Owena Press bags ‘Best Legal Depositor’ of the year award

By Kayode Olabanji
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For its compliance with the nation’s legal deposit law, Owena Press Limited, publisher of The Hope Newspaper based in  Akure,  Ondo state capital was yesterday awarded the “Best Legal Depositor” of the year, by the National Library of Nigeria.

   The award which  was presented during its 2019 Readership Promotion Campaign, held at its Akure Branch, Oda road also witnessed paper  presentations, quiz, spelling bee and reading competitions by some schools.

Speaking on the award, the National Librarian, Prof. Lenrie  Aina, said The Hope Newspaper deserved to be recognised for its compliance with the nation’s legal deposit law, in spite of the economic challenges in the country and without running after it unlike other media organizations.

   According to him, The Hope was always fulfilling its own responsibility to the National Library.

While speaking on the theme of the programme, “Reviving Moribund Reading Culture in Nigeria For Sustainable National Development,” Aina said the objective of the campaign is to encourage reading among Nigerians with focus on youths and children in secondary and primary schools.

  His words: “Over the years, the National Library has continued to embark on readership promotion campaigns.

“This year’s theme is to revive that good reading culture to ensure that knowledge is acquired and applied for a sustained national development, he added.

The head of the Branch, Mrs. Mojisola Ogunyemi, emphasised the need to read books outside the scope of academics, saying reading for academic excellence is equally important, especially among the younger generation.

She said the branch has been taking records of those coming to use the Library and a young lad who has been diligent and consistent in this regard, a regular library user who frequents the premises a lot was awarded the “Best Reader of the Year”.

The chairman of the occasion, Bashorun Sehinde Arogbofa, called on the government not to politicize books listed for reading in schools, saying  a wrong book could destroy the future of youths in the country.

Arogbofa, advised  young writers not to relent in reading,  in order to write more quality books, while saying there is the need to present their books to the right authorities for proper assessment and scrutiny.

The Librarian of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Dr. Rotimi Egunjobi who delivered a lecture at the occasion, advised parents to imbibe in their children reading culture because the culture of reading begins at home.

Prizes were awarded to schools that participated  in various competitions at the event  including Seaba College, Model College, Shield College, Genius Nursery and Primary School, Chosen Nursery and Primary School, Eagles College.

Dignitaries at the event included, His Royal Majesty, Olowa of Igbara-Oke, represented by Pastor Solomon Ariyeloye the regent of Oda, the Editor of “The Hope Newspaper, Mr. Akindele Adubuola, Elizade University Librarian, Mr Christopher Nkiko, among others.