Stakeholders demand national book policy

Stakeholders in the book industry have called on the Federal Government to come up with a National Book Policy that will help to regulate the industry and make it attractive for professionals.

Leading the call was Dr Oshiotse Okwilagwe who delivered the keynote address at the 2018 Nigeria International Book Fair in Lagos.

Okwilagwe who spoke on ‘Networking: a sustainable vehicle for dynamism and survival of book business in Africa,’ noted that it is unfortunate that publishing is seen as an accidental profession in Nigeria and Africa at large. He said with such perception people therefore, tend to enter and walk out of the industry without enduring and endeavouring to build the industry when faced with the slightest challenges.

“The issue of corruption has manifested in different ways in the publishing industry in Africa. There have been cases of biased recruitment of staff, poor management of human and material resources, unethical financial practices and the problems of general incompetence among the captains in the publishing industry in Africa, among other challenges,” he said.

In combating the challenges, Okwilagwe said government publishing related agencies like Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) should revisit their objectives and stop constituting themselves into a hindrance to growth of the publishing industry he also called for the development of a national book policy.

“A national book policy should be developed and established on strong and informed professional decisions in African nations and national book publishing commissions should be established and run by professional publishers and academics who specializes in publishing studies,” Okwilagwe said.

Similarly, the Chairman, Nigerian Book Fair Trust (NBFT), Rilwanu Abdusalami said the Trust is ready to work with the Federal Government in the development of the National Book Policy.

“The board of the Nigerian Book Fair Trust along with the entire stakeholders in the book industry in Nigeria would strife to maintain the standard attained by putting in place initiatives and programmes and adopt best practices that would improve the planning of the book fair. It’s on record that the NIBF has continued to serve as an avenue for all the stakeholders in the book industry.

“Let me therefore cease the opportunity of this event to inform you all of the readiness of the Nigerian Book Fair Trust (NBFT), to partner with partner with government in drawing up policies or legislation needed to boost and strengthened the book industry in Nigeria thereby remedying most of the challenges,” Abdusalami said.