even with the rise of ICT, there is still a vital need to engage with traditional books for academic purposes.
“Unfortunately, we have a serious problem with reading culture,” he said.
Makama lamented that many school libraries were outdated and underfunded, with most institutions only establishing them to meet accreditation requirements, often without providing current or relevant materials.
He cautioned that most online resources used by students lacked proper editorial oversight, unlike academic books and journals that underwent peer review.
To address the decline, Makama called for the reintroduction of library hours in schools, investment in modern library infrastructure, and the integration of reading culture into school curricula, media, and creative platforms.
“Without these efforts, our students will remain unable to compete globally or drive meaningful local innovation,” he warned.
