The 24th edition of the Nigeria International Book Fair opened with a strong call to action, spotlighting the urgent need for Nigeria to harness its abundant natural resources and build local capacity for paper production. This year’s theme, centered on transforming the paper supply chain, reflects a critical national conversation on reducing the country’s staggering $3 billion annual paper import bill.
In a keynote address delivered by Michael Oluwadare Oluwatuyi, Chairman of the Nigeria Book Fair Trust, he urged stakeholders across the sector to embrace solutions that would make book production more affordable and accessible.
A highlight of the event is the expert-led panel discussion titled “Local Paper Production: Panacea to Affordable Book Production and Qualitative Education,” featuring prominent voices in policymaking and industry, including the Hon. Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Sen. John Owan Enoh.
Complementing the discourse on book production, the fair also hosts the 3rd Tertiary Education Summit, focusing on enhancing the global competitiveness of Nigeria’s higher education system. Discussions aim to identify the root causes of the nation’s educational challenges and propose actionable strategies to elevate standards.
Oluwatuyi however announced that preparations are already underway for the landmark 25th edition of the book fair. According to him, a year-long lineup of activities is being planned to commemorate the silver jubilee of the nation’s foremost literary and educational gathering.
