Factors Responsible for Poor Reading Habits in Nigerian Primary Schools

It is no longer news that in place of a reading culture, Nigerian students have a television-watching and a discogoing culture. This ugly trend is, without doubt, one of the major reasons responsible for poor academic performance and the stagnation of the country. What factors are responsible for the absence of a reading culture in Nigeria? In this paper we identify such factors and at the same time proffer solutions. The factors are many and varied, they are also personal and external. They range from lack of libraries and qualified reading personnel to home and environmental as well as school-based factors. The paper draws attention to the fact that of all the language learning skills reading is the most important as a literacy skill and governments and educationist should ensure that reading is deeply entrenched in the school curriculum.