The members of a non-governmental organization, ANAYO AND MERCY FOUNDATION have revealed their readiness to resuscitate the dwindling reading culture currently plaguing the nation.
Addressing the mammoth crowd during the grand finale of the 4th edition of the annual academic exercise “Okposi Reads 2025” on November, 29, at Federal Government College, Okposi in Ohaozara LGA of Ebonyi State, the founder of FANEV READERS CLUB, Mr. Nwachukwu Eze Aja said that the event had restored the reading habits of the participants as the children could easily engage themselves into reading without waiting to be reminded by someone else.
“The academic activity has impacted massively in the area as evidently seen in the children that can now read between three to four hours with full concentration, all these are aimed at reviving the reading habit in all the schools within Okposi clan” he said.
It was learnt that the programme comprising reading challenge, quiz and spelling competition through which 21 individuals were rewarded with cash prizes was sponsored by a non-governmental organization, Anayo and Mercy Foundation (AMF) as part of its encouragement to the children and sacrifice to humanity.
Also gathered that the event organized for over 300 students across 13 junior secondary schools and 12 senior secondary schools covered literature and other secular books as Rich Dad, Poor Dad for Teens by RobertT. Kiyosaki, Battlefield of the Mind for Teens by Joyce Meyer among others was meant to train the children in financial literacy and other abstract knowledge capable of making them to be self dependent in future.
Mr. Nwachukwu who is also the secretary of Anayo and Mercy Foundation (AMF) added that the organizers would not relent until the reading habit is optimally revived against the enormous distraction emanating from social media and peer groups and as a result commended the participants and his team for the successful event.
Some of the teachers, Mr. Desmond Eluu from Holy Rosary College, Okposi said that the event had prepared the children in such way that they could no longer fidget during reading competitions and other related exercise stressing that it equally reflected in their various academic activities.
“Before now my school has gotten both best student’s award and the best school’s award, this is why I am advising that the children should always read even when there is no teachers in their classrooms” he said.
Mrs. Bethel Nwakaego Eze said that the event had taken away stage fright from the students as they could read confidently while facing the crowd and thereby applauded the organizers for the encouragement in the education sector.
The Traditional Ruler of Okposi Okwu, HRH Eze Chukwu Agwu and his Mgbom N’Achara Autonomous Community counterpart, HRH Eze Chukwuka Okorie respectively described the gesture as most impactful and commended the collaborating organizations.
They advised the participants to always prioritize their studies by utilizing the acquired knowledge during the three days programme in their daily lives and also urged them to be omnivorous readers.
The monarchs frowned at the declination of the reading culture bedeviling the clan before the advent of the FRC and Anayo and Mercy Foundation events and as a result appealed that the children should not take the gesture for granted.
“The event has helped to bring out the children from the doldrums of backwardness because before now, the societal ill has hampered the education progress in our clan but with this strategy, education is being revived in Okposi” they said.
They charged other big shots to toe the path of AMF and the students to embrace the opportunity wholesomely.
Some students, Miss Mitchell Chimdalu Eze and Master Emmanuel Tochukwu Akam respectively said that the initiative had reawakened their reading habits and thanked the organizers for imparting secular knowledge into them for their future use.
