Hope rises for publishing with proposed National Book Policy

After decades without a National Book Policy, one awaiting legislative approval might resolve the publishing industry’s problems.

Respite is on the horizon for Nigeria’s beleaguered publishing industry with a proposed National Book Policy that will give a defined direction awaiting legislative approval.

The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), Professor Ismail Junaidu, disclosed that the policy is in the works in his keynote address on Wednesday, May 10, at the 2023 Nigeria International Book Fair (NIBF). The fair ended yesterday and is themed ‘The Role of a Functional National Book Policy in the African Book Ecosystem.’

Junaidu highlighted the publishing industry’s problems and noted that a national book policy would strengthen the current weak system. The Executive Secretary listed the issues as the “inability to provide adequate high-quality books, book piracy, the proliferation of unqualified author-publishers, lack of capital, among others. Nigeria is also witnessing the proliferation of school books with obscene content that is inimical to our culture, social values and religious beliefs. These manifestations are indicators of an unhealthy book ecosystem. They also indicate the preponderance of sharp practices by actors in the system. A weak system that must be strengthened through the functionality of a National Book Policy.”

He held that an interrelationship should exist within the book ecosystem that should be “between authors and editors, teachers, scholars, researchers, book representatives, publishers, among others, who are part and parcel of the book ecosystem requiring the observations of certain conventions and protocols. Without proper regulatory framework enshrined in a functional book policy, the ecosystem will continue to experience setbacks.”

Professor Junaidu said addressing the problems was why NERDC and core players developed the proposed book policy “The National Book Policy is a national guideline on providing and effectively managing books and other relevant resources geared towards implementing education at all levels in Nigeria. It is, therefore, a statement of intents and purposes, as well as prescriptions, requirements and a benchmark for quality education in Nigeria by providing good and relevant books and other educational resources.”

Junaidu added what the National Book Policy would do. He said it would “promote and reward local authorship of educational books, supplementary and general reading materials both in foreign and Nigerian languages, create an enabling environment for publishing as well as provide support services needed for manuscripts generation, seek, where necessary, the purchase of rights of published works in high demand in our educational system, make books available and affordable at all levels through a sustainable system of distribution and use, support and encourage investigation and research into book development.

“Others include encouraging the production of books in specialised areas (for example, Braille for the visually impaired), encouraging the publication of all professional works, and supporting the establishment and growth of libraries at all levels of the educational system, particularly at the primary school and at the community levels; establish minimum production standards through sustainable quality control and assurance of textbooks and instructional materials to be implemented nation-wide.”

Prof. Junaidu affirmed that a functional National Book Policy is crucial for the development and sustainability of the African book ecosystem, adding, “A National Book Policy serves as a blueprint for the development of a thriving book industry, which contributes to the socio-economic and cultural development of a country. In Africa, a National Book Policy will address the book industry’s challenges, including funding, limited market access, and low literacy rates. A National Book Policy should prioritise promoting reading culture, literacy development, and the production and distribution of books.”

READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE