WORLD BOOK DAY – NIGERIAN
BOOK INDUSTRY PLAYERS CELEBRATE
BOOKS AMIDST THE CURRENT
COVID-19 CHALLENGES, ENJOINED BOOK
LOVERS AND READERS TO STAY
SAFE.
23
April 2020
In
the face of global challenges, and especially the raging COVID-19 pandemic we recognize
and celebrate today being 2020 World Book day. Books have offered our Nation so
great opportunity with its positive impact being felt in all ramifications from the
development of literacy to growth in education, contribution to the Nation’s
GDP, instilling peace into mankind, personal development, engaging all and sundry
even at a solitary time such as this.
Books
have enabled us to learn how to develop our skills and hone it further, relate with
one another peaceably as well as open our mind to converting initiative into creativity
and inventions that make the world a better place to live.
Moreso,
knowledge, and skills in all sectors such as education, health, environment, water,
energy, industry, gender equality, peace and security, and reviving the economy
are paramount at this moment; which can only be achieved with the collective influence of the book industry.
Today,
we, the book industry players in Nigeria are not just celebrating books; our excitement
is embedded in the fact that we are great contributors to ensuring the availability
of books to the masses.
The
Author writes and prepares the manuscripts, the manuscripts get edited,
illustration done and packaged by publishers to make a book which in turn is
converted to readable physical and electronic formats for onward availability
to end-users through the booksellers and get the book shelved for easy access
and archiving. It is indeed a great time to celebrate everything about books
not leaving out the brains behind its production and availability.
How
do we thank Authors, Publishers, Illustrators, Printers, Booksellers and
Librarians tirelessly working together to ensure books reach the readers or how
else do we appreciate those who ensured the copyright of those books are well
protected to enable industry investors to have their Return On Investment.
It
is obvious that in whatever form the book comes, it radiates light into the
darkest part that is seemingly incomprehensible. Many thanks to lovers of books
who after all, encourages its further production by purchasing and improving
their lives.
Beyond
books, we celebrate the readers who have denied all temptations to get swayed away by the dying reading
culture.
At a
time like this, we care for the safety of all, book lovers and readers in
Nigeria and beyond as we urge you to please stay home and stay safe reading
books. We shall soon get over the current COVID-19 pandemic. If there’s a way
to make the most of the moment, then it is by studying and reading books. By
extension, parents have in extempore now turn official educator with integrated engagement so guide the children
and their wards through books.
Our
industry keeps making frantic efforts to keep abreast of the current book demands,
exploring every possible means to further meet the demands of book readers in
concordant with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 4, as it concerns inclusive
and equitable quality education that promotes lifelong learning opportunities for
all.
The
current pandemic has dealt a huge blow on the industry and we need Government’s
support to get over the negative impact on our activities as we gasp for oxygen
to survive. On this note, we urge the Government to consider the book industry in
its economic response strategies.
Soon,
we shall get over this!
Prof.
Innocent Ekoja
President
– NLA
Gbadega
Adedapo
Chairman
- NBFT
President
– NPA
Denja
Abdullahi
Immediate
Past
President – ANA
Dare
Oluwatuyi
President –
BAN
Malomo
Olugbemi
President
- CIPPON
