NIBF @25 honours pillars of Nigeria’s book trade, educational heritage

By Olufemi Timothy Ogunyejo

THE prestigious Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, Iganmu, Lagos, came alive with celebration, reflection and honour on Thursday, May 14, 2026, as the Nigerian Book Fair Trust (NBFT) hosted a grand award ceremony as part of activities commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Nigeria International Book Fair (NIBF) 2026. The atmosphere within the iconic theatre complex in Iganmu, Lagos, was electrifying. The hall radiated joy, applause and admiration as publishers, scholars, printers, booksellers, authors, librarians, educationists and literary enthusiasts gathered to celebrate institutions and personalities whose contributions have sustained the Nigerian book ecosystem over several decades.

The choice of venue carried profound symbolism. Named after the 1986 Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, one of Africa’s greatest literary icons and global symbol of intellectual resistance, creativity and educational advancement, the theatre represents the enduring power of books, ideas and scholarship in nation-building.

For many participants, holding the award ceremony at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts was more than ceremonial. It was a tribute to the culture of reading, literary excellence and educational advocacy which Professor Soyinka has represented throughout his lifetime. His name remains synonymous with the defence of knowledge, freedom of expression and the promotion of African literature on the global stage. Thus, the ceremony became a symbolic convergence of Nigeria’s literary heritage and the future of its educational and publishing industries.

While welcoming guests, Chairman of the Nigerian Book Fair Trust, Mr. Dare Oluwatuyi, described the Nigeria International Book Fair as a platform that has, for 25 years, served as a beacon for learning, publishing and creative enterprise in Nigeria and beyond. He noted that the awards were instituted to honour organisations and individuals whose dedication and excellence have shaped the nation’s book industry and educational development.

The significance of the awards extended beyond recognition, according to Oluwatuyi, noting that they represented appreciation for sacrifice, resilience, innovation and commitment to intellectual growth in an era where the publishing industry continues to navigate economic and technological challenges.

More importantly, he said the awards were a celebration of institutions and personalities whose legacies have become inseparable from the story of education, literacy and publishing development in Nigeria.

The NBFT Golden Legacy Award recognised institutions that have remained foundational pillars within the Nigerian educational and publishing sector for over fifty years. Among the most celebrated recipients was CSS Bookshops Limited, acknowledged as the first and oldest surviving bookshop in Nigeria with an extraordinary legacy spanning over 150 years. The organisation was honoured for its historic contributions to bookselling, educational distribution and knowledge dissemination across generations.

Executive Director of University Press Plc, Mrs. Folakemi Gbadamosi receiving NBFT Golden Legacy Award from former president of Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Dr. Camilus Uka

For decades, CSS Bookshops has remained a trusted academic and literary destination for schools, students, teachers, churches and institutions nationwide, making it one of the most enduring symbols of Nigeria’s reading culture and educational heritage.

University Press Plc was equally celebrated for its remarkable 77-year contribution to educational publishing and scholarly development in Nigeria. Established as one of the country’s foremost publishing institutions, the company has consistently produced educational textbooks, literary works and instructional materials that have shaped teaching and learning in schools across the nation. Its enduring legacy remains deeply connected to academic excellence and intellectual advancement in Nigeria.

Another major recipient, Evans Publishing Group, was honoured for more than five decades of impactful educational publishing. Widely recognised for producing quality textbooks and learning materials, Evans has contributed immensely to curriculum development and classroom education, helping to mould generations of Nigerian learners and scholars.

Under the Special Recognition Award category, Accessible Publishers Ltd received commendation for its unwavering and continuous support for the Nigeria International Book Fair over the years. The company was praised for its commitment to the advancement of publishing initiatives and its strategic role in supporting the growth and sustainability of the fair as a leading platform for educational and literary engagement in Africa.

Havilah Merchant Nig Ltd and Digitalreality Print Ltd were recognised for their strategic support in printing, publishing logistics and production services that continue to sustain the Nigerian book value chain and strengthen the publishing infrastructure of the country.

The ceremony equally honoured legendary intellectuals and veterans whose contributions have become reference points within Nigeria’s educational and literary history. At the centre of the celebration was Dr. Kolade Mosuro, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his immense role in educational publishing, literacy promotion and the advancement of intellectual culture within Nigeria and Africa.

Fondly described by many stakeholders as “one of the living legends of the Nigerian book ecosystem,” Dr. Mosuro was celebrated not only for his decades of service to publishing and bookselling, but also for his mentorship, leadership and enduring influence across the industry.

As the proprietor of The Booksellers, a household name in book trade in Nigeria and beyond, Dr. Mosuro has remained a towering figure whose contributions have impacted publishers, booksellers, schools, libraries and readers across generations.

Likewise a former National Librarian/CEO of National Library of Nigeria, Prof. Lenrie O. Aina, was honoured for his groundbreaking contributions to library science, information management and academic development in Nigeria. His works and professional service have significantly strengthened librarianship, research culture and information accessibility within the nation’s educational landscape.

As each awardee mounted the stage amidst loud applause and standing ovation, the atmosphere reflected not only celebration but collective gratitude. Smiles, cheers and emotional moments filled the hall as colleagues, associates and admirers rose repeatedly to honour personalities and institutions whose legacies have shaped the Nigerian educational and publishing system.

Many recipients described the awards as an encouragement to continue supporting the growth of Nigeria’s educational system and book industry. They pledged renewed commitment toward literacy advocacy, quality publishing, educational accessibility and the promotion of reading culture among younger generations.

By the close of the ceremony, one message resonated clearly throughout the hall: that books remain powerful instruments of transformation and that the future of Nigeria’s educational development depends greatly on sustaining the institutions, personalities and creative industries that preserve and disseminate knowledge. At the symbolic home of one of Africa’s greatest literary legends, the 25th anniversary celebration of the Nigeria International Book Fair became more than an award ceremony; it stood as a historic affirmation of the enduring power of education, literature and publishing in shaping the destiny of a nation.