The Landmark Centre for Learning and Resources (CLR), in its alignment with global trend which advocates for literacy as a human right for all, embarked on a community development programme to mark the 2019 World Read Aloud Day in St. Paul’s Primary School, Omu-Aran and Ipetu Community Primary Schools, Ipetu, both in the Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State. 

Led by the Director, Centre for Learning Resources (DCLR), Dr Jerome Idiegbeyan-ose, the CLR team, accompanied by representatives of Landmark Students Council visited the two public primary schools to donate books to pupils and read aloud with them to promote literacy and reading culture. Speaking on the landmark event, Dr Idiegbeyan-ose promised unwavering support to the schools on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor of Landmark, Professor Adeniyi Olayanju, that the University and the Centre for Learning Resources will give priority to the schools on educative programmes channelled towards the development of the pupils. He, however, noted that he attended a public primary school and understood the challenges associated with being a pupil in such schools. The Director further assured them that he has taken the schools as ‘pet projects’ of the Centre for Learning Resources. “The Chancellor of Landmark, Dr David Oyedepo usually encourages us to initiate projects and other humanitarian services on his behalf,” he added. He, therefore, appreciated the Management of Landmark ably led by the Vice-Chancellor for facilitating and ensuring the success of the programme.

According to the head teachers of the schools, the outreach was an eye-opener to the benefits inherent in the relationship between town and gown which they opined should be frequent with a view to bringing desired development to the communities around the University. While expressing their appreciation to the management of the University for such an exciting experience, they pointed out that they felt very important and that their orientation has been affected, knowing that they are not abandoned to the task of raising pupils, especially in a local community where the challenges of developing pupils are enormous. They noted that the event would have a positive and long-lasting effect on the psyche of the pupils vis a vis their determination to have a glorious future. They implored the Director to convey their message to Management of Landmark on developmental projects that could serve as encouragements to the pupils and teachers. 

The pupils basked in the euphoria of having guests from the University community in their schools, thereby showing a positive attitude towards learning. It was, therefore, not difficult to have a majority of them read stories from books with excitement. The team took turns to read aloud stories in books to pupils and the pupils were also invited to read selected stories aloud to their colleagues. Interestingly, some of the pupils revealed that they were seeing hardcover books for the first time and they were excited to hold them. 

The team returned to the University with a resolution to ensure the exercise is not a ‘once-in-a-while’ event but a continuous exercise to promote literacy and reading culture in the immediate community.