Lagos, Nigeria — The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening reading culture and promoting responsible digital learning among students through the LagosReads initiative and its annual inter-school quiz competition.
Speaking at the eighth edition of the LagosReads Inter-School Quiz Competition held in Ikeja on Thursday, the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Mr. Tolani Sule—represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Adeniran Kasali—said the state’s investment in restricted digital learning platforms was aimed at enhancing academic performance while protecting students from online distractions and inappropriate content.
Sule noted that the competition encourages students to read extensively and develop broad-based knowledge across disciplines. He emphasised that participants often prepare rigorously without knowing the scope of questions, thereby fostering intellectual versatility and academic discipline.
He added that the government’s technology-driven approach to education ensures that digital tools are used productively to improve reading habits, academic excellence, and leadership skills among students. He also urged teachers and parents to guide students toward responsible use of digital platforms.
In the competition, Eva Adelaja Girls Senior School, Bariga, emerged winner with 14 points, while Agidingbi Senior Grammar School, Ikeja, secured second place with 12 points. Government Senior College, Agege, finished third.
Earlier, the Acting Director of the Lagos State Library Board, Mrs. Sofuye Oyenike, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to promoting literacy through the LagosReads advocacy programme, which was launched in 2018. She described reading as a critical tool for communication, confidence building, and academic success.
Oyenike said the annual competition provides a platform for students from across the state’s six education districts to demonstrate their intellectual abilities and preparedness, while also encouraging continuous learning.
“Every child deserves access to books, knowledge, and ideas that broaden perspectives and prepare them for lifelong success,” she said, urging students to minimise social media distractions and focus on meaningful academic engagement.
She also commended teachers for their role in nurturing students and sustaining a culture of learning, noting that the competition was designed to make reading engaging, competitive, and rewarding.
In her remarks, the Chairperson of the Nigerian Library Association, Mrs. Aisha Askira, described the initiative as a vital investment in the intellectual development of young people and encouraged students to view such competitions as opportunities for growth.
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Author Foluke Falayi, in her goodwill message, urged students to embrace reading as a lifelong habit, stressing that it remains essential regardless of career choice.
Highlighting further support for literacy development, Dr. Josephine Ogufere, author of African Writers Tribe, pledged to distribute two million copies of her book, Renewed Hope and Lagos Revamp Story, to students across the state, noting that reading remains a gateway to knowledge and opportunity.
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