Abuja Book City 2025: NBRP seeks collaboration with National Library of Nigeria
By Kabura Zakama
ON March 14, 2024, six members of the Abuja Chapter of Network of Book Clubs and Reading Promoters in Nigeria (NBRP) visited the National Librarian and CEO of the National Library of Nigeria (NLN), Professor Chinwe Veronica Anunobi, at her office in Abuja. The Chapter Coordinator, Chief Loye Olowookere, informed her that the chapter had successfully won the bid for Abuja to become the Book City for 2025. He further stated that the main purpose of the visit was to seek collaboration between NLN and NBRP to host Abuja Book City events in 2025.
Professor Anunobi welcomed the delegation, and expressed her keen interest in the pproposition, highlighting NLN’s focus on promoting reading by working with stakeholders like NBRP, the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), as well as book publishers and sellers. She informed that NLN was currently curating a collection of quality Nigerian books to drive a reading culture promotion initiative. She further stated the initiative would lead to a National Reading Day featuring reading competitions and other activities. The delegation commended the plan and suggested expanding it to a National Reading Week for more inclusiveness and spread.
The Secretary of the Abuja Chapter of NBRP, Dr. Chido Unomah, emphasised the importance of the library’s support in the success of Abuja Book City 2025, especially the influence of the National Librarian in engaging potential individual and corporate sponsors. He proposed forming a Local Organising Committee (LOC) comprising members from NBRP and NLN for the effective implementation of the Abuja Book City 2025 programme. The National Librarian endorsed the suggestion and committed to nominating three NLN representatives for the Abuja Book City 2025 LOC.
Dr. Kabura Zakama )left); Dauda Abubakar; Patrick Tagbo Oguejiofor; Abuja NBRP Coordinator, Chief Loye Olowookere; CEO/National Librarian, Professor Chinwe Veronica Anunobi; Secretary, Abuja NBRP, Dr. Chido Onumah and Rasheedat Sadiq at the National Librarian’s office… in Abuja
Chief Olowookere was accompanied on the visit by the Deputy Coordinator, Rasheedat Sadiq, the Secretary, Dr. Onumah, as well as Dauda Abubakar from Booksellers Ltd, Patrick Tagbo Oguejiofor and Dr. Kabura Zakama of Kairos Tablets and Scrolls Ltd.
Abuja 2025 will be the fourth city to be named NBRP Book City after Uyo (2021/2022), Lagos (2023) and Yenagoa (2024). The Book City is an innovative initiative by NBRP to further drive a nation-wide reading habit and return to books as favourite pastime, both for the old and the young.
* Dr. Zakama is a book reading advocate and promoter
