The wife of a former Ekiti State governor, Bisi Fayemi, on Wednesday described improving reading culture and mental acuity as the best remedies to the widespread trends of poverty, illiteracy and class disparity experienced by Nigerian citizens.
Ms Fayemi called on the youth to acquire skills, read widely and refrain from obsessing over fake life as exemplified by youths exploring social media, whether for fun or criminal activities, saying this cannot build a brighter future for anyone.
According to her, gender exclusion is a product of neocolonialist thinking, which only generates class disparities, instead of an equal and united people.
Ms Fayemi was speaking on Wednesday during an event dubbed: “Read a Book” conversation, organised by the Ministry of Youth Development, in partnership with the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA).
The event was held at the Adetiloye Hall, Exhibition Complex, Ado Ekiti.
Ms Fayemi encouraged the youth not to get involved in activities that cannot add value to their lives and urged them to develop a strong passion for reading and the pursuit of knowledge.
“Make sure you acquire the right skills, read a lot to get useful information that is relevant to personal development. Social media is good, but don’t misuse it,” he said.
Article page with promotion of financial support
He urged policymakers to make education highly competitive to drive better standards, while expressing resentment over the reduction of cut-off marks for entry into universities by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
On the war against gender oppression, she reiterated the call for the elimination of all social injustices that prevent women from developing their potential, and affirmed that a solid education, through a better reading culture, remains a panacea for the endemic exclusion and class differences that women suffer in society.
“Women should also avoid humiliating themselves. They should not do things that degrade them. They may belong to different political parties or share different political ideologies, which is their right, but do not use this to cast doubt on someone’s integrity by spewing lies against them.
“We must take special measures to ensure that the number of women represented at all levels of government is increased. I and the former Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adunni Olayinka, had to lobby for our party to field four women in the 2011 House of Assembly elections. We thank God that the number has now increased to six,” she said.
The event's chairperson and wife of Ekiti State Governor, Olayemi Oyebanji, said the demands Ms Fayemi sought in the new book were self-awareness, social justice, rights and a discreet economic space, regardless of class and race.
Ms. Oyebanji praised Ms. Fayemi for being an unrepentant advocate for social justice and gender equality in Africa, saying that these had helped break down socio-cultural, economic and political impediments to girls’ education in Africa.
“Erelu Bisi Fayemi has joined the league of those who use their writings to change the face of our society and create an enabling environment where people can think. Encouraging the habit of reading among the youth is the foundation for a brighter and more prosperous future,” he said.
In his presentation, the Chairman of ANA, Ekiti State Chapter, Gbenga Daramola, said reading culture and enhancing mental wealth were the most effective ways of developing the human capital of any country, stating that the event would help reshape the minds of the youth and enrich their mental horizons.