Book enthusiasts canvas greater investments in libraries, reading promotion projects
By Godwin Okondo
AFTER rising from a session convened to review the subject of ‘Resolving the Reading Culture Challenge in Nigeria: Low-Hanging Fruits’ at the weekend, book publishers, marketers, librarians and reading promoters in Nigeria have tasked government, Nigerians and the private sector to put in more investments into libraries and reading promotions projects in the country. The Chairman of Nigeria Book Fair Trust, (NBFT) and the Presidents of National Library Association (NLA) and Network of Book Club and Reading Promoters of Nigeria (NBRP) respectively, Mr. Dare Oluwatuyi, Pastor Dominic Omokaro and Mr. Richard Mammah signed the communique.
The virtual session which was convened to mark the fifth anniversary of the Network of Book Clubs and Reading Culture Promoters in Nigeria (NBRP) had in attendance, among others, Mr. Oluwatuyi, Pastor Omokaro, Dr. Nkem Osuigwe of African Libraries and Information Associations and Institutions, Professor Nkechi Christopher of Literacy Promotion Association and Oladele Babatunde of Literacy Renaissance Foundation. It took place on Saturday, February 22, 2025.
At the close of proceedings, the session several farreaching resolutions participants believe would help in the process. They underscored the fact that though reading is globally acknowledged as the cornerstone of education, innovation and personal growth given that it is fundamental to intellectual growth, creativity and national development, the decline in the reading culture in Nigeria has reached very worrying levels as can be seen pre-eminently in our very poor real-time literacy statistics. They also entertained the renewed push to establish book clubs and reading promotions projects in Nigeria and encouraged stakeholders in education and literacy development to sustain the momentum.
They Called for enhanced funding of, and utilisation of libraries and librarians in Nigeria, encouraged in principle the push to introduce the concept of Presidential Library in the country but insist that primary attention must yet be paid to the establishment, running and sustenance of basic and functional libraries in educational institutions and provide public libraries across the 774 local government areas of the country, with adequate resources being found for, and devoted to their upkeep, regular upgrade and efficient utilisation.
MD/CEO, Accessible Publishers, Mr. Gbadega Adedapo; Chief Cyril Uchenna; 25th President of Nigeria Publishers Association, Alhaji Lukman Dauda; Chairman of Nigeria Book Fair Trust (NBFT), Mr. Dare Oluwatuyi and former chairman of NBFT, Mr. Dayo Alabi at the investiture of Alhaji Dauda
They also tasked the private sector in Nigeria to devote more of their Corporate Social Responsibility, (CSR) resources to the critical funding, upgrade and sustenance of our libraries, the speedy and expedited completion of the New National Library Complex in Abuja, given its symbolic importance, that has been under construction now for almost two decades.
Also, stakeholders tasked decision-makers at the state and local government tiers to pay more than fleeting and cosmetic attention to the establishment and running of libraries within their spheres of influence but to go the extra mile to ensure that library infrastructure are well-maintained, the books stocked are annually upgraded and the environment within and around the facilities conducive and attractive as to stimulate the required public patronage and use. Theye further requested high level and multi-sectoral attention to be paid to the expanding crisis of affordability of books by the majority of the populace. In this wise, the session expressed excitement at the forthcoming 23rd edition of Nigerian International Book Fair in May 2025, that will among other concerns, address the subject of local paper production in the country.
Furthermore, they called for more concerted attention to be paid to the imperative of building a stronger and more robust economy overall as a citizenry with a higher purchasing power would be in the best position to deploy some of his or her resources to purchasing reading materials as well as tasking parents, influencers, community leaders and corporate and public figures to voluntarily and dutifully put themselves up to serve as literacy role models for children, teenagers, young adults and the rest of the population.
The National Youth Service Corps scheme was tasked to explore the possibility of working with literacy and education stakeholders in ensuring that corps members are annually refreshed on their reading habits and thereafter serve as literacy ambassadors in the communities of their posting.
