‘The event is a mega-advocacy reading promotions activity by stakeholders in the Nigerian book sector convened to mark World Book Day 2023 and the commencement of Lagos’ tenure as Nigerian National Book Club City’
TODAY, hundreds of literary activists, including writers, readers and lovers of the written and oral texts take over the streets of Lagos to campaign for increase community attention to the place of books in the development of the society.
Titled #LagosBookWalk 2023, the street campaign much-anticipated will see the participants converged on the premises of the Lagos State Television in Ikeja, from where they will March on many of the streets of the city, said the organisers in a statement
The event is designed as a “mega-advocacy reading promotions activity by stakeholders in the Nigerian book sector convened to mark World Book Day 2023 and the commencement of Lagos’ tenure as Nigerian National Book Club City.”
According to the statement, the walk would still commence from 7 am at the Ikeja Bus Stop on Obafemi Awolowo Way and proceed to the Secretariat and House of Assembly Complex where copies of the Lagos Book Charter, a panoply of suggestions for improving the reading culture in Nigeria’s commercial hub would be presented to the principal leaders of the state.
Thereafter, participants would retire for a season of readings at the Lagos State Television.
A companion reading promotions activity would also hold on the same day at the LTV premises.
The activities are being coordinated by the Network of Book Clubs and Reading Culture Promoters in Nigeria (NBRP) and Lagos would be the second city to wear the National Book Clubs city toga.
Uyo wore it in 2021 and 2022 and Yenagoa in Bayelsa State has already been awarded the hosting rights for 2024. The 2025 host city is to be chosen at the National Conference and AGM of NBRP in Lagos this September.
“Nigeria has had a chequered romance with the reading culture in its modern form for very many decades. The trend has however come to be challenged by fundamental value shifts and the emergence of many other contending and inapropriately incorporated media in the country. These have necessitated widespread public calls for a revival and renewal of the reading culture,” said the statement.
