UK, India, Pakistan, others for International Book Fair in Nigeria

The Nigeria International Book Fair will open at the University of Lagos on May 8, with foreign participants expected from the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Iran, Senegal and Ghana.

This was made known last week by the chairman of the Nigeria Book Fair Trust (organisers of the fair), Mr Rilwanu Abdulsalami, at a press conference held in Lagos.

According to Abdulsalami, the weeklong event would provide a platform to brainstorm solutions to the various challenges plaguing the book and knowledge industry, particularly poor reading culture, gaps in book distribution and the impact of regulatory policies.

The former Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Dibu Ojerinde, will deliver a keynote paper at the Fair’s International Conference on Tuesday, May 9, at the University of Lagos’ Multi-purpose Halls.

“Suffice it to say, many hindrances across Africa that had been hampering the growth of book and knowledge industry will be extensively discussed at the conference and divergent views of participants shall be collected and made known to the government for necessary actions,” Abdulsalami said.

Also speaking with journalists at the briefing, the National President of the Nigerian Publishers Association, Mr Gbadega Adedapo, said his association would begin the accreditation of booksellers across the country in a bid to combat piracy.

He said, “We believe we need to improve the chain of distribution, to make books readily available and affordable. Consumers are often unable to have access to the books they desire, or sometimes unaware of the locations where they can be purchased. That is why we want to adjust the chain of distribution. And that is why we believe it is ideal to accredit the book sellers. If we can achieve that, then we can reduce the issue of piracy.”