The Vice-Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali, has called on Nigerian youths to develop reading culture.

He also urged them to champion community development projects to ensure a united, progressive and prosperous society.

Ambali made the call on Wednesday in Ilorin in his speech at the Silver Jubilee anniversary and public presentation of a book, "Our Illustrious icons," by Pakata Patriots, an association.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the book is a biography of selected prominent people in Pakata area of Ilorin, from 1831 to 2015.

The VC, who chaired the occasion, said that constant reading would widen the horizon of the readers and make them potent tool for rapid development of the nation.

He commended the people of Pakata for coming up with such a valuable book, adding that the book was capable of impacting significantly on all sons and daughters of Pakata and beyond. He appealed to the organisers of the event to make the book available to the people on the internet.

In his sermon at the occasion, Sheikh Daud Abdulmajeed, advised youths in Kwara to be law abiding and shun all acts inimical to the progress and development of the society. The book reviewer, Dr Isiaq Yahaya, Director of Public Affairs, National Population Commission, said the book contained 370 pages featuring the biographies of 70 people from Pakata.

He said that the people who were featured in the biography had contributed significantly toward the propagation of Islam and the development of the society. Earlier in his address of welcome, the President of Pakata Patriots, Ilorin, Mallam Shehu Aliyu, said the book was written to immortalise some Pakata icons, living and late, who had contributed to the development of the area.

He explained that the choice of the personalities in the book was not influenced by their wherewithal but due to their contributions to the progress and development of Pakata and humanity. He said that the intent was to show the world that the calibre of human resources which Pakata had been blessed with.

According to Aliyu, the inclusion of eminent forerunners in the book would serve as mirror to the younger ones and shining model to the upcoming generations. In his speech, Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed pledged his readiness to name a school after the late Prof. Shehu Jimoh in recognition of his valuable contributions to the society.

Ahmed made the pledge in response to the request by the President of Pakata Patriots at the occasion. The governor, who spoke through his Commissioner for Education, Mr Musa Yeketi, promised that the government would name Oke Pakata Local Government Education Authority School after the deceased.

Ahmed explained that the decision to immortalise Jimoh became imperative in view of his land mark achievements in the education sector and community development. The governor also assured the people of Pakata and Kwara state of the commitment his administration to evolve projects and programmess that would have direct impact on the lives of the people. (NAN)