Kunle Adelabu
-IDRDG pledges further support for educational development, reading culture
It was a massive turnout of students, eminent personalities, members of the Network of Book Clubs and Reading Promoters in Nigeria (NBRP) and book enthusiasts that trooped out to participate as Ikorodu hosted the 3rd edition of the Lagos Book Walk.
The walk, which is an annual event of the NBRP in conjunction with Ikorodu Division Resource Development Group (IDRDG) through the Musediq Alogba E – Library & Research Centre, took place Thursday, March 6.
The walk which began at Ilepo Oba around the Sabo Market in Ikorodu saw the walkers in awareness movement to the Ikorodu Garage Roundabout, and inwards town through the Ayangbure Road. They paid homage at the Ayangbure palace before proceeding to the Ikorodu Town Hall, where the walkers toured the Ikorodu Division Hall of Fame, IDRDG ICT/CBT Centre and the Musediq Alogba E – Library & Research Centre, after which they settled at the main auditorium of the hall for the reading and other activities.
At the hall, there were speeches, reading of the play ‘Lion and the Jewel’ written by Wole Soyinka by students and dignitaries, poetry rendition, questions and answers in Yoruba and other presentations by the Ikorodu Diamond Lions Club among other activities that entertained young and adult guests.
Mr Richard Mammah, President, NBRP, speaking at the session that followed the walk commended the NBRP members and other affiliated bodies for successfully organizing three editions of Lagos Book Walk in commemoration of the World Book Day, despite enormous economic challenges.
He said that the vision behind the walk is to organise 57 Book Walks across the 57 Local Government and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) of Lagos State, before the group takes a break.
He announced Badagry as the host for the 2026 Book Walk.
“This is not a dash race for us, it is a marathon. We are interested in promoting reading culture across Lagos State and to do this, we have already drawn a 57 – year plan.
“These children of today are the leaders of tomorrow and if we don’t teach the team, there will be no tomorrow. So, it is important that we give them adequate resources to take care of them for tomorrow.
“We must prepare them as nation builders for tomorrow. We want to build a nation where peace and justice reign and where no man is oppressed as it is sung in our national anthem.
“If we want to build such a nation, we would need resources. We would need to read and we would need to be together. It is important that our children get the best and because we want to achieve this, I would task everybody here today to continue to give their best to the development of our children.”
The NBRP executive further charged, ”If you are an Ikorodu man and not a child, I charge you that you must support reading culture every year. The same thing is applicable to those in Ikeja, Kano and other places.”
Mr Mammah commended the IDRDG, and the partner associations of the NBRP for the successful outing.
Also addressing the gathering, Dr Mobolaji Olukoya, a Commissioner in the Lagos State Health Service Commission and Vice Chairman, Ikorodu Division Resource Development Group (IDRDG), commended the NBRP and emphasized the importance of reading.
“The focus is on the celebration of books and reading worldwide. It is marked in over 100 countries globally.
“On the occasion of the 3rd Lagos Book Walk, I congratulate the NBRP which is the association of the Network of Books Club and Reading Culture Promoters for using your good initiative to join others globally in celebrating the World Book Day with the Lagos Book Walk that took off in the year 2023 and which we are having the 3rd edition of this year.
“The Lagos Book Walk which has been graciously brought to and being celebrated at Ikorodu City in partnership with the foremost group and think tank in Ikorodu Division today, the Ikorodu Division Resource Development Group, IDRDG, through the Musediq Alogba E – Library and Research Centre.
“Our library is free and available for students and residents to come in anytime and avail themselves of the e-library facilities.
“I take off my hat to the large number of members of the NBRP and others that have earlier on participated in the 3rd Lagos Book Walk, promoting the importance of having a healthy reading culture,” he said.
Dr Olukoya assured the NBRP of future support of the IDRDG for its promotion of reading culture.
“You can always count on the support of the IDRDG in the future and always and I indeed hope we will get an invitation to the 4th Lagos Book Walk on March 5th, 2026 and we will witness this and more to come. Amen!”, he said.
Barr. Rotimi Ogunleye, Chairman, Musediq Alogba E – Library & Research Centre, also speaking emphasised the importance of book reading.
He said that the commemoration of the World Book Day is to further entrench the reading culture.
“Today is World Book Day globally and it is an occasion for us to celebrate the reading of books. It is when you read that you can become a medical doctor, lawyer and anything that you want to be.
“The celebration is to inculcate the reading culture in all of us and particularly, in those who are youths. Invariably, the elders that are teachers, doctors and lawyers among others are still reading. You need to read in order to enrich your intellect,” he advised.
The Chairman, Alogba library enjoined participants to make use of the library located within the town hall facility to improve themselves.
“That is why we also have a library in this edifice. Some people think that this facility is all about social activities and entertainment, but there is also a library which has now been upgraded to an e – facility.
“You can come Mondays to Saturdays to enjoy the facilities for free. The library is managed by the Musediq Alogba E – Library & Research Committee under the IDRDG which turned 42 years this year,” he added.
He encouraged young ones to continue to read and stop wasting their time on social media.
Barr.Ogunleye congratulated the NBRP and the IDRDG for the success of the 3rd Lagos Book Walk in Ikorodu.
In his goodwill message, Mrs Aisha Askira Baba, Chairperson, Nigerian Library Associations (NLA), Lagos Chapter, said that her association is fully in support of the world book commemoration because of the importance attached to reading.
“The Nigeria Library Association (NLA) is committed to promoting reading, literacy and library development in Nigeria.
“We recognize the importance of this exercise in fostering a culture of reading and learning among our people.
“A reading society is a knowledge-based society and by extension, a growing society.
“Developing a strong reading culture does not happen overnight, it takes quality time, dedication and consistency. To put it differently, early exposure of children to reading makes them see reading as a natural thing. To this, more effort is expected from Us, Librarians, knowledge custodians and Information professionals to ensure the ease and pleasure of reading in our communities.
“Together we will continue to ignite the passion for books and literacy in Lagos. We anticipate the progressive success of the Bookwalk activities and the ceaseless growth of literacy drives across Ikorodu community, Lagos state and Nigeria. Co-jointly, we can create a brighter, more knowledgeable future for our community,” she said.
Mr Oluwatosin Alayande, the representative of the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA), said that the committee was impressed by the level of organization of the Ikorodu Book Walk which emphasised the importance of reading.
He thanked all involved on behalf of the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA). He said the gathering was a testament to the power of books and the importance of fostering a strong reading culture in our communities.
“It is particularly special to be here in this very town hall, where CORA previously held one of our book treks —an initiative dedicated to making books accessible and encouraging lifelong learning. Ikorodu’s commitment to literacy continues to grow, and we are proud to be part of this journey.
“A heartfelt thank you to the organizers, partners, and participants who make events like this possible. Let’s keep walking, reading, and spreading the joy of books!”, he said.
Comrade Japheth Odesanya, a Chairmanship aspirant for Ikorodu LG and symbol of the Kolujo Movement, speaking with THE IMPACT commended the organisers for the laudable initiative which is geared towards furthering reading among the children.
He pledged that his administration would partner with the organisers in the future activities.
“The Kólùjó Army came out in solidarity with this laudable intellectually conceived initiative to demonstrate that our administration when we eventually assume the mantle of Ikorodu local government leadership, a very significant effort will be geared towards instilling and aggressively promoting the reading culture in the consciousness of our children and others alike.
“It’s incontrovertible that readers are leaders, and our darling ikorodu deserves a foremost place in the community of readers so as to mould our future aright.
“I want to commend the organisers with a promise that we shall make decent efforts to partner with them as a government on subsequent campaigns,” he said.
Among schools in attendance were Jadespring School, Mate to Mate Life College, Daylab Schools, Ajalogun Memorial College, Livingstone and Success Field College.
Some of the other guests in attendance were Prince Adesegun Ogunlewe, former Head of Service, Lagos State and an executive of the IDRDG, Mrs Funmi Alabi, Proprietor Daylab Schools, Mrs Oshodi Catherine, Ikorodu Diamond Lions Club, Otunba (Lion) Kajero C.O. Ikorodu Diamond Lions Club, Mr Bayode Olawunmi – Treasures, Guinness World Record Holder in Marathon Read Aloud and member, Musediq Alogba E – Library, Mr Seun Elesho, member, IDRDG and Mr Oke Godwin Olaoluwa (OGO), IDRDG member, Mr Tayo Odesanya, a social media commentator among others.
