The Network of Book Clubs and Reading Culture Promoters (NBRP) has advocated for a partnership with LEADERSHIP Group, lawmakers, and the aviation ministry to promote reading and literacy in hinterland areas and at airports.

The network made the call during a visit to the LEADERSHIP Group corporate headquarters in Abuja, recently.

At the event, the network’s Abuja coordinator, ‘Loye Olowoekere, said part of its objective of ensuring more Nigerians read is the Abuja Book City 2025 project – which includes a flag-off ceremony in April, an Essay Competition titled “Fixing The Reading Challenge” for primary, secondary, tertiary and adult Nigerians, and the group’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) – which would convene members from its chapters in Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Ekiti, Ibadan, Port-Harcourt, Lagos, FCT among others.

The network will refurbish and update the winning school’s library in the essay competition. However, funding the network’s grand ideas to motivate reading habits among Nigerians cannot be done solely through the network’s membership dues of N12,000 yearly or free-will donations from individuals and institutions.

“We need the media’s partnership and collaboration to promote our activities and make them visible to the public.”

The network further advocated for partnership with Nigerian lawmakers and the Ministry of Aviation to promote reading among the Nigerian public.

The chair of the NBRP Local Organising Committee (LOC), Chidoka Onumah, noted the network’s advocacy for the establishment of community libraries in all 774 local governments of the country and the refurbishment of existing/abandoned community libraries as a means of making reading accessible to Nigerians in the hinterland.

Similarly, he highlighted Nigeria’s adoption of other nations that have set up free-book reading stands at airports for users to meaningfully engage during their mid-commute.

He said the success of such events depends on the support of local government representatives at the National and State Assemblies and the Ministry of Aviation, whose audience, despite several attempts, they have yet to successfully engage.

“The challenge is the politicians. We have written to the minister of FCT talking about partnership, but haven’t gotten any response. If we get a response, we can then explain some of these things and say, Work with us to ensure that the school libraries are functional.

“We have written to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Technology, noting that we have enough books donated by members, seeking partnership with them to provide free-to-read bookstands at airports to encourage people to read. People can read while at the airport and leave behind when leaving the airport.”

Responding to the visitors, LEADERSHIP Editor-In-Chief Azu Ishiekwene commended the network for the tedious work it has undertaken to motivate reading among Nigerian citizens.

Highlighting the popular saying, “If you want to keep something from a Nigerian, put it in a book,” Ishiekwene noted that the low rate of reading amongst average Nigerians, estimated at one book per year, compared to the average reader in Kenya or South Africa, is not only a structural but also an economic problem.

“The aim is not to keep lamenting the situation but to do something about it. I commend the great work the network is doing to get people to read and love literature; it is not easy.”

In support of the network’s activities, the editor-in-chief further donated copies of his latest publication, “Writing for the Media and Monetising It,” which the network reciprocated by donating nine books, including biographies, novels, etc., to the media house library.