The Lagos State Office of Sustainable Development Goals and Investment has launched a virtual book review platform for students in Lagos State as part of strategies to promote literacy among students.

Speaking at the official launch held at Folarin Coker Auditorium, Staff Clinic, Alausa, Ikeja, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals and Investment, Mrs. Solape Hammond, described the readership promotion campaign as a fundamental uptake in improving the learning ability of students in the State.

The Special Adviser, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary Office of Sustainable Development Goals and Investment, Mrs. Abosede George, explained that having taken cognisance of the critical importance of investing in education towards building a promising future for children, the State Government is providing strong leadership in the educational ecosystem.

According to her, the initiative which is tagged “Read Along” is an impressive expression of the significance of Goal 6 of the Sustainable Development Goals which is designed to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

She further revealed that the most important step to prepare children to become readers is to read along with them, adding that it helps children develop literacy and language skills and a love for reading for life.

“Reading along is interactive, sensory and exciting for all. It helps build a strong and loving relationship with the students and it is an easy way to interact and connect with them”, she noted.

While charging students across the State to commit themselves to reading and keying into the initiative to improve their learning ability, the Special Adviser implored teachers and parents to inspire their children to take reading as a key exercise in their daily life.

Her words: “Reading has numerous benefits and is the key to our mental and emotional growth. One key benefit of inculcating the habit of reading is the development of critical thinking skills”.

In her remarks, the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo, pointed out that reading is a basic skill every student must develop to be successful academically as it opens doors to a world of ingenuity, creativity and resourcefulness.

Mrs. Adefisayo, represented by the Director, Private Public Partnerships, Ministry of Education, Mr. Adebayo Adeyemi, expressed her optimism for the project, submitting that the initiative is key in Mr. Governor’s plan to improve the State’s literacy level and provide equal access to education.

She noted that “Reading is an integral part of our lives in a developed society; they talk about our history, our mythology, our beliefs, our aspirations, possibilities of our future, and the list is endless”.

“Enhancing reading skills of children is important to their success in school as it would allow them to access the breadth of information, improve their communication and language skills and open doors to all kinds of new worlds for them”, the Commissioner disclosed.

On his part, the Organiser of the initiative, Executive Director, Pyramid Educational Advancement Foundation, Mr. Adedapo Adegboyega Conde, spoke on the significance of the programme to students’ social and academic life, confirming that the platform would develop the mindset of students to understand the beauty in knowledge acquisition.

According to him, the benefits of the initiative include free E-books for the first 500 participants to register, internet data for participants, social interaction with mentors and professionals as well as gifts and internship programmes for outstanding students.

He added that the objective of the initiative, which is to improve healthy reading culture and learning amongst youths, would also help in promoting positive use of social media platforms and provide mentorship opportunities towards ensuring they all acquire sustainable development skills.

While appreciating the State Government for embracing and supporting the programme, Conde encouraged students to register at www.tinyurl.com/PEA-READ-ALONG and be part of the memorable experience.