FOR three days, Wednesday, May 8 through Friday, May 10, publishers, booksellers, writers and all I the publishing ecosystem will converge at Yard 158 Events Arena, 34 Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos, for the 2024 Nigeria International Book Fair.
The 2004 edition, is the 23rd edition, and it is on the theme, “Universal Basic Education and the Book Ecosystem: Setting the Agenda,”
According to the organisers, the Fair “is a beacon of literary excellence and cultural celebration on the African continent”… It remains the “largest and most consistent gathering of literary enthusiasts, publishers, authors, and stakeholders in Nigeria and beyond,” stated the promoters.
The vision is to enhance literacy in Nigeria and add value to the Nigerian book and knowledge industry.
Aside from book exhibitions, the annual Fair, organised by the Nigeria Book Fair Trust, NIBF, will also feature workshops, seminars, symposiums, meetings of industry professionals, and networking.
The opening ceremony
The opening ceremony witnessed welcome address by the Chairman of Nigerian Book Fair Trust, Mr Oluwadare Oluwatuyi, remarks by the conference Chairman/Chief Host and Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr Hamid Bobboyi represented by the Deputy Director, Department of Academic Services, UBEC, Mrs Grace Samuel and address by the Special Guest of Honour and Honourable Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman represented by the Chief Executive Officer, National Library of Nigeria, Professor Chinwe Veronica Anunobi.
Activities of Day 1 o Wednesday, comprised presentation of the conference keynote paper by the Vice Chancellor of Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere, Ekiti State, Professor Olufemi Victor Adeoluwa, discussion of the conference keynote paper by a panel as well as presentations by various schools and official opening and tour of the exhibition stands.
The Day 2 on Thursday, featured tertiary education summit on “Addressing the Brain Drain Crisis in Nigeria” with resource person that included; Professor Sylvester Akhaine from Department of Political Science, Lagos State University (LASU), Professor Ayo Ayodele from the Department of English, LASU and Executive Director, Enough is Enough, Mrs Yemi Adamolekun. Activities of Day 2 also included study-based product launch by Accessible Publishers Limited.
The Day 3 of the book fair is expected to feature workshop, librarians’ conference, booksellers’ conference, authors groove and readers parley on “Nurturing a Long Life Reading Habit Among Youths”.
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‘Why the Nigerian International Book Fair…’
(Being the welcome address by the chairman of the Nigeria International Book Trust, NIBT, Dare Oluwatuyi)
THE great time for networking and interfacing among the players within the global book ecosystem is here again!
I am delighted to meet and welcome our esteemed exhibitors from different countries of the world to the 23rd Nigeria International Book Fair. It is not a fallacy that your participation contributed in great deal to the excellent book event that the world is witnessing in Nigeria today.
I also use this medium to welcome all our Guests, Speakers, Panelists, participants and local visitors across the length and breadth of Nigeria to this annual event. Gentlemen of the Press in our midst, I welcome you all.
Permit me to salute the members of the Council and Fair Management/Award Committee of the Nigerian Book Fair Trust for their commitment, sacrifice and support that translated to the successful putting together of the 23rd Nigeria International Book Fair.
This year, our general theme, which will be discussed at the International Conference, revolves around Universal Basic Education. We believe that education plays an important role in the development of minds and nations, and there is no better time to talk again about it than now that education in Nigeria has little to write about. We are aware of the frantic efforts the Lagos State Government and the Federal Government of Nigeria are making to address the problems in our educational systems. We hope that the various government policies along this line will germinate good fruits in earnest.
Today, we have gathered experts from all walks of life to critically look at our basic education challenges and come up with ways that would reshape the system for the benefit of the citizens and the nation at large. Please do not miss the International Conference for anything.
We equally want you not to miss the second edition of the Tertiary Education Summit. The Summit this year is put together to consider the causes of the brain drain crisis that is bedeviling Nigeria presently and how it can be nipped in the bud. You cannot afford to miss the Summit because scholars from different tiers of tertiary education in Nigeria have prepared to take us through the genesis, effects, and remedy for the crisis.
Of course, there are other programmes apart from the International Conference and Tertiary Education Summit that have been lined up for your benefit and that of your business. Make sure you get a printed or electronic copy of the Programme of Events for the book fair to avail yourself of the list of programmes for this unique occasion.
I cannot but appreciate the support and contributions of individuals, corporate organisations and government agencies towards the success of the Nigeria International Book Fair 2024. The International Conference of this year’s book fair is being co-hosted by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC). On behalf of the Council of the Nigerian Book Fair Trust, I sincerely commend the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, the Executive Management, and all the staff of the Commission for the immense support we received from them, and the mobilisation of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) across the 36 states of the country including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja for the book fair.
The second edition of the Tertiary Education Summit we are witnessing this year enjoyed the full support of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU). I thank the Committee’s Chairperson, Prof. Lilian I. Salami, the Secretary-General, Prof. Yakubu Ochefu, the Council, and every other member of CVCNU for giving us their full support to put the Summit together. I look forward to more support from the Committee as we encourage other government agencies to join hands with the Nigerian Book Fair Trust (NBFT) to bring back the culture of reading in Nigeria.
This year, though we may not organise competitions for schools, quite a large number of schools, teachers and proprietors are expected at the book fair, especially at the International Conference and Tertiary Education Summit. Librarians from our tertiary institutions, government agencies, etc are equally expected in large numbers at the book fair.
I am delighted to see our foreign exhibitors and trade visitors at this year’s book fair. Our exhibitors from the Far East, especially from India; your consistent presence at the NIBF is highly appreciated. I also welcome representatives of publishers from the United Kingdom back to the Nigeria International Book Fair. We love you all and we will always be on top of the world anytime we have you participating in our events.
Since year 2021, we have been consistently making NIBF hybrid and this year will not be an exception. Programmes and activities of NIBF 2024 will be live on YouTube and other social media platforms. This allows those in Nigeria and overseas to get involved in the book fair’s activities virtually. We appeal to our local and foreign exhibitors to encourage their people back home to join the Nigeria International Book Fair 2024 virtually. As NIBF 2024 is full of activities, I enjoin all our exhibitors to have a good time and make good use of the business opportunities the book fair will offer.
Finally, I must appreciate all my colleagues on the Council of the Nigerian Book Fair Trust. I appreciate your understanding, support and cooperation at all times. Your numerous contributions to ensuring that the Trust continues to grow from strength to strength are not unnoticed. I must say that the confidence you repose in me is never taken for granted. I thank you all.
Please note that the 2025 edition of the Nigeria International Book Fair will be held from Wednesday 8th to Friday 10th of May, 2025. At the next edition, we shall be introducing the State of Focus in our activities. We intend to involve states to participate actively at NIBF. By extension, we will expand our reading culture plans to the states by holding major Regional Book Fairs at selected states within each of the six geo-political zones of our country.
Thank you all for your participation. I wish you a rewarding Time at NIBF 2024
Michael Oluwadare Oluwatuyi –
(Chairman, Nigerian Book Fair Trust)
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‘We’ll address ‘JAPA’ syndrome through meaningful education policy’
(Address by the Hon. Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman delivered by Prof. Chinwe Anunobi, National Librarian at the opening ceremony of the 23rd Nigerian International Book Fair, Lagos May 8, 2024)
Protocols
I BRING you warm greetings from the Special Guest of Honour for this occasion, Professor Tahir Mamman, OON, SAN, Honourable Minister of Education, on whose behalf I present the Special Guest of Honour’s address.
Honourable Minister’s address:
IT is with a profound sense of responsibility and purpose that I address you here today on this occasion of the 23rd Nigerian International Book Fair. I appreciate the organisers of this event for inviting me to witness the 23rd edition of the International Book Fair.
I commend the Management of the Nigerian Book Fair for their unwavering dedication over the years to enhancing literacy, adding value to the Nigerian book industry and nurturing reading culture among Nigerians.
The theme for this programme “Universal Basic Education and the Book Ecosystem: Setting the Agenda” is very timely and aligns with our commitment to providing children with diverse basic knowledge and skills for entrepreneurship, wealth generation and educational advancement. I hope that this occasion will deal with various topics of foundational issues related to universal basic education and the disturbing situation of brain drain situation in our dear country.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, right before our eyes, we are seeing an exodus of professionals out of Nigeria- the “Japa” phenomenon. In a recent survey, about 50% of professionals were planning on leaving Nigeria. No field is spared from doctors, nurses, lawyers, engineers, computer experts, architects, and pharmacists, the trend is frightening. Nigeria is losing its best and brightest to other parts of the world. This rapid bleeding of human capital will undermine the economic growth and development of Nigeria. It is a trend that must concern all of us today.
Distinguished guests, the Federal Ministry of Education under my leadership is committed to providing an enabling environment conducive to learning and knowledge transfer for the socio-economic development of Nigeria.
In recognition of the fact that library services play a critical role in improving teaching and learning, library services and education resources is one of the key pillars of the Roadmap for the Nigerian Education Sector (2024-2027). It is our commitment to complete the National Library of Nigeria Headquarters building complex in Abuja as soon as possible and review the national policy on library and information systems.
Therefore, it is my singular honour and privilege to declare the 23rd Nigerian International Book Fair open. Thank you.
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Copyright Commission makes a strong showing…
Dr Asein giving his goodwill message
THE Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) is a key partner of the NIBT in the 2024 Fair, and is actively participating in the Fair. In his goodwill message at the opening of the Fair, the Director-General of the Commission, Dr John O. Asein, expressed full support of his agency for the publishing industry, urging those involved in the book ecosystem to show keener interest in copyright issues as it affects their trade.
The Commission has an exhibition stand where visitors’ questions concerning Copyright are answered by staff members present. The Commission’s operatives are also visiting the various exhibition stands in order to check for suspected pirated works.
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Booksellers converge…
A HIGLIGHT of the Fair is the conference of the booksellers and those involved in the retail side of the publishing industry.
A public statement by Dare Oluwatuyi, President of the Booksellers Association of Nigeria, gives the theme as: “Succession Planning, Talent Management and Intergenerational Businesses in Nigeria.”
The statement reads: “Our Lead Speaker Prof. Adegbemi Babatunde ONAKOYA is a double Professorial appointee: Professor of Business and Applied Economics (Crescent University, Nigeria, 2016) and Professor of Development Economics (Babcock University, Nigeria, 2021). He has a BSc in Economics, MBA in Marketing Management, MSc in Economics and holds a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Business and Applied Economics. He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria. He also served as the Director General of the Bureau of Management and Budget, Office of the Governor, Ogun State. He was the Secretary to the Government of Ogun State, Nigeria. He was at various times the Head of Operations Support and Audit at Rank Xerox Ltd., Assistant Vice President (Operations Support) at Lenoil Holdings Ltd., Head of Finance at NCR Nigeria PLC., Finance Director at Berger Paints PLC and Executive Director at North-West Communications Ltd.
“We are inviting all Business Owners, Chief Executive Officers and would-be business owners to come and benefit from this lecture.”
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And Reading Promoters explore new strategies…
THE Fair, which also has participation from some publishers from abroad, will end on Friday with a plenary titled: Readers Parley on Nurturing a Life-long Reading Habit among Youths: Experiences, Challenges, solutions and Strategies. Holding 3 pm-5 pm in the Programme Hall of the venue, it is organised by the Network of Book Clubs and Reading Promoters in Nigeria, NBRP led by the writer, and literary activist, Richard Mammah, who earlier in the year championed the memorable Lagos Book Walk that had about. a hundred people walking the streets of Lagos to campaign for improved reading culture among Nigerians. Featuring as speakers is a collection of young people across disciplines.
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