Zinox Technologies Limited, manufacturers of Nigeria’s First Internationally Certified Branded Computers has concluded plans to launch Nigeria Reads, an initiative designed to revive a reading culture in Nigeria.
Nigeria Reads from Zinox Computers is inspired by the company’s exclusive affiliation to the World e-Books Library, which gives this nation direct access to over 750,000 e-books and documents embedded in every Zinox Computer and enabled by a Zinox e-Card, renewable annually at a subsidized rate of N5, 000.00 only.
Mrs. Loretta Agbakoba, head of the Zinox e-Books Project, explained that Nigeria Reads is built on the fear that Nigeria would hasten to a failed state if urgent steps are not taken to instill or restore a reading culture among Nigerians. She noted that the educational system in Nigeria has been consistently undermined by elaborate planning and inadequate funding; regular strikes and disruptions of the academic calendar; policy somersaults occasioned by the unpredictability of political successions; the exceedingly high cost of school fees outside the public schools system, which is generally seen as unstable.
Agabakoba said that the race for ill gotten wealth has become a major preoccupation that distracts today’s Nigerian from the somber culture of reading. Other distractions include television and video games, the internet, e-games and the colossal setback that is called power black out. She noted that the problems that hinder reading in Nigeria are many and are central to the under development of the nation. Therefore, any attempt to return Nigeria to the path of greatness envisioned by the nationalists must begin with this plea to turn Nigerians back to reading.
Looking beyond Nigeria, the e- Books boss said the world today is talking about the imminent rise of China, India, Russia and Brazil. These are nations that devoted huge resources to education and are today reaping the results of a literate, confident, and productive citizenry. A recent study revealed that the Chinese child spends three times as much time on his academics than the American child. It would be interesting to compare the Nigerian child to the Chinese in terms of reading.
Agbakoba declared that Nigeria Reads would partner with Governments, corporate persons, educational institutions, parents and other stake holders to equip the citizenry to access the vast reading resources, over 750,000 e-Books, embedded in the World e-Books Library. In addition the e-suite contains 1,280 interactive educational games, 4,000 Computer Science e-books, 5,000 Maths interactive activities, 12,000 Classic Literature e-Books in PDF, 23,000 Audio books in MP3 downloadable, plus simulation tools in the Sciences and Teacher Lesson Notes, Worksheets and Classroom Articles.
She urged Governments and education stake holders to take advantage of the Zinox initiative to ensure that every school, every teacher, and every child has access to these e-books. These e-books have solved two major problems associated with reading – availability and cost of books. Access to the e-books suite is gained by the purchase of a Zinox e-learning card, which is renewable yearly. The card costs less than 2 standard textbooks. This e-suite is the main tool that Nigeria Reads would use to restore a reading culture in Nigeria. Nigeria Reads would be launched in the six geo political zones of the country.
It would be recalled that Zinox Technologies Limited also initiated the Computerize Nigeria Project, which today is in the forefront of Nigetria’s computerization drive. Computerize Nigeria has equipped many schools, workers cooperatives, small/home offices, and homes.