Some library users, on Friday said that, the act of giving reading encourages quality leadership, while non reading disposes one to be uninformed and unable to lead.
The book readers, known as Friends of Herbert Macaulay Libraries Initiative Sabo Yaba Lagos, made the assertion at its 2023 Annual get-together held at the library, reports the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Herbert Macaulay Library Sabo Yaba, established in the early 1960s, had not less than 16, 000 books and no fewer than eight thousand users.
The facility, a pioneering public library in Nigeria, facilitated with a grant from UNSECO, was one of the best managed in the country.
The event, used to celebrate the retirement of one of its Chief Liberian Mr Taiwo Bogunjoko, charted ways for quality leadership in the country.
The event, attracted young readers, that were counselled on Leadership.
The team of the event was “Readers are Leaders”
Speaking at the event, the Keynote Speaker, Ms Helina Gbadegesin, said that, the act of reading exposed one to solutions of contemporary issues hidden in the books.
Gbadegesin, frowned at leaders without depth knowledge of their environment and people’s aspiration, urged leaders and would be leaders to embrace book reading to widen their understanding.
The speaker, who countered that the saying “experience is the best teacher”.
“One can gain ideas of how to solve problems in a society by reading up how such problem was tackled by characters and societies that has gone through such recorded in books.
“The reward for read is a life long investment that positions one to take up Leadership at every stage in life.
“Reading drives leadership because it makes one informed, confident zealous to take the lead in various sphere of life that is interested in,” she said.
She called on people to always read and patronise libraries to make them informed and better persons.
Another library user, Mr Kehinde Oladipo, described the library as the bedrock of development, said that parents should be the first reader role models of their children, by reading for the children to emulate.
Also in his remark at the event, Bogunjoko, that served 14 years as the Chief Liberian and retired in 2019, said that, many prominent members of the society made use of the facility from the youth days to stardom.
The elated former Deputy Director, Lagos State Library Board, appreciated working with staffs of the facility, thanked the state for the opportunity to serve, asked younger Nigerians to embibe the reading culture to surmount challenges.(NAN)
