When an evening of books, business, boundless dinner bonds heralded NIBF 2025

By Olufemi Timothy Ogunyejo

‘WHEN books dined with business: Chronicles of the first-ever business discussion dinner at the Nigerian International Book Fair’ is perhaps the best way to tag it. Though the fair might have come and gone, the memories of its significance will continue to remain evergreen—like ink on ancient scrolls, unfading, unforgettable, and undeniably transformative.

The 24th edition of the Nigerian International Book Fair (NIBF), held in May 2025, was more than a page-turning book fiesta—it was a symphony of intellect, innovation, and industry. Yet, among the array of riveting events, one shimmering star stole the spotlight—the maiden edition of the Business Discussion Dinner, the first of its kind in the illustrious 27-year history of the fair. A night to remember, it redefined the nexus between books and business, between storytelling and strategy, between passion and profit.

Hosted under the glittering chandeliers of the magnificent Sheraton Hotel, Lagos, on the cool evening of Wednesday, May 7, the Business Discussion Dinner was nothing short of iconic. It was the kind of evening where deals were sealed between spoonfuls of rice and stew, where ideas waltzed across tables, and where visions collided in a kaleidoscope of inspiration.

This dinner was not just meal time—it was a marketplace of minds, a melting pot of possibilities, and a mosaic of mutual interests, carefully crafted to foster networking, knowledge exchange, and noble partnerships. It afforded local and international stakeholders—publishers, educators, entrepreneurs, policy influencers, literary luminaries and digital innovators—a fertile platform to share business ideas, strike up new conversations, rekindle old relationships, and build business bridges that stretch beyond borders.

The guest list read like a hall of fame. Business moguls, whose fingers turn ideas to gold; scholars, whose minds could rival any library; book enthusiasts, brimming with passion; key government stakeholders, visionaries in policy and progress, and international delegates, bringing global insight to the local table.

In this ocean of excellence, there were no small fish—everyone brought value, and everyone took something away.

Chairman of Nigeria Book fair Trust Mr. Dare Oluwatuyi (left); President, Network of Book Clubs and Reading Promoters in Nigeria Mr. Richard Mammah and President of Booksellers Association of Nigeria Mr. Dapo Fisayo at the business dinner for book… in Lagos

The evening commenced with a powerful opening address by the Chairman of the Nigerian International Book Fair, Mr. Dare Oluwatuyi, who, with poetic precision and powerful conviction, hailed the dinner as a game-changer—a “business renaissance in the belly of a book fair.” He urged the industry to embrace collaboration, innovation, and strategic synergy for publishing to thrive in the new world.

Then came the Chairman of the Fair Award and Management Committee Mr. Olugbemi Malomo whose words were a compass pointing to the future. With the eloquence of a statesman and the insight of a strategist, he articulated the vision behind the dinner—one that turns pages into platforms and readers into revolutionaries.

As the evening’s magic reached its crescendo, the ever-dynamic Mrs. Yomi Ogunlari delivered an electrifying vote of thanks, weaving gratitude with grace. Her energy was contagious, her sincerity palpable, and her words rang with hope for the fair’s growing impact.

The night pulsed with elegance. The environment was calm and classy, with a live band lacing the air with melodies that kissed the soul. Laughter mingled with music, and fine wine flowed like wisdom at a poets’ convention.

The compère of the evening, the radiant Funmi Ilori, commanded the stage like a maestro. With a voice as rich as roasted cocoa and humour that fluttered through the room like butterflies in spring, she kept the guests enthralled, engaged, and elated. Every gesture, every word, every transition—flawless.

Guests responded with raucous applause, spirited conversation, and yes—dancing. Even international delegates couldn’t resist the rhythm, joining the cultural chorus of joy with impressive moves and beaming smiles.

As for the menu? A culinary carnival. From jollof rice that sang with spice to tender continental cuts that melted like butter, every bite was a sonnet, every drink a toast to tradition and taste.

The evening also resounded with goodwill messages from proud sponsors. Their voices carried commitment, their promises painted the future with hope. From publishing powerhouses to tech partners, they pledged to continue investing in the fair, to support innovation, infrastructure, and the international growth of Nigeria’s literary industry.

The Business Dinner was the crown jewel, but the fair itself was a feast of ideas: book exhibitions featuring thousands of titles across cultures and continents, workshops on AI, copyright, and digital publishing, children’s literature showcases and student competitions that lit up young minds, Dialogue sessions on education policy and publishing finance, authors’ meet-and-greets that turned fans into followers and strangers into soulmates.

The Business Discussion Dinner was not the end—it was the epilogue of one book and the prologue to another. The story continues and the world is ready to read.

And as the curtains closed on NIBF 2025, a new chapter began. The 25th edition in 2026—a Silver Jubilee celebration—promises to be grander, global, and groundbreaking. Plans are already afoot to introduce new dimensions, attract more nations, and create an international publishing ecosystem powered by African innovation.

The organizers of the Nigerian International Book Fair have not only built a platform, but a movement. They have taken literature beyond leisure and made it leverage. They have turned every book into a bridge, every dinner into a dialogue, and every reader into a ripple of change.

In a world full of noise, you’ve created a symphony of sense and success.

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