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A lawyer and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Hachituru Ewhorlu, has decried the decline in the reading culture among Nigerians, attributing it to the economic woes bedevilling the country.
Ewhorlu stated this while speaking to newsmen on the sidelines of the launch of her book ‘Swords of Blood,’ which is book one in the ‘Steelborn Series’ at the Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Orowurukwu in Port Harcourt.
She said that the government can step in by providing an enabling environment to help revive the reading culture in the country.
She added, “They said Nigerians don’t like reading. Of course, it’s true. I think it’s because of the everyday hassle from morning till night and because of the survival mode that every Nigerian has been thrown into.
“Yes, in a way the government has a role to play. I think the youths, young people mostly, who are supposed to be those who should be reading and all that, I think they’ve abandoned the habit of reading.
“And one cannot blame them. I would like to attribute it, part of it, I mean, to somebody who is in his shop, trying to do one or two things, trying to make ends meet, you don’t expect that person to leave what he or she is doing to go and read, and most people will read for pleasure.
“Another reason we read is because we go to school. If you have to pass your exams, then you have to read. So, I think in a way, if the government betters society by providing employment and all because if a person is concentrated, a person is happy. It’s only when you’re happy that you think about reading for leisure purposes and all that. “
Ewhorlu, who hails from Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, said the book, which is an epic fantasy adventure, was borne out of a desire to promote African culture.
She averred, “Just because I am a book lover and also a movie lover, I wanted to replicate something in reading form. The white people are mostly the writers of epic fantasy adventure. And most times when you read them, you find out that even the characters are all white. It’s dominated by the white men.
“So, I wanted to bring it home to Africa by using our African characters to tell the story. It was also a way of promoting African traditions and our names. This book is for the global stage, telling people about Nigerians, about people from the South-South. I wanted to project something to the world to see by using Africans as my characters.”
She emphasized the need for all to roll up their sleeves by getting back to reading and writing, pointing out that an enlightened mind will always make a difference.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the chairman of the occasion and former Dean of the Faculty of Law at Rivers State University, Prof. Ovunda Ekene, lauded Ewhorlu’s effort in contributing to literary excellence in society.
Ekene said, “I would like to say that your dedication to sharing knowledge and insights through this remarkable work is truly commendable.
“The book is very significant in contemporary times. You need to read and it’s not too voluminous, it’s concise. I would like to appreciate and express my gratitude to Hachituru Ewhorlu for her tireless efforts in bringing this work to fruition.
“Your commitment to promoting literary excellence is laudable. That is why we’re here, to support you, to encourage you, to do more, because this is just the beginning.”
The 288-page book has 17 chapters, with over 60 characters, and was reviewed by the convener, Rivers Peace Initiative, and a public affairs analyst, Obinna Ebogidi.
