Parents and teachers have been urged to help children develop strong reading habits from an early age to improve learning and research culture among future generations.
The Librarian of the National Broadcast Academy, Mrs. Onyinye Onyeatoelu, made the call while speaking on Media Watch, a programme on Radio One 103.5 FM.
Mrs. Onyeatoelu said reading habits are best formed during childhood and advised parents to lay the right foundation for their children by encouraging regular reading.
According to her, reading with books remains more effective than using phones and other digital devices, as notifications and online distractions often interrupt concentration and reduce comprehension.
She also blamed the poor reading culture among students on the absence of functional libraries in many schools, noting that several existing libraries are poorly equipped and unconducive for learning.
Mrs. Onyeatoelu recommended the establishment of book clubs, reward systems for completing reading tasks, and positive reading examples from parents to encourage children to embrace reading and make better use of libraries and research materials.
Reporting by Bukola Abe