Oby Ezekwesili Reads to Ajegunle Pupils

Rainbow Book Club, celebrated the International Day of the African Child with a book reading at the Alakoto Senior High School, Ajegunle. Over 150 students from 13 schools participated in the reading. The message of ensuring a good education by developing a reading habit set the tone for the day and the children were thrilled to have one-time Minister for Education and former World Bank Vice-President Dr. (Mrs) Oby Ezekwesili read to them from Mai Nasara's The Missing Clock, the winning book for the NLNG-sponsored Nigeria Prize for Literature, 2011.

The school  principal, Mr. Titoni Ikhigbo said, in his address, that he believed that the mindset:  “can anything good come out of Israel (Ajegunle, the jungle city)? was put to rest with the visit of Ezekwesili, who herself attended a family-owned primary school in Ajegunle. The Ajegunle House of poetry engaged the guests to a soul stirring drama performance of Ajegunle Cannot Cry written by Daggar Tolar, Chairman, Association of Nigerian Authors, Lagos. One of the children also performed a rousing choreography of Infinity's "Olori Oko." 

Pupils relished the moment as they listened with rapt attention to Dr. Ezekwesili share her story, on her rise to fame. Drawing a moral from a line in the story; ‘though you start with little, you end with much,’ she enjoined the students to cultivate a reading habit: ‘‘I went to primary school here in Ajegunle. I really need you to know that you can be anything you aspire to be in this life. I want you to imagine that even though you are here today, you can rule the world. Develop a strong appetite for reading. When you read, you become superior mentally to your old self. When you read, you prepare yourself to become a success. You must plant something by reading."

Ezekwesili emphasised reading as the common denominator for a successful life. She responded heartily to every round of questions. She asked the students to take a cue from Banji the central character in the story who brought wealth and fame to his parents by an idea he got from planting. The students were made to understand that through reading, ideas are planted that would help them contribute towards nation building. She called on everyone to eschew corruption, become diligent and embrace hard work. "The best investment for you is to get the best education possible. Girl-child education is vital to building and development of the society. A literate woman makes the best choices for her children," she said.

Skye bank representative, Mr. Lekan Faleye, donated books to the students on behalf of the bank. Every child at the reading will have a lasting memory of this event as they had photo sessions with Ezekwesili in swift successions. She exited the classroom with a rapturous standing ovation. No doubt Ezekwesili's visit made a big impression on the students and the entire community. 

Report by Joel Cicero