She Loves Books, and That Didn't Come by Chance, Mark A. Israel

Few years ago, a caretaker chairman for my local government built a library in the three towns making up the local government. A day after the one in my town was commissioned, the books grew wings. All the books.

I heard they were actually borrowed for the commissioning, and then returned afterwards. There may be a little bit of exaggeration in this account, but I was inclined to believe it for two reasons: first, twice I visited the library, and twice it was under lock and key; second, because I had seen a borehole that only delivered water the day it was commissioned. That's all.

Now, what is a library without books? I've a stack of about twenty books just beside my bed, and I call it my library. Funny, right? However, while my stack of less than twenty books can pass for a library, the big structure in my town cannot because it is the books, not the structure, that makes it a library.

Several people have lamented about our reading culture, which they say is fading away. But I've always wondered If we had a reading culture, if we are a reading people. How can it fade away when it doesn't exist? The generation before us placed little premium on the importance of reading books and we are the product of that indifference. But why do people talk about reading culture that I believe never existed? It's simple: most people assume every literate Nigerian should naturally love or value books. And so, as the literacy level in Nigeria increased, they expected an equal increase in the love for books.

Sometime last year, a lady friend saw me reading Things Fall Apart and said, "so, you're just reading this book now? I read it in Jss 3." "No, I'm not just reading it now," i said, "i'm reading it for the 5th time." She must have thought I was crazy. For her, books are meant to be read once and then discarded. The only time the average Nigerian read is when he prepares for exam.

An average Nigerian is too busy chasing money and thus, have little time to nourish his mind. And this is why, it has become too easy for politicians to exploit the two major fault lines - religion and ethnicity - for their gain. We cannot think on our own.

We may not be able to convince our generation to start reading but we can instil that much talked about reading culture in our upcoming ones. I once saw my 9year old cousin reading one of my literature, I told her it's too 'big' for her. "I have nothing to read, I've finished reading all my story books. I've even read some two times...I've read Emma's - her brother - own too," She said.
The following week her father, my uncle, bought five story books apiece for her and her brother. She was reading one of the books two days ago when PHCN seized power, "...please go and on the gen, I want to finish this book this night," she pleaded.

She loves books, and that didn't come by chance. Her father, who didn't go beyond junior secondary himself, showered her with gifts of interesting books even before she knew how to read. Now, she wants a new book every week.

Help that child today, buy her chocolate, cake, ice cream...and story books too. Start with the interesting books.

- Mark Ademola Israel