Youth Initiative for Sustainable Human Development in Africa (YISHDA), an NGO, has pledged to revive reading culture among Nigerian youths through effective use of libraries.
Mr Joseph Yaba, the President of the organisation, disclosed this in an interview with the News men on Monday in Abuja.
Yaba said young people could achieve great potentials in life if they developed interest in reading, as it helps individuals to achieve independence and a great sense of self-worth.
He added that young people had tremendous deposit of unexploited knowledge and skills that could be useful to their wellbeing, immediate community and the society at large.
“ YISHDA is creating a platform that will help revive the reading culture amongst young people in Nigeria through the use of libraries.
“Presently public libraries across Nigeria are equipped with 21st century learning facilities to make information available and accessible.
“Modern technology digital skills training which is able to provide services relating to job search online and offline are available in the libraries.
“Nigerian libraries are not to be seen as a thing of the past but where potentials can be developed through various training, research and interactive activities,’’ he said.
Yaba said that the need to promote effective reading habits among young people had been receiving attention, but the impact have not been felt in the society.
He stressed that libraries could play an important role in the promotion of reading habits among youths which are fundamental to the design, implementation and attainment of educational excellence.
He said it had become necessary not to allow libraries decay, as access to information were not only embedded in books but several other technological services such as the internet.
Yaba added that such culture could also form an integral part of the educational development of young people in the country.
YISHDA was established with a purpose to serve African youths through a platform of discovery, development, leadership and value creation.