Booksellers, Book Clubs mark World Book Day

Booksellers, Book Clubs mark World Book Day

Booksellers, Book Clubs, schools and other stakeholders and book enthusiasts in Nigeria are marking World Book Day today, March 4, 2021.

While some of the activities are physical, socially-distanced events, others are electronic sessions.

In a statement to mark the occasion, the President of the Booksellers Association of Nigeria, BAN and Joint Organiser of the UN SDGs Book Club, African Chapter, Mr Oluwadare Michael Oluwatuyi called on the Nigerian authorities across all levels to do more in the interest of the reading culture.

On his part, the Interim Secretary of the Network of Book Clubs and Reading Promoters in Nigeria, Mr. Emmanuel Okoro, called attention to the imperative of greater intra-industry synergy among all stakeholders in the books process so that more collective gains can be secured.

Said Oluwatuyi:

‘On this most auspicious occasion of the commemoration of World Book Day 2021, the Booksellers Association of Nigeria, BAN heartily felicitates with billions of book lovers the world over. We salute your tireless commitment to the cultivation, promotion and perpetuation of the books and reading culture and encourage you to continue to sustain same.

Here in Nigeria, we recognise that several extenuating circumstances have continued to militate against the more widespread cultivation and sustenance of the reading habit. But we have been, and remain encouraged by the selfless work done by stakeholders, enthusiasts and ordinary citizens to help ensure that the book fires do not go out. We salute your doggedness and urge you to remain steadfast and unwavering despite the odds.

Appreciating the critical role that authority plays in the formation and development of cultures, we  encourage and call upon all tiers of government in our country Nigeria to use the occasion of World Book Day 2021 to recommit themselves to the very simple but  grand ideal of nurturing a society where the citizens read. Accordingly, we demand a review of laws and agencies that relate to the book sector and the practice of reading in order to make them better fit for purpose.

We appreciate that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative effect on our book space for months now. But we also note that it has also afforded us the opportunity for greater engagement with the world of e-books and digital learning. We call for more concerted initiatives in this regard from our policy makers. Much more has to be done in the area of broadband penetration, cheaper internet and e-libraries equipping.

We also want to use the occasion to call attention to the forthcoming launch of the African Chapter of the UN SDGs Book Club which the Booksellers Association of Nigeria is a partner organisation. Scheduled for April 23rd, the project would not only further boost the culture of reading in the continent, it would equally serve as a veritable platform for the promotion of the Social Development Goals of the United Nations, which Nigeria is a signatory to.

Let us all recommit to building and boosting the reading culture.’

CSS Book Shop, iRead Mobile Library and the Aba Book Club are some of the organisations that are hosting events across the week in commemoration of the process.

The World Book Day is an annual reading promotions activity that takes place in many nations of the world. A companion event, The World Book and Copyright Day holds on April 23rd.

Students of New Birth School, Lagos during their World Book Day call at Nigeria’s oldest book trade hub, CSS Bookshops Limited, Thursday