Tikrit University hosts Baiji students for World Book Day celebration

SALAH AL-DIN — Tikrit University’s Media Department welcomed fifth-grade students from Sharhabeel Elementary School in Baiji on Wednesday to mark World Book Day, offering an interactive experience aimed at promoting a love of reading.

The visit included classroom tours and meetings with university professors to introduce the children to campus life and emphasize the value of books in learning and creative thinking.

“We wanted to host elementary students from Baiji on this occasion to introduce them to the university in general, university life, and the importance of reading books and learning about the lives of writers and poets,” said Suhama Ghafouri, head of the guidance unit at the university’s College of Arts, speaking to 964media.

She added that the event aligned with UNESCO’s celebration of April 23 as World Book Day, commemorating the birth of several notable writers and scholars. “We sensed a love for books in the students. We wanted to plant the love of books in them because books provide tools for thinking and true growth — unlike phones, which steal attention,” she said.

Sharhabeel School principal Ahmad Mahmoud praised the event, calling it a valuable cultural gesture. “We thank Tikrit University for hosting our fifth-grade students on this special global day in a unique gesture, especially on World Book Day,” he said. “It’s a day of culture and progress, a day to build generations and instill in them a love of knowledge. A book is not just paper — it is a bridge to creativity and awareness.”