The Kwara State Government has urged youths and civil servants to cultivate the habit of reading, saying a well-informed population would be better equipped to make sound decisions and contribute to a peaceful society.

The Acting Head of Service, Kwara State, Olufunke Shittu, made the call on Wednesday at the 2026 Readers’ Day Celebration in Ilorin.

The event, themed “Open a Book, Close the Door Against Insecurity: Reading for Peace and a Safer Nigeria,” focused on the role of reading in promoting peace and addressing insecurity.

Shittu said reading should go beyond academic success, noting that regular engagement with books and other credible materials could strengthen critical thinking, improve communication and help people make informed decisions.

“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,” she said.

The acting Head of Service particularly urged civil servants to make continuous learning part of their professional lives, stressing that changing government policies, technology, procedures and methods of service delivery required workers to constantly update their knowledge.

She encouraged public servants to make use of books, journals, policy documents and other credible resources, both in physical libraries and through electronic platforms, while verifying the reliability of information before relying on it.

Shittu also urged workers to continually develop their skills in line with changing demands and global best practices.

She commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his support for human capital development and capacity building among civil servants, saying the initiatives had helped improve the competence and morale of the workforce.

Earlier, the Director of the Kwara State Library, Thomas Phillips, said the celebration was designed to highlight the value of books and the role of libraries in developing an enlightened population.

Phillips linked reading with peaceful coexistence, saying exposure to knowledge could promote tolerance, understanding and critical thinking.

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

The library director added that reading could equip individuals with the skills to resolve disagreements peacefully rather than resorting to violence.

Phillips commended the state government for supporting the library board, particularly in infrastructure development, digital literacy and policies aimed at making library services more responsive to residents’ needs.

He also acknowledged Shittu’s support for the library system, including efforts to strengthen the capacity of librarians and promote the role of libraries within the state public service.