Concern over the shrinking space for reasoned debate and informed decision-making in Nigeria took centre stage in Uyo on Saturday, as the Uyo Book Club (UBC) warned that the nation’s weak reading culture is eroding democratic values and intellectual depth.

Speaking at the Club’s January 2026 maiden reading session in Akwa Ibom State capital, Founder of the Uyo Book Club, Dr Udeme Nana, declared that reading must be embraced as a civic responsibility, if society is to reclaim deep thinking, critical reasoning and meaningful public engagement.

Dr Nana, a Mass Communication scholar, lamented that Nigerians have largely replaced sustained reading with fleeting digital habits such as scrolling, texting and skimming, which, he said, discourage reflection and intellectual rigour.

According to him, the steady decline in deep reading has left society vulnerable to empty slogans, vote buying and manipulative appeals to religion and ethnicity rather than reasoned argument and ideas.

“We are gradually becoming a society where slogans have replaced reasoning,” Nana said.

“When people no longer read deeply, they lose the capacity to interrogate issues, assess alternatives and engage rationally in public discourse. A large population of readers is the best guarantee for democracy.”

He stressed that deep reading reshapes the mind, sharpens concentration and strengthens the ability to evaluate competing claims, warning that its absence weakens democratic participation.

Dr Nana, who was recently credited by Google for fabricating “Digidiots” to describe people who either reject digital tools or use them unethically, recalled an incident at the National Assembly where an electoral bill was reportedly passed into law without being thoroughly read by lawmakers.

“That episode speaks volumes about where we are as a people,” he said, urging citizens to deliberately revive the culture of reading.

Reflecting on the mission of the Uyo Book Club, now in its 11th year, Nana said the initiative was established to counter the alarming decline in reading habits in Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria at large.

“We noticed early that reading culture was going down, and that decline has consequences, loss of deep thinking, loss of concentration and loss of reasoned engagement,” he noted.

During the session, Nana reviewed the Book of the Month, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, using it to underscore the enduring power of books to inspire reflection and self-discovery.

As part of the event, the Akwa Ibom State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barrister Obo Effanga, was inducted into the Uyo Book Club.

Nana urged him to consider establishing a book club within the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in the state.

Responding, Barr Effanga, who served as Special Guest Reader, described books as indispensable tools for personal growth and responsible citizenship, noting that informed voters are invariably readers.

“Reading should be cultivated as a virtue. It builds focus, discipline and clarity of thought. Voters who make informed choices are those who read.”

He donated copies of his published works to the Club and expressed delight at joining the Uyo Book Club, describing discussions on its WhatsApp platform as “cerebral and robust.”

The session ended with a renewed call for individuals and institutions to spread the message of reading as a foundation for enlightened citizenship and a healthier democracy.