Prominent academics and poetry enthusiasts gathered on Saturday at the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub in Benin City, Edo State, where they decried the decline in reading culture among Nigerians.
The event, dubbed “Battle of the Stanzas,” was a maiden poetry competition that aimed to reignite the passion for poetry and literary engagement in the country.
Professor Eunice Omozojie, a special guest of honor, attributed the decline in reading culture to digital modern technology, noting that it has eroded the habit of reading among many Nigerian youths.
“Reading culture has declined in our society, and I put the blame majorly on technology,” she said. “It has changed our lives a lot. Instead of taking time to read, people want to check on their phones.”
Eriata Oribhabor, CEO of Poets in Nigeria, echoed similar sentiments, calling on the government to support initiatives that promote reading culture and poetry.
“Government must promote and support it through the Nigeria Poetic Festival,” he emphasized. “This group, on its own, supports reading culture, and it is part of the ways of bringing back the culture.”
The conveners of the event, Barrister Douglas Ogbankwa and Godson Osarenren, stated that the initiative was informed by the need to bring back the old days of Nigerian dominance in literary engagement.
Ogbankwa, who is also the President of the Benin Writer Society, added that the event aimed to regurgitate the golden days where poetry was the mirror of society.
“We have have very young people who are desirous of bringing back the good old days of Nigerian Dominance in Literary Engagement which peaked in Wole Soyinka winning the esteemed Nobel prize for literature”
The event featured poetic competitions among attendees, with the theme “Renaissance of the Poetic.” The participants, including young and old, showcased their poetic skills, highlighting the need to revive the culture of reading and writing in Nigeria.
