Delta State Hosts Inaugural World Book Day Festival

The inaugural World Book Day Festival, themed "Bend and Transcend," was organized by LightRay Media in collaboration with the Delta State Government to address the declining reading culture among Nigerian youth and the inadequate public library services in the state. The festival took place in Delta State and brought together various stakeholders, including educators, civil servants, writers, and students.

Ladi Ejiro Umukoro, the founder of LightRay Media and a recipient of multiple awards, emphasized the urgent need for investment in library infrastructure, noting that Delta State has only 27 public libraries for a population of several million, which is grossly insufficient. The event featured performances from students and highlighted the launch of Umukoro's novel "Distort," which reflects contemporary socio-cultural life.

Umukoro called for the establishment of at least two equipped libraries in each of the 25 local government areas and urged policymakers to reconsider educational policies that discourage the use of indigenous languages in instruction.