NIGERIAN YOUTHS AND THE READING CULTURE IN THE AGE OF THE INTERNET

           Credit: Getty Images

I grew up reading lengthy articles, newspapers, magazines, novels, etc., even when none of these was readily available at home, or in the library.

I borrowed novels, walked some kilometers to newspaper stands to be a free reader, and read just anything for the fun of it and the knowledge.

You should understand why I'll be so amazed to see how the reading culture has been dealt a big blow among the youths.

Youths now find it difficult to open a story to read in online media. You see them making comments based on the headlines with so much gusto, even when the body of the story says otherwise.

I continue to wonder, is it not the same class of youths that want to dislodge the "old brigades" from the government that cannot read a full page article?

Just post an article as lengthy as about two pages, and you'll see youths in the comment section writing "summary please" 

Aaahh! Summary, in a two-page article?

And the same youths are the ones shouting they aren't too young to rule!

Is this how they're going to rule when they can't even read a page report without asking for its summary?

What happens when they eventually become "not too young to rule" Chairman, Governor or President, and then need to read several pages of reports from ministries, departments and agencies, whether for immediate or delayed actions?

Won't they run their governments aground if the only question they know how to ask is "summary please"?

I understand that our attention span on the internet is so short nowadays. However, for youths who spare nothing at deriding the older generation for incompetence and backwardness, the minimum should be to act better than they do.

Ironically, these "backward" members of the older generation are still avid readers while the "forward" generation see reading as a complete waste of time.

God help a country that has such youths as her future. God help such countries should they take the mantle of leadership!