HoodProf Education and Empowerment Foundation, an NGO that is into literacy advocacy, has launched a campaign to install street art in low income communities to inspire children to take to reading.
During the recent unveiling of the street art and the commissioning of the Wole Soyinka Center by HoodProf in Idimu, Alimosho local government area of Lagos, the Founder, Biodun Akintemi told guests and journalists at the August event that the society must take a concerted effort in bringing back the reading culture amongst young children, especially those from low income families, living in underserved communities across the country.
The unveiling of the street art, which includes a large artistic rendition of professor Wole Soyinka’s portrait, and a montage of names of renowned writers across the world; coincided with the launch event for HoodProf book club.
Notable amongst dignitaries at the event include the founder of Network of Bookclubs and Reading Promoters of Nigeria, Richard Mammah, the Founder of CRIMMD (the oldest private community library in Idimu), Dr Raphael James, and a Deputy director with Lagos State Council of Art and Culture, Alhaji Lukman Giwa, amongst other notable dignitaries.
The book club meeting venue is aptly named the Wole Soyinka Center, and the flagship location for HoodProf book clubs which the Foundation hopes to establish in low income communities across Nigeria. Members of the book club are drawn from children in primary school from low incomes families within the community.
