ASUU strike forces children’s book summit out of BUK

The warning strike embarked on by Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU) has forced the conference of children’s book reading and teaching out of Bayero University, Kano (BUK) campus.

The second National Conference on Children’s Books and The Teaching of Early Grade Reading in Nigeria earlier scheduled to hold at Dangote Business School, BUK, has been shifted to Maraha Event Centre.

The event organised by Nigeria Centre for Reading Research and Development (NCRRD), BUK, in collaboration with Northern Education Initiative Plus, is sponsored by United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Speaking at the opening of the two-day event, director of NCRRD, Prof. Ismaila Tsiga, said the occasion was initiated to promote teaching of reading in Nigeria, especially at the tender age and address the decline in reading culture, which was complicated by uncontrolled access to modern communication tools.

The NCRRD, however, regretted the inability of key presenters from Florida State University, United States of America, who were forced to cancel their trips to Nigeria due to COVID-19.

Deputy Education Office Director, USAID, U.S. Embassy, Abuja, Elice Elegbe, said the agency was committed to supporting NCRRD in building reading culture, through training of teachers and provision of three million books for early grade reading.

Elegbe urged the centre to develop curriculum rooted in local languages to better equip children and shape their future.

Participants at the event include authors, publishers, academia and other reading communities.