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Outraged Parents Demand that Nigerian Book be Taken Off Summer Reading List

by Bontle on 16 Aug 2010   |   

A book was pulled from a high school summer reading list because parent’s were shocked by the adult nature of the book and its content. Following complaints, the county also added the book to its list of banned books. The book, Graceland by Nigerian author Chris Abani, was on the summer reading list for Florida’s Mandarin High School 10th grade learners.

The story is about a teenage Elvis Presley impersonator from Nigeria who is trying to make it out of his neighborhood. Some of the content is quite violent and some portions of the book contain what some parents have called “graphic sexual detail”. Other books that have been banned by the same county include To Kill A Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee, Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight saga and My Sister’s Keeper, by Jodi Picoult.

Book details

• Graceland by Christopher Abani
  EAN: 9780312425289
  Find this book with BOOK Finder!

New Nigerian Publisher Brings Old Hadley Chase Favourites to Youth

by Bontle on 27 Jul 2010   |   

Good Books Africa is a new publishing company, operating nationwide in Nigeria. Gbenro Adegbola, the company’s chairman, believes that the company’s “major aim is to promote and encourage the reading culture among Nigerian youth.” To do this, the company has chosen to use the works of an old Nigerian favourite to get this generation reading. Good Books will re-introduce the works of James Hadley Chase, sometimes considered one of the best British writers in the 1970s; and author of dozens of books that were popular with Nigerian readers in the 1980s. Good Books Africa also plans to promote new and established local writers, alongside international authors.

The launch offered a raffle draw for purchase of the books. Mr. Adegbola explained that the rationale behind this was “to encourage the reading culture among youths in our country, we want to capture (readers) with good and interesting stories, as well as through the introduction of promos and consolidated prizes, when they purchase any novels of James Hadley Chase.” The raffle draw winners will be announced in September, with the star prize winner winning a 2009 Kia Picanto. Consolation prizes include: refrigerators, television sets, laptops, and digital cameras.

• Read the complete article

Book details

• Goldfish Have No Hiding Place by James Hadley Chase
  EAN: 9781842321034
  Find this book with BOOK Finder!

• Like a Hole in the Head by James Hadley Chase
  EAN: 9781842321126
  Find this book with BOOK Finder!

Eno's Story Aims to Raise Awareness about Myth of 'Child Witches' in Nigeria

by Bontle on 14 Jul 2010   |   

Cassava Republic, in association with Stepping Stones Nigeria (SSN), a non-governmental organisation involved in efforts to sensitise the public about child rights issues in Nigeria, is releasing a children’s book on ‘child witches’. Eno’s story, a book written by Ayodele Olofintuade and illustrated by Bolaji Liadi, is expected to be launched in September.

Eno lives happily with her father, until one day he disappears in an accident. Her uncle says that she is a “witch” who has caused her father’s death. She goes through many struggles before moving in with other children who have also been called “witches” and have been sent away from home.

This moving story, with moments of humour and sadness, shows how Eno uses courage and her imagination to make the best of a difficult situation. Young readers will be gripped while also learning about how an organisation such as Stepping Stones Nigeria can help children in Eno’s situation.

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• Learn more about Eno’s Story

Millions of Textbooks for Schools in Nigeria's Bauchi State

by Bontle on 06 Jul 2010   |   

The Bauchi State Government of Nigeria has signaled its commitment to improving the standard of education in the state with a deal to provide 168590 children with textbooks. In line with the national government’s push to provide more of Nigeria’s youth with a quality education, Bauchi State will provided textbooks and other educational materials to learners in its public primary and secondary schools.

About 6.5 million assorted textbooks were purchased from Longman Nigeria Limited at the cost of over N2.5 million under transparent contract procedure and process through an 11-man Distribution committee that was put in place to ensure fair distribution of the textbooks across the state-owned public schools.

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Nigeria Rethinks Education on Nigerian Children's Day

by Bontle on 10 Jun 2010   |   

The 6th of June was Children’s Day in Nigeria. The event was viewed as a chance for all Nigerians to take stock of the future of their children and their children’s education and literacy in particular. Analyst Chijioke Asuoha reflects on what school was like when he was in primary and high school and what is now needed to move Nigeria back to that place:

In my primary and secondary school days, we were proudly addressed as “the leaders of tomorrow”. We enjoyed government sponsorship in the name of Universal Free Primary Education (U.P.E). Education was free to an extent. In some states, school children were fed during classes; free furniture, text books and stationery were provided in such states. Renovation of school buildings by government and community was regular. U.P.E. was so widespread that those of us who were in Eastern Nigeria, where free government services were seen as an aberration, enjoyed that civil benevolence at least for once.

• Read the complete article at All Africa

Role Models Help Book Club Inspire Children of Nigeria

by Bontle on 26 May 2010   |   

The Rainbow Book Club was born in 2004, as part of the R.E.A.D (Rainbow Education for Advancement and Development) Africa Foundation.The group decided to capitalise on the fact that young people are inspired by role models – resulting in the very successful initiative of getting leaders to read to children.

Key figures in society read to school children (often dramatising the stories) and interact with them on an informal level. They talk about the book they’ve read and share their own experiences and love of books. The children are invariably enthralled and inspired to keep on reading. Celebrities reading to children is a concept that has been used in other countries around the world, but Rainbow has pioneered the scheme in Nigeria. Role models that have been involved in the club include the Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka; Governor Amaechi of Rivers State; Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State; and Dora Akunyili, the Minister of Information.

The Rainbow Book Club hosts Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani, author of I Do Not Come To You By Chance on Sunday, June 6.

• Read the complete article at Next

Book details

• I Do Not Come to You by Chance by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani
  EAN: 9781401323110
  Find this book with BOOK Finder!

Nigerian Students Lose Interest in Reading

by Bontle on 19 May 2010   |   

Gone are the days when students were hungry to learn in Nigeria. After independence, young Nigerians seemed very passionate about education and reading. Teachers recently have begun to observe declining interest in education and learning, which is being reflected in the dismal, nationwide examination results.

Some students in Junior or Senior Secondary school found themselves in literature classes and do not know who African literary giants, Chinue Achebe or Wole Soyinka, are. Unlike their post-liberation counterparts, they do not read novels. This has many teachers and parents in Nigeria worried about the future of their country.

How can a student who has no passionate hunger for reading and acquiring knowledge succeed as a literature student? How can a science student who has no deep and consistent hunger to know more about scientific laws, experiments and knowledge succeed as a science student? Your guess is as good as mine. Success comes to any student who will develop and maintain a passionate hunger for knowledge and backs it up with hard-work and persistence.

• Read the complete article at All Africa

Beem Explores Africa in the Latest Book from Nigerian Publisher

by Bontle on 12 May 2010   |   

Beem Explores Africa follows a young Nigerian girl, Beem, as she explores the continent of Africa, meets its people and animals, and visits its key geographical and historical sites.

The book introduces children to the physical and human geography of Africa. It has easy-to-read text and a glossary to explain key geographical terms, and vivid hand-painted illustrations.

• Visit the Book’s Website

Book details

• Beem Explores Africa by Simidele Dosekun
  Book homepage
  EAN: 9789780799939
  Find this book with BOOK Finder!

Nigerians Shocked at NECO Examination's 2% Pass Rate

by Bontle on 21 Apr 2010   |   

Results published just a few weeks ago reveal that only 1.80 percent of candidates who sat for the 2009 November National Examination Council (NECO) examinations passed, resulting in a failure rate of more than 98 percent.

This national examination is taken by 234,682 candidates but only 4,000 got the minimum requirement of a credit in all five subjects to pass. English and Mathematics were among the credits that candidates failed to pass. The implication is that the candidates, who are mainly16 and 19-years old, are not qualified to enroll in higher institutions. In Nigeria, where 75 percent of the population is under the age 35 and over 60 percent of those are of the secondary school age, the results of the NECO examination have grave implications for the future of the country.

Yemitan Raphael, a M.Sc student in the Statistics Department of University of Ibadan said:

I would lay the blame primarily on the schools. It’s rather unfortunate that 98 per cent of all Nigerian students who took the exams could not make five credits in Mathematics and English Language. Even the private schools that make huge demands on parents in terms of fees and extra lessons could not fare better. It’s time we stopped blaming the government on everything. Did the government write the exams? Did they teach the students? Did they conduct lessons for them? Did they invigilate the students? I think the bulk of the blame should stop at the schools, the teachers and what they teach.

In contrast, South Africa’s pass rate in the 2009 matric examinations were 60.6% – down from 62.5% who passed in 2008.

• Read More about the NECO Examinations

• Read More about what Ordinary Nigerians Think

Authors Promote Mother Tongue Among Children in Nigeria

by Bontle on 01 Apr 2010   |   

In Nigeria, as in many African countries, many people no longer speak their mother languages. Many Nigerian parents teach and prefer their children to speak in English for diverse reasons including that they feel their children will be more intelligent, and command more respect if they speak English proficiently.

Comfort Ubosi has written a book entitled Functional Igbo to tackle this issue head-on. Speaking at the launch of the book earlier this month, Ubosi said she wrote the book because there is an “urgent need to restore our lost values and train adults and children alike on the need of speaking and understanding the Igbo Language.”

Various Nigerian dignitaries and academics attended the launch to promote Ubosi’s cause. The population of Igbo speakers is about 20 million but there is a growing fear that the speakers of the language are gradually becoming all but extinct.

Many people suggested that Igbo language should be added to the school curriculum and that Igbo pupils should be mandated to offer it while others also argued that in some schools that offer the subject, pupils deliberately avoid offering it.

• Read the Complete Article at All Africa