From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The National Library of Nigeria (NLN) and the National Library of Norway have entered into agreement to digitise books and other literary works produced in indigenous Nigerian languages and make them available to global readers.
NLN’s spokesman, Vershima Orvell-Dio, in a statement noted that the National Librarian, Prof. Lenrie Aina, announced the development in Benin yesterday at the commencement of a nationwide readership promotion campaign.
The promotion was an annual campaign to expose Nigerians to the benefits of reading for self and national development.
He said arrangements were made for the smooth takeoff of the project, adding that the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, approved the project and the operational agreement between both parties.
Aina noted that after the MoU, NLN would reach out to Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), other associations and individuals that have books published in indigenous languages and fulfil all copyrights issues before handing over the books for digitization in Norway.
He encouraged Nigerians to cultivate the habit of reading, not just for gain but, for leisure, information and general knowledge, stressing that a lot of hidden treasures were in books but would take those who were studious to unravel them and be better off among contemporaries.
Chairman of the occasion and the Edobayokhae of Benin, Chief Osayomwanbo Ero, was optimistic that the challenge of low reading culture among Nigerians could be surmounted if all relevant stakeholders would wake up and join hands to achieve the aim.