By Elizabeth Uwandu

The Africa child has been urged to avail himself with both the physical and digital libraries for his growth and development as future leader. As the relevance libraries play in leadership can not be over emphasised.

Mrs Funmi Ilori , a representative of Mandela Washington Fellowship for young African Leaders  described the importance of libraries to future leaders, at the presentation of awards to winners of the Green Debate for secondary schools.

The debate themed,”The Future of Libraires in Africa”,  was  organised by  Children and the Environment, CATE, as one of events at the just concluded African Futures Festival  held in Lagos.

Mrs Ilori who came with a mobile library van told the children to spend time in libraries reading books, especially novels that afford them varieties of knowledge about their immediate environment and the world at large.

“Libraries set the space for knowledge acquisition, broaden of one’s  horizon and help a person excel as a leader; because a good leader is always a good reader,”added. the educationist.

She however, cautioned  the students on discipline when reading especially during examination.. “Discipline is very important, pay attention to your school books and leisure books. But in examinations, read your books and not novels.”

The event also had a panel discussion anchored by Adesola Aduke, the director of CATE,where the students’ questions on libraries, differences between physical and digital books, and ways to enhance reading were answered.