Symphony of success as Olugbemi Malomo steers 24th Nigerian Int’l Book Fair to a close

By Olufemi Timothy Ogunyejo

AS the curtains fell on the 24th edition of the Nigerian International Book Fair (NIBF) yesterday, Friday, May 10, 2025, the air was thick with admiration, gratitude, and awe—for not just the celebration of books and ideas, but for the magnificent minds behind the book showpiece. At the heart of this remarkable literary renaissance stood a name that now exudes reverence in the corridors of culture: Mr. Olugbemi Malomo – Chairman of the Book Fair Management and Award Committee (FMAC).

Under his steady hands, the 2025 edition was not merely another book fair, it was a festival of minds, an exposition of excellence, and a rebirth of Nigeria’s book prestige. Like a seasoned conductor commanding an orchestra, Mr. Malomo brought together diverse committees, fused varying personalities, and conducted a harmony that resulted in the most internationally respected book fair Nigeria has seen in recent years.

Mr. Malomo’s leadership was a masterclass in calmness and creativity. In the face of stormy challenges, he remained in the eye of the hurricane—composed, calculated, and charismatic. His administrative acumen could slice through red tape like a hot knife through butter, his organizational instincts sharper than a quill’s nib, and his people management as gentle and effective as a potter shaping clay.

Mr. malomo processed diverse inputs, balanced priorities, and delivered decisions that powered every other organ—each committee—toward a common goal. His leadership was the spinal cord of the fair, transmitting vision and resolve, keeping the structure upright, and ensuring no part of the fair was paralyzed by indecision or delay.

The FMAC, under his guidance, became a living organism—each subcommittee a vital organ pulsing with purpose. The Programmes and Hospitality Subcommittee, chaired by Mr. Richard Mammah, functioned as the heart, ensuring the lifeblood of comfort and engagement flowed through guests and dignitaries. Their work in volunteer management, protocol, and guest coordination brought warmth and rhythm to the fair’s pulse.

The Finance and Funds Raising Subcommittee, led by Pst. Dapo Fisayo, became the lungs, drawing in resources—oxygen—for the fair’s sustainability. Through tireless efforts in sponsor engagement and fundraising, they breathed life into ambitious programmes and ensured no idea suffocated for lack of funding.

The Children and Schools Programme Subcommittee, with Mr. Remi Adesokan at the helm, acted as the hands and feet—reaching out to the future, embracing young minds, and propelling the fair toward innovation and continuity. Their colourful and creative programming gave the fair youthful vibrance and pedagogic pride.

The Marketing, Publicity, and ICT Subcommittee, under the chairmanship of Mr. Sunday Jesmiel, served as the eyes and ears—amplifying the fair’s voice and sharpening its image both online and offline. Their work ensured the fair was seen, heard, and felt not just in Nigeria, but across international borders.

Mr. Olufemi Ogunyejo (left) and Mr. Olugbemi Malomo

Each subcommittee member functioned like cells in a well-oiled system. With names like Dr. Taofeek Olatunbosun, Mrs. Comfort Chenge, Mr. Femi Ogunyejo, and Mrs. Yomi Ogunlari, this collective was more than a committee—it was a community. Together, they weathered the storms of planning with the resilience of palm trees swaying in unison against the wind.

Their meetings—often virtual, sometimes late, always purposeful—were the forge where ideas were hammered into strategy. From thick and thin, through WhatsApp chats and endless deliberations, they crafted plans that didn’t just uplift the fair—they reinvented it. They embraced innovation, encouraged fresh perspectives, and co-opted talent like skilled farmers planting new seeds in old soil.

Indeed, “it takes a village to raise a book fair”, and FMAC was that village—led by a chief whose vision saw beyond logistics into legacy, the man Malomo.

As it is said in Yoruba: ‘Agba ki wa loja ki ori omo tuntun wo‘, meaning: ‘An elder cannot be in the marketplace and allow the head of a newborn to be misaligned (on her mother’s back)!’ Mr. Malomo lived this wisdom. His presence in the leadership market square ensured that NIBF 2025 stood tall, proud, and aligned with excellence. He was the compass in a storm, the metronome of progress, and the sculptor of success. Calm when urgency clashed with uncertainty, composed when expectation swelled, and courageous when challenges arose—his was a character forged in purpose and polished in service.

As the lights dimmed on the 24th edition of the Nigerian International Book Fair, what remains is more than photos and programmes. What remains is a legacy of leadership, a blueprint of brilliance, and a standard to be aspired to. The Nigerian Book Fair Trust, the FMAC, and every stakeholder owe a debt of gratitude to Mr. Malomo. Through his guidance, the fair gained not just a facelift but a soul lift. Through his discipline and dexterity, it gained global recognition. Through his humility and harmony, it gained human warmth.

And so, as we closed the book on this chapter of NIBF, let it be written in bold letters: Leadership matters. Vision inspires. Unity works. And in Mr. Malomo, we had all three wrapped in one steady, selfless steward of the literary dream.

* Ogunyejo is a member of the ICT, Media and Marketing Committee of NIBF 2025