Prof. Audee Giwa of the Kaduna State University (KASU) on Tuesday said, nothing can take the place of books in spite of the advancement in digital technology.
Giwa, a Professor of Comparative Literature and Dean, Faculty of Arts, KASU, was reacting to concerns that the internet was taking the place of books.
He said in Kaduna that although the internet provided access to many reading materials and other e-books at the same time, it could not take the place of books in human culture.
The don noted that technology had changed the way people access books and other reading materials, adding that people now access hundreds of resources on almost any subject, with just a click of a button.
He, however, said that books were indispensable part of human development, adding that most of the e-books were converted from physical books and uploaded on the internet.
According to him, reading physical books makes people more focused, devoid of the distractions that go with reading materials on the internet, with so many advertisements and links causing huge distractions.
”Physical books also ensure deep reading that is focused, critical and analytical because of the interaction between the reader and the pages of books,” he said.
He acknowledged that people in the digital driven world were no longer reading books, compared to the older generation.
Giwa blamed the development on the socio-economic challenges affecting people and preventing them from concentrating on mental growth and development.
”We have immediate problems like hunger, insecurity, shelter, and man-made poverty that are preventing people from paying attention to mental growth.
”Our mental growth and development are largely dependent on our reading culture.
”We cannot grow without reading, therefore, whether physical books or e-books, people should strive to make reading a habit, because if we stop reading, we stop developing,” he said.
Giwa said reading improves people’s conversational skills, vocabulary and knowledge of correct usage of new words, and help them to clearly articulate their ideas.
”The knowledge you gain from reading gives you vast ideas about a range of issues and deep understanding of humanity in general,” he said.
NAN
