Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, TEPNG, has tasked students in secondary schools to cultivate the habit of reading books, stressing that an idea read from book has the power to transform lives positively.
Executive Director of TEPNG, Port Harcourt District, Mr. Victor Bandele, gave the task at the 2019 Book Reading and Open Day organised by the company for secondary school students in Rivers State.
Declaring the event open, Bandele described the exercise as a very dear event to the company, which is aimed at building the capacity of children.
He disclosed that the program which distinguishes Total from other companies started since 2011, adding that the company will continue to hold book reading day having seen that it has impacted so much on the students.
He said: “As a company, we believe in the development of the children and we are proud to to be able to contribute to their development.
“Our aim is to emphasize on the benefits of reading and how to promote the average school child’s ability to read and also develop the habit of reading.
“Our aim is to emphasize on the benefits of reading and how to promote the average school child’s ability to read and also develop the habit of reading.
“Total has been holding this event since 2011 and we are special in this area as you will not find companies doing this. We will continue because we have found the effects over the years.”
The Port Harcourt District boss of Total further disclosed that the company will continue to inculcate reading habits in children, whom according to him are the future leaders of the nation.
He advised the students to cultivate the costly habit of reading books, stressing that an idea read from book has the power to transform lives positively.
“If you want to be a distinguished person, start by choosing what you read from now. An idea read in one text has the power to transform your life, therefore keep reading until you find the ideas that would affect your academic, physical and personal development positively.”
Also, the Representative of Rivers State Ministry of Education, Mrs. Asime Brown, charged the students to create reading time just like the way they have siesta and TV time.
“Do not wait to have a big library before you read. You can be where ever you want to be and whenever you want by reading.”
For his part, the Panel Chairman, Dr. Anthony Orlu, charged the students to prioritize their values and pin down on reading, adding that the best thing to do is to engage in reading.
Also, the Rivers State Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers, Mr Lucky Nkpogene, commended TEPNG for inculcating reading culture into the students, also tasked the company to train teachers since they are the ones who would compliment the efforts on the children.
Nkpogene said books are rich sources of information and enjoined the students to cultivate reading culture.
‘You are older and wiser than your age when you read because you you are interacting with the old. Reading gives you opportunity to know people whom you have not met physically and people who are older than you.
“You can’t be any body without reading. A reader is a leader,if you stop reading you become irrelevant in your field.”
