Flomat Books set to hold 2nd Abuja Book Fair at Sharon Hotel
By Editor
WITH the theme ‘Reading Culture Renaissance’, innovative book merchants Flomat Books will hold the second edition of its Abuja Book Fair from March 31 through April 2, 2022 at Sharon Ultimate Hotel, Area 3, in Abuja. Tagged the ‘Biggest Assemblage of Publishers, Authors and Vendors in Nigeria’, the Abuja Book Fair will parade a cast of personalities like former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former information minister, Prof. Jerry Gana, as special guest of honour and guest of honour respectively, and other seasoned resourced persons who will speak to a broad range of issues from book reading to health and wellness.
It will be recalled that the Engr Anthony Akpokene-led Flomat Books opened its Asaba Airport departure hall outlet to book lovers only two months ago to a rousing welcome. This was after he opened the Abuja branch last year at Sheraton Hotel.
The Abuja Book Fair will feature writers reading books and interacting with school children, led by notable poet, Dr. Ogaga Ifowodo (new poetry collection, ‘Augusta’s Poodle’), Anote Ajeluorou (‘Igho Goes to Farm’ and a novella soon to hit the shelves, ‘Brides of the Infidels’), Hankuri Tawus Gaya of ‘Oasis International’ magazine, among others. Venue for this session is at Banky Schools in Apo Area of the capital city. Also, the Chief Medical Director of Abuja National Hospital, Dr. Jaff Momoh, the Proprietor of Bankys School, Abuja, Mrs. Bankole, and a professor of Phytoscience, MacDonald Idu will address an array of issues while the President of Booksellers Association of Nigeria (BAN), Mr. Dare Oluwatoyi will give the keynote address.
Some of the features of the Abuja Book Fair include getting to buy books at discounted rates, meeting and interacting with writers and VIPs whose lives have been impacted by books, receiving informative lectures, networking and learning, and dinner. Some of the lectures will focus on how to be profitable during the time of crisis like covid-19, lecture on health and wellness, eye nutrition, and helping the challenged child overcome and excel.
A dinner and party will end the 3-day event with comedian Buchi providing rib-cracking entertainment to guests while Evarista will provide food.
The Akpokene-led Flomat Books also has other line up of educational and health events that include health and wellness seminar on the ‘Efficacy of Herbal Medicine and Treatment’, to be delivered by Prof. Macdonald Idu. No date has been fixed yet for it. There will be Agrio-business and derivatives seminar with Prof. Adara in a lecture series at the Ecumenical Centre. Another lecture on nutrition and the eyes will be delivered by Dr. Adesuwa.
Akpokene has an interesting line up of book fairs to attend this year, starting with London Books Fair, Nigeria International Book Fair (NIBF) in May, Frankfurt Book Fair, Germany, a book fair in Chicago, U.S., and Ghana international Book Fair. Akpokene will cap the year off with the third Cosmopolitan Christmas Carol in December at Hosanna, Wuse 2, Abuja.
