…decry phone addiction among adults, youths, children
Scholars call for discipline, saying hardwork now recedes for lucre
By Babatunde Ayedoju,
Olamide Iwala & Ayomide Faseki
A seasoned librarian and university lecturer, Dr. Femi Oguntuase, has placed the burden of Nigeria’s declining reading culture squarely on individuals, stressing that personal discipline remains the strongest defence against the distractions of the digital age.
Oguntuase, who decried the growing disinterest in reading among Nigerian youths, said the habit of engaging with educational materials is the only way to sharpen the mind and prepare for professional and life challenges.
He noted that although change is constant due to the dynamic nature of society, the rise of digital media should be an advantage rather than a setback.
He lamented that adults, like youths, are becoming increasingly addicted to phones and social media, spending long hours online — a trend he said has had damaging effects on academic growth and personal development.
According to him, employers value competence, and poor reading habits often reflect in the quality of job seekers.
Oguntuase advised both young and older internet users to explore the wealth of academic resources available online and commit to reading materials that can support their personal growth.
Similarly, experts have warned that the dominance of digital distractions is further weakening the reading culture among young people, with worrying long-term consequences on personal development.
A learning and growth expert, Isaac Oluremi, blamed gadget addiction and misplaced attitudes towards books for making many youths blind to the opportunities that come with reading beyond the classroom.
Oluremi urged parents and teachers to expose children to books early, explaining that when books are introduced as sources of joy rather than school-related obligations, reading becomes natural and appealing.
Also speaking, a librarian in acquisitions, simply identified as Mrs Etana, described reading as a mental exercise that allows individuals to escape immediate realities, learn something new and understand life from alternative perspectives.