Kwara HOS Advocates Reading Culture for Professional Excellence, Safer Society

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The Acting Head of Service and Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare, Kwara State, Dr. (Mrs.) Olufunke Mercy Shittu, has called on civil servants, youths and the general public to cultivate a strong reading culture as a pathway to knowledge, professional excellence and a safer society.

Dr. Shittu made the call on Wednesday, at the 2026 Readers’ Day Celebration held at the Kwara State Library Main Hall, Ilorin, with the theme: “Open a Book, Close the Door Against Insecurity: Reading for Peace and a Safer Nigeria.”

The Acting Head of Service, who attended the event alongside Directors and other officials from the Office of the Head of Service, described reading as a lifelong habit capable of broadening the mind, improving communication skills and equipping individuals with the ability to think critically and make informed decisions.

She stressed that reading should not be regarded merely as an academic activity or something reserved for examinations, but should become an integral part of everyday life and continuous personal and professional development.

According to her, the public service is constantly evolving through new policies, technologies, procedures and approaches to service delivery, making continuous learning and professional development imperative for civil servants.

Dr. Shittu therefore encouraged public servants to make effective use of books, journals, policy documents and other credible learning materials available through physical and electronic platforms, while ensuring that information relied upon comes from reliable and verified sources.

She also commended the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, CON, for his sustained investment in human capital development and commitment to capacity building and continuous professional development of civil servants.

The Acting Head of Service noted that the Governor’s support had contributed significantly to improving the efficiency, competence and morale of the State workforce, urging civil servants to continuously update their knowledge and skills in line with global best practices.

Earlier, the Director, Kwara State Library, Mr. Thomas Phillips, in his welcome address, described Readers’ Day as an opportunity to celebrate knowledge, imagination and the transformative power of books.

He expressed appreciation to Governor AbdulRazaq for his support for the development of the State Library Board, particularly in the areas of library infrastructure, digital literacy and people-oriented policies.

The Director also commended Dr. Shittu for her support for the library system, including capacity building for librarians and efforts towards strengthening the position of the library within the State public service.

Speaking on the theme of the celebration, he stressed the relationship between reading, peace and security, noting that an enlightened mind remains a strong foundation for a peaceful and orderly society.

“When a child opens a book, he closes his mind to crime. When a youth embraces the library, he embraces peace,” he said.

He further noted that reading promotes tolerance, understanding and critical thinking, while equipping citizens with the skills required to resolve conflicts peacefully and avoid violence.

The event brought together officials of the Office of the Head of Service, librarians, library officers, teachers, students, readers and other stakeholders, with emphasis on the need to revive and sustain the reading culture, particularly among children and young people.


Okanlawon Solomon
Press Secretary
Office of the Head of Service, Kwara State
08038524453

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