Embrace reading to promote peace, Kwara urges youths

Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

The Kwara State Government has urged youths and civil servants to embrace reading, saying a well-informed population would be better equipped to make sound decisions and contribute to a peaceful society.

The Acting Head of Service, Kwara State, Olufunke Shittu, made the call on Wednesday at the 2026 Readers’ Day Celebration in Ilorin, where participants examined the role of reading in promoting peace and addressing insecurity.

The event was organised around the theme “Open a Book, Close the Door Against Insecurity: Reading for Peace and a Safer Nigeria.”

Shittu said the importance of reading extended beyond academic success, stressing that regular engagement with books and other credible materials could strengthen critical thinking and improve people’s ability to communicate and make informed choices.

“Reading should not be regarded merely as an academic activity or something reserved for examinations, but should become an integral part of everyday life and continuous personal and professional development,” she said.

Shittu particularly charged civil servants to make continuous learning part of their professional lives, noting that changes in government policies, technology, procedures and methods of service delivery required workers to constantly update their knowledge.

She encouraged public servants to use books, journals, policy documents and other credible resources, whether in physical libraries or through electronic platforms, while verifying the reliability of information before relying on it.

The acting Head of Service also urged workers to continually improve their skills in line with changing demands and global best practices.

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She commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for what she described as his support for human capital development and capacity building among civil servants in the state.

According to her, “such support has helped improve the competence and morale of the workforce, while creating opportunities for continuous professional development.”

Earlier, the Director of the Kwara State Library, Thomas Phillips, said the celebration was intended to draw attention to the value of books and the role libraries could play in developing an enlightened population.

Phillips linked reading with peaceful coexistence, arguing that exposure to knowledge could encourage tolerance, understanding and critical thinking.

He said, “When a child opens a book, he closes his mind to crime. When a youth embraces the library, he embraces peace.”

The library director said reading could also equip individuals with the capacity to resolve disagreements peacefully rather than resorting to violence.

Phillips commended the state government for its support for the library board, particularly in infrastructure, digital literacy and policies aimed at making library services more responsive to the needs of residents.

He also acknowledged Shittu’s support for the library system, including efforts to build the capacity of librarians and strengthen the place of libraries within the state public service.