In a bid to improve the reading culture among children, the National Library of Nigeria (NLN) in partnership with a non-governmental organisation, Zaccheus Onumba Dibiazza Memorial Libraries (ZODML), have concluded plans to unveil a children library tagged Green Library in Lagos.
The library for youths from primary school pupils to secondary school students, located within the National Library of Nigeria office at Yaba Branch , Lagos, will empower the youths to develop their cognitive skills and increase the literacy level of thousands of youths.
Speaking to journalists, parents and stakeholders in the literary society, the Deputy Zonal Director, National Library of Nigeria, Mrs. Obianuju Onuora, stated that the partnership with ZODML is a novel initiative to promote the reading culture of the young ones.
She appreciated the organization and added that the National Library of Nigeria was established with the aim of promoting the reading culture among Nigerians across all strata of people.
“This partnership with ZODML is a welcome development and we appreciate the NGO in supporting the NLN in supporting the reading habit in children. She noted that the children library was free for all children and can take as many as thirty young ones at a time. We want to encourage other firms and NGOs to support the National Library in its programs and measures to improve reading culture”, says Onoura.
The Chairman/Co-founder of ZODML, Ifeoma Esiri, said the platform is an independent organization that focuses on developing the reading culture of youths through establishment of functional libraries in different locations.
According to Esiri, the Children library established within the Yaba district National Library of Nigeria office, is a pilot one that has both electronic library and physical library full of tons of books that will offer the students rich materials on various subjects and topics of interest to the younger generation.
She noted that ZODML has been around for twenty years and will partner the NLN to establish children ‘s section of the library in other branches and hopes the partnership will foster growth and an enabling environment for reading culture among youths.