As the nation continues to grapple with the declining reading habit among our youths, experts are of the opinion that if nothing is done fast, the future of the country is in danger.
It has been observed that the youths are no longer reading as most of them have been brought up to see reading as necessary only for the purpose of passing examinations, It is against this backdrop that a programme tagged, “The Next Scholar TV Show” which is a TV reality show created and designed to tackle this issue.
Chinedu Ogboruche, project coordinator of the Next Scholar TV Show while speaking at a press conference in Lagos recently said that the programme became necessary when one realised that in Nigeria and Africa reading seems to be designated a boring activity relegated to the four walls of traditional educational institutions.
Ogboruche noted that this show is designed to creatively incorporate a habit of reading into the everyday lives of the participants adding that the winner of the show will go home with $30,000 (thirty thousand US dollars) and a brand new scholarly car plus scholarship to study overseas in one of our participating universities;
The second position gets $20,000 (twenty thousand US dollars) and scholarship to study overseas in one of our participating universities, while the third position will get $10,000 (ten thousand US dollars) and an all expense paid family holiday weekend to one of Africa’s best resorts.
He revealed that the show will involve participants living together in a house and displaying scholarly skills to avoid being evicted and get to the next level of their life ambitions.
According to him, “this show is fully packed with fun and lively activities for all participants who will be selected into the house and kept to live together for a period wherein they will be tested on their ability to read while having an active lifestyle in the house.”
In explaining further on the modality of the show, the project coordinator disclosed that The Next Scholar is surveillance cum competition style reality TV show with 20 Episodes and it follows a group of 45 readers living in a controlled environment in competition for the first prize as they demonstrate their literacy skills and strength of character.
In his words, “The contestants are tested from the books and journals read in the Academic house and are expelled one after another based on character votes from the public.”
The next scholar television show according to Ogboruche is primarily targeted at graduates and final year students in higher institutions adding that other participants with experience with current qualifications can enter if they think they posses what it takes to be in the show.
“The aim of the show is to revive the reading culture in Nigeria and beyond by making reading fun through a series of recorded reality shows packed with activities that can challenge the participants in the house.”
The show will also stimulate home viewers to realise and embrace the evident gains in reading widely and help the people to develop reading habits with an overall aim of building individuals who are not just knowledgeable in their core profession and discipline but also versatile in other fields of human endeavour, thereby developing all-round and highly resourceful individuals in the society,” he said.
Stories by
KELECHI EWUZIE
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