Worried by the steady decline in reading habits among young learners, a Professor of Discourse Analysis and Linguistics, Bandele Adeboye Sogbesan, has called for a radical shift in the content and presentation of children’s literature in Nigeria.
Sogbesan, who made the call at the 32nd Inaugural Lecture of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, insisted that sparking interest in reading at an early age requires more engaging, imaginative and fun-based literary materials tailored to young minds.
Speaking on the topic, “The Pilot’s Dilemma in the Search for Utopia: Replicating Linguistic and Communicative Competencies in Institutions of Learning,” the professor decried the over-reliance on dull, prescriptive classroom texts, which he said have contributed to the erosion of reading culture among children.
“Writers and publishers must prioritise creativity. The use of colourful illustrations and compelling storytelling has the power to captivate young minds and stimulate their imagination,” he said at the TETFund Hall of the university’s main campus.
Sogbesan argued that exposing children to a broader range of reading materials beyond textbooks — including comics, storybooks, magazines, and newspapers — would not only improve literacy but also develop vocabulary and language fluency organically.
“Children who associate reading with relaxation and excitement are more likely to grow into lifelong readers,” he said, adding that books that transport them into fantasy worlds can help foster imagination, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence.
The call comes at a time when concerns over declining literacy rates and limited access to engaging educational content have become national issues, prompting renewed conversations around educational reform and literacy advocacy.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of TASUED, Prof. Oluwole Banjo, commended the lecture, describing it as timely, insightful, and delivered with exceptional clarity.
He praised Prof. Sogbesan for breaking down complex academic issues into relatable points that resonated with both scholars and laypersons in the audience.
Banjo also challenged educators to go beyond the surface of prescribed texts and explore the roots and cultural contexts of language, including the etymology of canonical expressions, to deepen students’ comprehension and love for reading.
The lecture attracted a high-profile audience including the Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu; TASUED’s pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Emeritus Olukayode Oyesiku; the Ebumawe of Ago-Iwoye, Oba Abdul-Razaq Adesina Adenugba; the Gbegande of Ososa, Oba Toye Alatishe; and the Bishop of Ijebu Anglican Diocese, Rt. Revd Dr. Peter Rotimi Oludipe.
Also present were Prof. (Mrs.) Bimbola Oludipe; Rev. Fr. Matiluko of the Catholic Mission; members of the university management; academic and non-academic staff; students; family members; friends; and well-wishers.
The event was hailed as a compelling intellectual gathering that reinforced the urgent need to reinvent how children engage with reading in a digital and distracted age.
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