Ekiti State Governor, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi, has urged students across the board to embrace the reading culture, while also giving credence to initiatives that will help develop them socially and morally.
He gave the charge at the launch of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti Students’ Union (FUOYESU) maiden book publication, entitled: “Making it, Making As.”
The governor, represented by his Special Assistant on Youth and Student Affairs, Mr. Ademiloye Moses, implored students not to limit themselves to academic circles, but to also embrace versatility in pursuance of a balanced academic life on and off campus.
While commending the efforts of the FUOYESU over what he described as an exceptional and timely feat, he urged the students’ union to make the book available to every student of the institution, especially the new intakes.
“This is a laudable and timely feat. I must commend the leadership of the FUOYESU for coming up with this rare initiative, which I believe will impact a lot of students positively.
“It’s unfortunate that the reading culture amongst students has drastically dwindled over the years. Students need to rekindle their passion for reading, as well as channeling their efforts towards initiatives that will better their lives.
“It’s a known fact that academic excellence alone can not help reach the peak of self-actualisation. As a student, to live a balanced and fulfilled life, you need to pay equal attention to every area of your life,” he said.
Also, the Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Jide Modede, emphasised on the need for students to discover their passion, saying “therein, the joy of your existence lies.”
He prayed the university management to support the new development in cash and kind, describing it as thoughtful and welcoming.
“This is a welcome development and a challenge to other tertiary institutions. It’s high time student leaders started cultivating the habit of channeling their efforts towards building a sustainable and well-oriented academic environment, where people learn and grow in dynamic ways”, Modede said.
Giving the overview of the book, one of the book writers and publication committee members, Adeogo Oluwaseyi from the Department of Theatre and Media Arts, said the initiative was borne out of concern and passion for Nigerian students, especially those at the tertiary institution of learning.
He said: “Making It, Making As is an all-inclusive all-encompassing guide for Tertiary Institution students that helps acquire requisite knowledge for a successful stay on campus.