…As EKSG, ANA Partner on Youth Dev.

A former First Lady of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, has advocated reading culture and mental alertness, as antidotes to pervasive trends of poverty, illiteracy and oppression being experienced by Nigerian citizens.

Mrs Fayemi, however, declared that development would continue to be affected by gender discrimination and inequality taking centre stage, saying neo-colonialistic thinking would only breed class disparities, rather than equal and united people.

The ex-First Lady who is also a feminist spoke on Tuesday during a scholastic event tagged: “Read a Book” conversation, organized by the Ministry of Youth Development, in partnership with the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), held at the Adetiloye Hall, Trade Fair Complex, Ado Ekiti the state capital.

The academic event was chaired by the Ekiti State First Lady and a scholar, Prof. Olayemi Oyebanji, and was attended by various youth groups and students across the state.

Speaking at the interactive programme, Mrs Fayemi, appealed to the youths to acquire skills, read widely and refrain from obsession with false life, as typified by youths who are exploring social media, either for fun or criminal activities, saying these can’t build a brighter future for anyone.

“Don’t get engaged in those things that can’t add value to your lives. Develop a strong passion for reading and knowledge-seeking.

“Make sure you get the right skills and read widely to get useful information that is relevant to self-development. Social media is good, but don’t misapply it wrongly”.

She urged the policymakers to make education highly competitive to ignite improved standards, expressing resentment about the reduction in the cut of marks for entry into universities by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board(JAMB).

On her virulent wars against gender oppression, she restated the call for the removal of all social injustices hindering female folks from realising their potential, saying sound education, through improved reading culture, remains a panacea to the endemic exclusion and class differences the female suffered in the society.

About the concept of feminism, Mrs Fayemi maintained that the concept can only garner traction or be perceived to have achieved mileage if all genders are equally integrated into society and exposed to the same socio-economic and political opportunities.

“Women too should run away from pulling themselves down. They shouldn’t do things that will demean themselves. You may belong to different political parties or share different political ideologies, which is your right, but don’t use this to call someone’s integrity to question by spewing lies against her.

“We must put special measures in place to ensure an increase in the number of women representation at all levels of government. Myself and the late former Deputy Governor, Mrs Adunni Olayinka had to lobby for our party to field four women for the 2011 House of Assembly election. we thank God that it has now increased to six”.

The Chairman of the occasion and Ekiti State First Lady, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, said the demands which Mrs Fayemi sought in the new book were self-awareness, social justice, rights, and unobtrusive economic space, regardless of class and race.

Oyebanji saluted Mrs Fayemi for being an unrepentant advocate of social justice and gender equality in Africa, saying these had helped in breaking socio-cultural, economic and political impediments against girl child education in Africa continent.

“Erelu Bisi Fayemi has joined the league of those who are using their writings to change the face of our society and create a conducive atmosphere where people can think. Cultivating a reading habit by youths is a foundation for a brighter and more prosperous future”.

The First Lady also saluted the Commissioner for Youth and ANA for their doggedness and forthrightness in conceiving the highly educative programme that will help shape the minds of the youths.

The convener and Ekiti State Commissioner for Youth Development, Hon. Gold Adesola Adedayo, advocated an aggressive reading culture among youths, saying this is desperately required for Nigeria to attain the much-sought quality education status that can propel the economy.

Adedayo said the programme, which prominently featured the First Lady of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Fayemi and the launching of her book titled: “Demand and Supply”, was conceptualised to promote reading culture and role modelling in the state.

The commissioner, who saluted Dr Oyebanji for her commitment to youth empowerment, stated that Oyebanji’s administration has made significant strides in providing the youths with quality education that can equip them to thrive in the complexities of the 21st-century economy.

” In promoting a culture of reading in a society facing numerous challenges like ours, it is crucial to emphasize the concept of role modelling. This is vital for the growth of education, as our youth, many of whom are transitioning from adolescence, need practical motivation to develop the intuition that guides critical thinking.

” It is on this premise that we invited our Mother-General, Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, whose legacy in education and the academic world extends far beyond the borders of Ekiti State and Nigeria. Her presence here today is intended not only to inspire our youth but also to allow them to tap into her vast reservoir of knowledge”.

In his submission, the Chairman of ANA, Ekiti chapter, Dr. Gbenga Daramola, said reading culture and enhanced mental richness, are the most effective ways to develop the human capital of any country, saying the event will help reshape the minds of the youths and enrich their mental horizons.

Dignitaries at the occasion were: Senator representing Ekiti North Senatorial District at the Senate, Cyril Fasuyi, Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, Secretary to the State Government, Dr Habibat Adubiaro, Head of Service, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi, Information Commissioner, Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun, youth groups, students, among others.