Member of Parliament Elnara Akimova: The Future of Azerbaijan Lies in the Hands of Children Who Read Books - PHOTO

On May 3, the next meeting of the “School, Science and Literature” project was held at Secondary School No. 6 located in the Haji Zeynalabdin settlement of Sumgayit city. The event was jointly organized by the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the Absheron-Khizi Regional Education Department. Initiated and conceptualized by Member of Parliament and Doctor of Philological Sciences Elnara Akimova, the project aims to promote reading among schoolchildren, establish direct communication between students and writers and scholars, and foster a culture of reading among young people.

The event began with a minute of silence in memory of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Azerbaijan, followed by the performance of the National Anthem.

An exhibition featuring artworks created by students left a positive impression on the guests. During the tour of the exhibition, special attention was drawn to the students’ creativity and keen interest in the arts.

Following this, scholars and writers donated books to the school library. This initiative was regarded as a practical step toward achieving the project’s main objective—strengthening the culture of reading in schools.

Among those attending the event were President of ANAS, Academician Isa Habibbeyli; Members of Parliament Elnara Akimova and Mehriban Valiyeva; Head of the Department of Azerbaijani Language and Literature Policy at the Ministry of Culture, Vasif Gurbanzade; Representative of the Executive Authority of Sumgayit City for the Haji Zeynalabdin settlement, Lala Hajiyeva; Head of the Sumgayit Education Sector, Iman Agayev; staff members of the Children's Literature Department of the Nizami Ganjavi Institute of Literature of ANAS; distinguished children's authors Rafiq Yusifoglu, Reyhan Yusifgizi, Sevinj Elsever, Aziz Sultan; and poets Ibrahim Ilyasli and Elvin Alizade.

Opening the event, Head of the Sumgayit Education Sector Iman Agayev emphasized the importance of such meetings in increasing children's interest in reading. He noted that restoring books to their central place in school life requires the joint efforts of teachers, parents, and society as a whole.

In his speech, Academician Isa Habibbeyli shared childhood memories, recalling that he first read the children's magazine “Goyercin” at the age of four, which sparked his lifelong interest in reading. This sincere recollection was met with great interest by the students.

Habibbeyli went on to discuss important stages in the history of Azerbaijani enlightenment, describing the second half of the nineteenth century as a period of national awakening and significant progress in education and culture.

He particularly highlighted the contributions of prominent intellectuals such as Mirza Fatali Akhundzadeh, Hasan bey Zardabi, Najaf bey Vazirov, Seyid Azim Shirvani, Mirza Alakbar Sabir, Ali bey Huseynzadeh, Jalil Mammadguluzadeh, and others to the development of Azerbaijani society. According to him, their legacy continues to serve as an ideological foundation for contemporary work in education, science, and literature.

During his remarks, Habibbeyli also spoke about the special attention given to science and education by National Leader Heydar Aliyev and noted that this policy is being successfully continued under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev.

Project leader, Member of Parliament, and Doctor of Philological Sciences Elnara Akimova delivered an extensive speech about the origins and guiding principles of the “School, Science and Literature” project. She stated that its primary goal is to strengthen reading culture in regional schools, bring children into direct contact with writers and scholars, and restore books to an important place in everyday life.

Akimova emphasized that cultivating reading habits among children growing up in an era of information overload is of special importance:

“We want children to see books not merely as educational materials but as an integral part of their lives. A child who reads is a child who thinks, and a child who thinks becomes a responsible citizen of tomorrow. Strengthening the culture of reading in the regions is therefore of strategic importance for us.”

She stressed that the project is not simply a series of events but a continuous educational movement. According to Akimova, bringing schools, writers, and scholars together on one platform has a significant impact on shaping children's worldviews and increasing their interest in literature.

“We view these meetings not as formal events but as opportunities for live communication, exchange of ideas, and inspiration. The curiosity and enthusiasm we see in the eyes of children are our greatest achievements.”

Akimova also expressed gratitude to Ilhama Abdullayeva, Head of the Absheron-Khizi Regional Education Department; the school administration; the teaching staff; Lala Hajiyeva; partner institutions; moderator Nigar Valiyeva, a teacher at Secondary School No. 35 in Sumgayit; and all guests participating in the event.

Member of Parliament Mehriban Valiyeva praised the active participation of the students, noting that it was deeply inspiring to witness their enthusiasm and love for books. She remarked that the poems, performances, and presentations prepared by the students demonstrated how eagerly they had anticipated the event.

Vasif Gurbanzade, Head of the Department of Azerbaijani Language and Literature Policy at the Ministry of Culture, stated that promoting books and reading is one of the key priorities of the country's cultural policy. He emphasized that the Ministry would continue supporting such initiatives and particularly highlighted the significance of Elnara Akimova’s project.

Following the official speeches, the floor was given to the writers. Rafiq Yusifoglu, Reyhan Yusifgizi, Sevinj Elsever, Aziz Sultan, Ibrahim Ilyasli, and Elvin Alizade engaged in warm conversations with the students, discussing the importance of reading, writing, and literature in human life.

Rafiq Yusifoglu’s recitation of his poem “The Balloon and the Little Girl” created touching and emotional moments in the hall. Elvin Alizade’s poem dedicated to Sumgayit was also warmly received by the audience.

Students recited poems by well-known authors, performed songs, and presented dance routines. Their performances became one of the most memorable and vibrant parts of the event.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the school’s principal, Goncha Safarova, expressed her gratitude to the guests and organizers. She noted that such gatherings play an important role in shaping students’ worldviews and increasing their interest in science and literature.

The event in Sumgayit once again demonstrated that the unity of school, science, and literature is not only an educational mission but also an important public platform that inspires children to read, think, and learn.

The project's greatest achievement lies precisely in this: bringing books back into children's lives and transforming them into one of society’s most valuable assets.

Because where there are books, there is thought. And where there is thought, there is progress and confidence in Azerbaijan’s future.

Long live books, and long live the people, deeds, and ideals that, like a candle in the darkness, keep the love of reading alive.