Students Grace Read-a-thon At Edo Library

By Bernadette Idalu

As the Read-a-thon embarked on by Angel Osariemen Asein hits day two and the fourteen hour mark already reached, one hundred and eighty six (186) hours shy from the finish cross line, students from Emotan College, a girls school, were today seen at the Edo State Library Board where they had come to cheer the reader on in her reading competition.

The reader who as at the time of visitation by this journalist read books which reflected the Edo history, culture, religion and food from the confines of her special enclosure was observed to be physically alert as she read pages of books aloud to the listening audience.

Comrade Amienye Omorogie, Personal Manager of Angel Osariemen Asein while interfacing with this reporter said the reading process started February 23, with a fifty - four (54) hours test run. The main event he disclosed started yesterday, February 26, 2024.

He acknowledged the fact  that some Edo celebrities have come to cheer his protégée, Angel, on but that was not enough for all hands need to be on deck to encourage the reader who at showcasing Edo culture by proving that the Edo girl can read, in addition to her attempt change the negative narrative that the average Edo girl is a professional hooker.

He noted that what made the process instructive was the fact that, Angel, grew up at Upper Sakponmba area of Benin City, an area where people, through witty aphorisms show their disdain or disbelief of having anything good originate from the area hence they ask as they did Jesus Christ, "Can any thing good come out of Jerusalem?" 

Comrade Omorogie continued,

"Today, something good and something exceptional is coming out of that area."

Speaking on the support from the Edo State government he said, "Medical teams from the Edo State  Ministry of Health have been on ground; they have been attending to her from start. Dedicated members from the Edo Health Insurance Scheme have even assured her of a one year health insurance. This is complemented by her personal medical team who are all working round the clock to ensure she doesn't break down despite having fatigue."

It must be realized that in a previous interview, the Director, Edo State Library Board, Mr. Efosa Egharevba, had expressed his deep conviction at having the state's public Library facility meet requisite laid down criteria and procedures for the reading competition.