Books are for reading thereby increasing our knowledge. And only God can limit how far we can go in this world. Knowledge Is Power
BIG THINKERS READING CLUB
Introduction
Throughout Nigeria and the world at large, reading among young women and girls are declining rapidly with students in the secondary level being grade/position conscious and those in the university level being GP (Grade Point) conscious. They don’t read unless there is an exam in-sight. Forgetting that every day of our lives is an exam, we either pass or fail
the test of life. Everyday is an opportunity to grow beyond our present status, everyday is a chance to become a better person. But funny enough, we don’t realize it. Big Thinkers Reading Club is proposed to review the reading culture in youth’s especially young women and girls, thereby encouraging youths to read, not only reading for the sake of passing an exam or interview, but reading for in-depth knowledge. For the motto of Big Thinkers Reading Club is ‘Knowledge is Power’. Statement of Problem
The reading culture of youth’s especially young women and girls has drastically reduced to a very minimal level. We can find only but a few young women and girls who have achieved a meaningful life. Very few out of the millions of young women and girls in our society and statistics have it that there are more females than males in Nigeria. According to my statistics, we have more young women and girls that goes to school because: - 1) their friends are going to school, 2) because it’s the common trends among youths, 3) because their parents/guardians asked them to go to school. So also these trends also apply to young women in the business field and skill acquisition centres. They feel so reluctant in putting more effort or simply putting in their best so as to come out different and unique, thereby going to school or acquiring skill for no particular purpose. Take for instances, in my school Enugu State University of Science and Technology (Esut), there you will find at least 70% of young women going to school with the tag of getting a ‘husband’ and others are GP conscious. Forgetting that those first class certificates need to be defended. The above problems lead to the half-baked graduates Nigeria Universities produce each and every year. Yes ones first class certificate or influence from family, friends or relations can get you into any multinational company of your choice, but it’s what is inside of you, that is, the knowledge you have acquired that can definitely sustain you in such companies. Aim and Objective
The main aim of this reading club is to address the reading culture in our youth’s especially young women and girls, not just read to pass, but read to acquire every possible knowledge one can. This aim will be achieved under the following objectives:
To reduce the rate of GP, Grade and position consciousness among student in both the secondary and university level. To encourage youth’s especially young women and girls to read not just to pass but in-depth, thereby acquiring the knowledge which will last a life time and not just end on the examination day. To produce a generation of young women and girls with very high level of knowledge and intellectual insight both morally, educational and other wise about the world surrounding them. Plan of Action
This section present my plan for obtaining the objective discussed in the previous section. There has been a drastic decline in the number of young women and girls who pass exams such as WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, GCE, JAMB etc. or you can hardly see girls participating in any of the educational competition or scholarships organized by both the Federal/ private firms across Nigeria. The first goal to achieve my objective is to establish a reading club where student can read about any subject of their choices and share with other students/participant. For it is said where two or more brains come together, there is an outburst of knowledge. We will from time to time read other inspirational book from world renounced writers such as Ben Carson, Larry Kings, Mark Twain etc. just to mention a few, where we can tap a little inspirations from these great men. A second goal is to encourage and also help student participate in educational competition/scholarship/quiz thereby preparing them and providing every necessary need required. To also organize competitions such as spelling bees, creative/essay writings or join any existing one. Because youth’s especially young women and girls are my primary/target audience. Which gathering them will be very difficult because young women and girls feel very reluctant to participate in anything relating to education and things that involves brain work. Therefore I will as time goes on introduce side attractions such as field trips, outing etc. just to spices up the club, for I believe reading is ought to be fun and not a do or die affair. Schedule and Budget
Big thinkers reading club will be meeting in a very neutral and conducive environment once a week giving each student/participant an environment to relax, feel free to express his/her self in a more friendly way, for learning is a continues process and we all are still learning. Budgeting……… actually being a new club, we need sponsors to provide us with materials such as books (text books, educational journals, motivative and inspirational books), permanent site for the club and scholarships for those very talented student who can’t afford any form of education. I believe in the saying that says ‘start small and grow big’. For i believe if we start small and the required result is been seen by both individuals, private and government sectors, the required funding will be taking care of.
