To ensure that reading culture is preserved among students in Nigeria and elsewhere in Africa, the United Bank for Africa through its charity is going round schools to inspire students, the latest being the students of Police Secondary Schools across the country.

The image of the morning had formed in their minds. So they waited for the conversations to begin. The blue sky, the white cloud, the smiles and the marvelous look they had, all combined to favour them. It was a brighter day that came with reassurances that it is not all about gloom. With their pleasant, friendly and attractive features, all eyes were on them. A breeze of travelling fresh air was present with them too, in the open ground where they sat in awe and listened with rapt attention. Clearly, there was an extraordinary alertness and intelligence in them; a sharpness that matched the occasion.

Students drawn from police staff schools across the country gathered at the Directorate of Police Education within the precinct of the force headquarters in Abuja recently to be inspired to greatness. It was at the instance of the charity arm of the United Bank for Africa (UBA), the UBA Foundation. And like the wind blowing sweet fragrance into the noses, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of UBA, Philips Oduoza did the magic that captured the minds of the students. With a copy of the book to be read in his hand, he twisted his head towards them as his lips began to move. His presence at the special reading session for the students inspired hope. It also spurred them on towards their dreams. They surely hankered after greatness the moment the reading session ended. For this, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar and other senior officers in the police hierarchy who were also present during the reading session commended UBA for its commitment to giving back to the society and making meaningful contributions to various communities where it operates.

The 'Read Africa project' with which the UBA is reaching out to the young people in secondary schools to mentor them towards achieving greatness by encouraging them to read involved the donation of books to schools across the country. The IG noted that poor reading culture has serious implications and urged the students to take the UBA Foundation initiative seriously. According to Abubakar, reading culture is fast disappearing from Nigeria not only among the students, but across all cadres of the society. He observed that "it has a grave implication for the development aspirations of our nation. Not only should children read to pass an exam and widen their knowledge scope, reading refreshes the brain and invigorates the minds of the people; it is the bedrock of effective thinking."

He urged children, teachers, police officers and the public to go back to the culture of reading, which has been abandoned for games and other technological provisions. And Oduoza, while emphasizing the importance attached to education by the Bank, noted that the continent's development is tied to the quality of its human resources. According to him, UBA has committed huge resources to 'Read Africa' project among other initiatives of the UBA Foundation noting, "We strongly believe that the future of the continent lies in reading for knowledge. Our capacity to develop a quality human capacity is directly linked to our youths reading extensively." On the reason for the special reading session for the students of Police Staff Schools, the Managing Director, UBA Foundation, Ijeoma Aso said the Nigerian Police has been a major stakeholder in the development of youths in the country with considerable number of schools under its management. According to her, since the launch of 2012 Read Africa Project, over 50,000 units of the classic 'Weep not Child' have been distributed on the continent.

Oduoza and Aso joined Abubakar to hold the reading sessions for the students. And for its efforts, the UBA Foundation continued to receive accolades from eminent personalities on the continent. For instance, Nigeria's Minister of Education Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa'i, and world renowned writer and activist, the Kenya-born Professor Ngugi wa' Thiong'o had showered praise on the organisation for its drive to salvage the reading culture from dying.

Prof. Rufa'i lauded the foundation for its efforts in the development of African child. The Minister represented by Mrs. Ibikunle Oyewale spoke during one of the past editions of the 'Read Africa' initiative describing it as a complement to 'Bring Back the Book' project of President Goodluck Jonathan. She said: "At schools, good reading skills lead students to become successful learners. Often, students learn from written materials, such as textbooks, handouts, posters and online publications. The skill to comprehend written language is very important in academic life."

The minister directed that local libraries be established in all wards and local governments in the country, noting that the benefits of such initiatives and investments, including that of UBA could be reaped by the year 2020. Similarly, Professor wa Thiong'o, a lecturer in Comparative Literature and English Language at the University of California, United States, whose book, 'Weep not Child' is being distributed to secondary school students in Nigeria and other parts of Africa by the Foundation commended UBA for entrenching its roots in Africa.

"Africa must secure its economic, political, psychological and cultural base. We must be strongly rooted in our base," he said, adding that reading remains a key part of Africa's integral wholeness. According to him, "Everything one owns could be lost except knowledge, however, reading feeds and nourishes our imagination. The more we read, we nourish our imagination, the less we do that, we shrink our imagination." While advising the students present at the forum on developing a reading habit, he said, "You are a person, first before a student, so you must develop yourself."

In his remarks, Oduoza commended Prof. wa Thiong'o for honouring UBA's invitation noting that the renowned writer has the potential to win the Nobel prize for literature in the future. Aso, said 'Read Africa' initiative will not only be replicated all across Africa where UBA has presence, but will also be done every year to keep emphasizing the importance of reading.

The Deputy Managing Director for the bank, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka who was elated by responses from the students, declared that there is hope for the future of Africa. He also stressed that Professor wa Thiong'o has taken the 'Read Africa 'to another level of sensitisation. In its series, the Read Africa project has covered a range of school. The second edition of 'Read Africa' witnessed attendance of senior government officials, executive management staff of UBA and literary giants in Nigeria, and visit to Baptist Academy Obanikoro, Lagos, where Prof. wa Thiong's had reading and mentoring sessions with the students of the school.

Worried about the declining reading habits among young Nigerians, especially the secondary schools' students, Last year, the UBA Foundation brought wa Thiong'o to Nigeria to ignite passion and further sensitise the public on the importance of reading.

The 'Read Africa' programme was launched in February 2011 with the cardinal objective of helping to rekindle the reading culture amongst African youths. So UBA Foundation has been going round to secondary schools across Nigeria and other parts of Africa with top executives of UBA to distribute literature books, mentor and hold reading sessions with students. The Foundation through several initiatives in its focus areas; Education, Environment, Economic Empowerment and Special Projects is indeed impacting positively on the society and people of Nigeria and Africa.