By Prisca Sam-Duru

In today’s world when reading is continually taken over by hip hop music and social media, reading a book for many young people is fast becoming out of fashion.” This was the the conclusion of UK-based Nigeria writer, Dominic Matthew during  the presentation of his book, Practical Perspectives on Youth: Engagement and Mobilisation Strategy at the one day African Safeguarding Conference for Parents organised by World of Hope in partnership with CANUK, at the Lewisham town hall, London.

•Mr Dominic Matthew delivering a lecture in London

While explaining his reasons for writing a book on youth subject, Mr Matthew said there is an urgent need to get youths to read and discourage them from spending too much time on the social media. According to him, “Reading is as old as humanity and that is one human activity every child is taught to do consciously even in their adolescents age. The reason is not far-fetched because catching a child young involves getting them to learn how to read as early as possible so as they grow it becomes part and parcel of them. It is for this reason parents read story books to their children at bed times.”

The book  which is basically on youth development was written out of a research study to help young people navigate their middle ages and expose some of the challenges young people face in their development such as crime, drug abuse, HIV/Aids and practical ways to lead young people out of crime and drugs. These and others like how to mobilise young people into voluntary organisations, networking for youth workers, youth and their civic duty, youth investment clubs form some of the chapters in the eight chapter book.

For Matthew, young people are the same everywhere. They always want to exercise their energy but it is up to those who work and care for them to help them harness those potential energy towards positive things. This is why it is important to keep the young people constantly engaged to avoid being involved in societal ills.

Mr. Odianose Dominic Matthew ended his presentation by reminding the large audience that graced  the occasion, to ensure children are encouraged to read every day.  He also enjoined guests to support his crowd funding project to donate hundreds of the copies to secondary schools in Nigeria which he has kick started by donating copies to his Alma mater when he visited Oregun High School, Oregun Ikeja, Lagos in May 2015.