Nigeria’s book industry needs urgent support from the Federal Government to survive the N10 billion hit it has taken from the COVID-19 pandemic, stakeholders have said.
In a statement signed by President, Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA), Gbadega Adedapo, the players warned that the book industry needs grants to prevent total collapse.
Adedapo, who is also Chair, Nigerian Book Fair Trust (NBFT), said the industry is tottering because the virus has paralysed the entire book chain.
The NPA President noted that given the importance of books in knowledge production and dissemination, the Federal Government needs to intervene promptly to save the book industry.
Adedapo said, “COVID-19 is currently presenting the book industry with enormous challenges. The industry needs excellent help and massive support from the Federal Government. Helping the book industry’s value chain to bounce back as soon as possible is synonymous with sustaining education and literacy. It is disheartening to know that the fate of authors, publishers, printers, booksellers, librarians (the entire book chain) hangs in the balance and depends on the timely responses received from the people, but especially from the Federal Government.
“Book powers education and, as such, needs to be given immediate attention at a time like this. The book industry has lost over Ten Billion Naira (N10bn) to COVID-19 pandemic.
“We trust the Federal Government to critically and, as a matter of urgency, swiftly look into the matter of helping the industry through palliative measures. This could be done with dedicated grants and accessible funds that will aid the industry in its effort on product development and supply engagement.”
Explaining the decision to go public with their request, Adedapo said they had “no choice than to cry out to the Federal Government not to let education slide into an unredeemable state of retardation. Since the book is the bedrock of an educated society and its development, now is the time to act on behalf of the book and save it.
“The only way to be better equipped to fight the deadly virus is for the book industry to be at its optimum capacity to produce enlightenment materials for the public to consume. Only books can do this. But the book needs to survive to achieve this.”
In a related development, the 2020 Nigeria International Book Fair will happen virtually for the first time in its history.
With ‘Information Technology as a Panacea for the Book Industry Sustainability Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic’, as its theme, the 19th edition of the fair will hold from September 1 to 7.
Adedapo explained that the NBFT and Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) decided to take the fair, which usually holds at the University of Lagos, online.
The intention, he said, “is to ignite the passion of the book industry stakeholders, open up opportunities for them beyond Nigerian shores by creating an online presence, promote books and reading culture irrespective of the threat posed by the pandemic by providing an online platform that will avail participants replica (if not better experience) as can be enjoyed at a regular book fair.”
He added that Nigeria’s first virtual book fair is a free-to-exhibit and free-to-attend event. It will feature a conference, panel discussions, exhibitions, book sales, children programs, networking and webinars.
President, International Publishers Association, Switzerland, Hugo Setzer, will deliver the keynote speech at the fair also involving authors, publishers, printers, booksellers, librarians and the Nigerian Copyright Commission.
People interested in the book fair can register to participate at www.nigeriabookfair.com.