BY DAYO ADESULU

The dwindling reading culture amongst Nigerian youths which has become a major source of worry to stakeholders in the sector has further attracted the attention of ‘The Next Scholar Reality TV Show,’ a show aimed at reviving the ailing reading culture in Nigeria.

Lamenting the deplorable state of our reading culture, the Project Manager, Mr. Chinedum Ogboruche while speaking with journalists at Sheraton, Lagos acknowledged that Nigerians, especially the youth, are no longer reading as most of them have been brought up to see reading as necessary only for the purpose of passing examinations, adding that when they grow into adults, they end up viewing reading as a necessary evil or task that can be avoided at the slightest opportunity.

According to him, The Next Scholar TV Show is a television reality show that is fully packed with fun and lively activities designed for general family viewing. It will involve participants living together in a house and displaying scholarly skills to avoid being evicted in order to get to the next level. Ogboruche said that during this period, students will be tested on their ability to read while having an active lifestyle in the house.

Apart from the show being designed to creatively incorporate a habit of reading into the everyday lives of the participants, he noted that it will develop and revive reading culture amongst viewers.

He said; “The winner goes home with $30,000 and a brand new scholarly car plus scholarship to study overseas in one of our participating universities; the second position gets $20,000 and scholarship to study overseas in one of our participating universities, while the third position will get $10,000 and an all expense paid family holiday weekend to one of Africa’s best resorts.”

Explaining the workability of the programme, Ogboruche said ; “The Next Scholar is a surveillance cum competition style reality TV show with 20 episodes and it follows a group of 45 readers living in a controlled environment in competition for the 1st prize as they demonstrate their literacy skills and strength of character.

The contestants are tested from the books and journals read in the Academic house and are expelled one after another based on character votes from the public. However, the contestants will have the power to keep themselves in the house through their excellent performances in weekly tests from recommended textbooks of different disciplines.

Top performers for every week will get immune against public votes, as the public decides who leaves the house from the remaining contestants, until five remaining scholars are left to battle for the 1st prize ‘which will be determined in a game show featuring questions from all the books read in the house.”

For people that would want to participate in the first season of ‘The Next Scholar TV’ show, the Project Manager said registration forms would be made available at designated banks; and will also be available online.