Author seeks revival of reading culture, unveils publishing company

A U.K.-based author, Ibitola Ojoye-Adebayo, has called on government and other stakeholders to ensure that funding for reading materials and education in general are adequately utilized to prevent the vicious circle of illiteracy in the country. The pharmacologist-turned-author warns that if the current trend of not accessing Universal Basic Education Commission’s funds by some states is not reversed, it might bring further dip to the education sector.

Ojoye-Adebayo pointed out that different studies have shown that 40 per cent of Nigerian adults never finish reading a fiction book from cover to cover after leaving school while other studies also showed that about 30 million Nigerians have graduated from secondary schools with poor reading skills, which she attributes to the poor habit cultivated during school days.She lamented that in many universities, most students do not read, noting that the few who read once in a while merely do so as a means of passing examination.

According to Ojoye-Adebayo, “Government is doing something but they are not doing enough. The stakeholders need to look at the issue of UBEC funding that is not been accessed and ask the state governments why they are not accessing the funds. The younger generation is the future and there is the need to nurture them and prevent the vicious circle of illiteracy. Without that we cannot grow as a country. There should be enough funding and the state governments need to utilise the funds to promote the reading culture.”

While speaking on her new initiative in Nigeria, Ojoye-Adebayo, said her passion for reading novels as a child brought about the idea of ‘The Insight of an Author,’ which is her publishing firm.She noted, “When I was in school, my mother used to send me a lot of books from different authors and for five years I never saw her. I feel that reading those books she sent to me was a way of filling that void. Though I wasn’t too happy that she wasn’t there for me, but I got lost in reading the texts and it became a great passion for me right from my secondary school. Even though I did pharmacology in the university, I have always been a novel person. Writing wasn’t originally my plan; it just happened.

“I am here to take my part in shinning the beacon into the world of writers offering unique insight into their works. I want to awaken the nation’s consciousness to the growing trend of illiteracy rate in Nigeria, as a serious awakening is needed in Nigeria.”

At the occasion, Ojoye-Adebayo told The Guardian that a lot of books are written but ended up in the shelves without being published and stressed that this could be due to the personality of the authors, who need help to make their books a success. This, according to her, would be corrected through her firm, which is determined to promote books and brands.

She enthused, “I am a believer in the aquarium effect, which states that you should swim where everybody swims to create effect and be unique. We would provide training on all aspects of writing and publishing.”