UYO, The National Library of Nigeria, Akwa Ibom State Branch, in partnership with the Golden Initiative for All (GIFA), on Thursday, September 4, 2025, hosted the grand finale of the 2025 Summer Holiday Reading Fair at its Uyo premises.
The event featured a rich blend of literacy and creativity-focused activities such as read-aloud sessions, debates, basic computer training, art and crafts, spelling bee, storytelling, motivational spoken words, and hands-on skills acquisition where children prepared pancakes, zobo drinks, and chin-chin.
A major highlight was the official inauguration of the Golden Initiative Book Club (GIBC) by Pastor Hon. Anne Abraham, Special Assistant to the Governor on General Duties and Focal Person for GIFA, who doubled as the Special Guest of Honour.
Participants, drawn from three age brackets—4-7 years, 8-13 years, and 13-17 years—competed across categories, with awards and prizes presented to outstanding performers. The program also featured an exhibition tour where students displayed projects that reflected creativity and learning.
Over 110 children benefited from the fair, with organizers noting improvements in confidence, creativity, and reading culture. Stakeholders described the program as a “productive way to keep children positively engaged during the holidays while instilling literacy and character-building values.”
The Head of Branch, Lady Helen Ebi Alfred, commended parents, facilitators, and volunteers for their commitment. She assured that the partnership with GIFA would deepen literacy promotion and expand community impact.
The ceremony concluded with goodwill messages, group photographs, and light refreshments, as the Branch reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the Reading Fair as a flagship literacy initiative in Akwa Ibom State.
