By Femi Alufa

Today is #WorldBookDay!

A book in your hands is knowledge in your mind! As the late Sage,Chief Obafemi Awolowo (1909-1987) once said: “Any person that is starved with books, especially the right type of books will suffer intellectual malnutrition, stagnation and atrophy.”

World Book Day is held each year on April 23 to promote the joy of reading. This year, the Ekiti Book Club spotlight a compelling Book reading on the memoir of Babafemi Ojudu: Adventures of a Guerilla Journalist.

It is a book that chronicles the perilous journey of an investigative journalist during one of the darkest period of military dictatorship in Nigeria.”It is an inspiring memoir and powerful narrative of bravery in the face of adversity and the unyielding pursuit of justice in a world where the truth is often the most dangerous story of all.”

Author Babafemi Ojudu’s bestselling title has been described as “…un-put down able.This should be published abroad and a worthy candidate for a Pulitzer Prize”. I am thrilled that the Babafemi Ojudu’s story of resilience,fearless journalism and social work is reaching is reaching to a broader audience.

This is the power of a written word.This is the power of a Book.I thank the author for giving me a complimentary copy of the book in early January 2025.It is one of my treasure of the year as a bookworm.

I was an avid reader before my teenage years.I grew up in a family of Bibliophiles.It is very interesting to say that I grew up in the midst of books.I started reading Alawiye (Yoruba Primary School Books by J.F.Odunjo) even before I was enrolled in a public primary school in Ijero-Ekiti,my native town.

I was surrounded by Uncles and Aunties who prepared me for reading as a precocious boy and book lover.Looking back, I would say thanks to my early mentors who inculcated in me the habit of reading good books till today.I want to give plain advice to young readers to love reading books so that we can reduce the frontier of ignorance and promote reading heritage.We must bring back the Book and reading culture!

Here are twenty six points of advice that will help you to keep growing and improving as a young reader.I have gained quite a lot of insight into various aspects of life through my varied experience. As such, I would like to list a few of the virtues that you need to inculcate as a reader and one that is trekking in knowledge. Take them with a pinch of salt if you wish. I am also learning too:

1.A pearl of wisdom is better than silver and gold.You must read any literary composition of fact and fiction.Books should be your best friend because inside it is a hidden treasures of knowledge and understanding.If you want to become a Leader,you must be a reader.

2.Books should always fascinate you; Be it pamphlets, monographs,memoirs, allegory, biography or even lines of poetry.They are source of knowledge.Knowledge is power.You don’t need to be a compiler of an encyclopedia or search information on all branches of knowledge before you are enthralled, fascinated or magnetized by a book or before you become a good reader.

3.Charming and captivating title of a book does not only catches eye but speak volume to every cerebral minds and avid readers.Read a book. Make it your goal to read something every day, and try and read at least one new book a month. If you can never seem to read an entire book, try an app such as Blinkist that gives you a summary of the key points of a book, so you don’t have to read the whole thing.

4.Dare to read one page of a book everyday; make it a habit or daily routine and it will enrich your mind, mental health and as a food for your thoughts.Don’t rely on past knowledge.Don’t be afraid of failure too. It is part of your life.Dare to learn from Your failure, it will help you to grow.

5.Expand your horizon and make every knowledge your frontier.You need not be a doctorate or masters or even bachelor degree holder in everything. At least try knowing the basics. At least stay aware of what’s all going on in this world.Read books to add to your learning, vocabulary or philosophy of life.

6.Find a Book to read not only for the purpose of examination and even fun ; Read to gain knowledge, wisdom and to gain understanding of life itself because when you are reading any good books,you commune with the great minds; living or dead and already gaining perspective from their finest ideas,talents and in-depth knowledge from varied experience, education and exposure of life from another point of view.

7.Grow in knowledge everyday and never be complacent on what you read yesterday or today because learning is a continuum and you must never stop reading everyday.Be grateful to all the people that have graced your life, helped you, aided your growth and learning.

8.Happy are you when you read a book with a gladsome mind.You are not only awaken love for knowledge, wisdom and understanding but you are utilizing your subconscious mind to it’s fullest potential and bringing down the wall of ignorance because “the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it”.

9.I read and buy good books that will always give me a new perspective to my career or intellectual life or add value to my growing library.This has always given me internal joy and cognitive orientation to reality.You must inculcate the habit of buying books and grow your library despite the growing of E-books and E-zines.

10.Just be genuine and authentic about what you read everyday not just for reading sake.As a reader you must add value to others.Great readers are Leaders,they give blessings to those lead.Great leaders seem to understand what steps to take into a bright future.

11.Keep learning.You must hang around people who inspire you, people who have skills that you can learn from.You must always learn from role models,mentors and inspirers.Keep learning to stand on the shoulder of the Giants!

12.Learn to skim and scan every readable books.Learning will always find it’s way if you apply your heart to understanding.

13.Master your mood.We all are driven by thoughts. Life is full of dreams, fulfilled and unfulfilled. Thoughts are what makes our lives. Good thoughts make it vibrant and bad ones make it harder. So making peace with ourselves and our thoughts is the way to go about.Write down your good thought and set goals for your life. Making a difference and helping others will also give your life purpose and meaning.

14.Never be a nitwit in the cyberspace and in the school of life.Build your network/connections on social media like; Facebook,Linkedin, Instagram.Post content based on your learning, knowledge and skills. Your Network is your Networth.

15.Open- mindedness is the key to unlock the door of truth.The knowledge of truth gives freedom.You must be reasoning in freedom.

16.Prioritize what you read and continue to persist to which should come first among the volume of books on your bookshelf.Good readers must have a scale of preference too!

17.Quacks are everywhere; people who pretend to have knowledge and skill that they do not have and they give you half-baked knowledge and that’s why you must never be a dunce in the school of life if you don’t want to be an intellectual derelict.

18.Rome was not built in a day.Recognize and tackle your addictions. Whether it is gaming, social media, alcohol, porn or drugs, your addictions have the potential to rob you of your future. Don’t let your addictions determine who you are, how you spend your time and who you become.

19.Stay fit and active. Work out every day. If you’re not the working out type, choose a sport or activity and stick with it. It could be mountain biking, playing squash or tennis, swimming, rock climbing, whatever. Not only will it keep you in shape, which will improve your self-confidence and relationships, but staying fit has mental health benefits and physical health benefits.

20.The tide is turning for our internet age; people’s attitudes,tastes and beliefs are turning to social media and cyberspace more than ever before; Visit websites,blogs and platforms that will inspire you and add value to your personality,hang around positive people online, avoid negative people who depress you.Emotions come and go.There will be many junk and spam email inside your inbox but read good stuff and move toward your inner peace.

21.Under the influence of alcohol,a man will have Dutch courage but you must purse wisdom.Make it your aim to start learning a new, useful skill every year. It could be a foreign language, a musical instrument, video editing, a technical skill or a new software programme.

22.Variety is the spice of life.You should pass a vote of confidence on a genre of literary composition that you admire.Be it prose, poetry or dramatic work.Never be a shrinking violet reader .Read voraciously! Try and keep up to date with news and current affairs. Grow your general knowledge. Study an Atlas and get to know the world around you.

23.Without much ado!The world’s your oyster if you make wisdom your tower of strength.Even when trials and tribulations come,you will have a word of wisdom to lean on as your bulwark.

24.X-ray and examine your reading life every day.As you are growing old,do not have unequal yoke with Xanthippe (Xanthippe – the wife of Socrates; a scolding woman).

25.You are only young once. You must never throw in the towel of learning everyday.It has been said by wisest man of all ages that :”The wise shall inherit glory.But shame shall be the legacy of fools.” It is more blessed to follow good advice than to give it.

26.Zoo is a place where living wild animals are kept for public showing. I have learned this donkey’s years ago in my elementary school.As a young reader,if you want to become a great leader indeed;You must take a Leadership lessons from the animals, especially the Ant as the Book of Proverbs 6:6 admonished.

Readers are Leaders. Do you want to make a difference?Then pay attention to the metaphor of the ant.If we consider and learn from the zoology of the ants,we can grow wise! You are never too old to learn.Knowledge is a tool of freedom;not gold,not silver and not even money.Money gives apparent power but knowledge gives true power.

If you honour God with all your power and possession,yours is the earth and all it’s fullness,my dear reader.

Once again, Happy World Book Day!

• Femi Alufa is the publisher /CEO of Ekiti Summit News Media Group.

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