Towards Enhancing Reading Culture in an Era of Social Media and Get-Rich-Quick Syndrome Distraction: the Nigerian Perspective

Abstract

The paper seeks ways to enhance the reading culture among Nigerian youths in an era of social media and get-rich-quick syndrome distraction. At this crucial point in the nation’s history, there is need to enhance reading culture among Nigerian youths as this would translate to preparing them to take up leadership positions in the country. No doubt, the advent of social media has made deep inroads into the reading culture of Nigerian youths as they spend the largest chunk of their time glued to their various devices. In the same vein, the desire to make it early in life encroaches badly on the reading culture of Nigerian youths. Apart from discussing the effect of social media and the quest for materialism on the reading culture of Nigerian youths, the paper also looks at other factors, such as: poverty, poor value system, funding issues, corruption, poor parental upbringing, lack of incentives to outstanding scholars, poor remuneration of teachers, lack of libraries/poorly equipped libraries. In view of these identified challenges, the paper offers recommendations on how to enhance reading culture to wit: social media regulation, change of value system, adequate funding of the education sector and related agencies, tackling corruption in higher institutions, rewarding and celebrating outstanding scholars, provision of scholarship programmes, establishment of libraries, etc. The paper concludes that widespread reading culture among the youths would make a nation soar to greater heights in terms of quality of leadership, socio-economic development, among others.