Anthony Akpokene Leads Campaign for Reading Culture Renaissance at Sixth Abuja Book Fair
By Genesis Ogiri
The Convener of the Abuja Book Fair and Chief Executive Officer of Flomat Books Limited, Dr. Anthony Akpokene, has intensified the campaign for a national reading culture renaissance, calling on Nigerians to rediscover the intellectual value of books and embrace reading as a fundamental instrument of personal development, educational advancement and national transformation.
Akpokene made the call during the sixth edition of the Abuja Book Fair, held under the theme, "Reading Culture Renaissance 6," which brought together authors, publishers, booksellers, educators, students and other stakeholders in the literary ecosystem to promote literacy, encourage knowledge acquisition and strengthen public appreciation for reading.
The event commenced on November 10 with a school reading programme at Bankys School, Apo District, Abuja, attracting participation from several private schools. A major highlight was the appearance of Dr. Ogaga Ifowodo, recent winner of the Nigerian LNG Prize for Literature, who read excerpts from his award-winning publication, Why Does God Need a Gun? and engaged the students in an interactive session designed to stimulate literary appreciation, critical thinking and intellectual curiosity among the younger generation.
The school outreach programme also featured Ms. Ifejika, a sickle cell survivor, who shared her personal experiences with the students. Her engagement provided an inspirational dimension to the initiative, exposing the young participants to important lessons on resilience, courage, determination and the capacity to navigate personal challenges.
The main book exhibition, which held from November 12 to 14, provided an expansive platform for bookstores, publishing houses and independent vendors to showcase an assortment of literary publications. The availability of books at significantly discounted prices reflected the organisers' commitment to democratising access to reading materials, encouraging wider readership and addressing some of the financial barriers limiting access to books.
Beyond its literary and commercial dimensions, the sixth edition incorporated professional discourses on the intersection of technology, healthcare and human productivity. A foremost optometrist and lecturer, Dr. Adesuwa Agbontaen, delivered a presentation on the potential adverse effects of prolonged exposure to digital devices, particularly mobile phones, on eye health. Her lecture also examined practical approaches to mitigating associated risks, drawing attention to the importance of responsible digital habits in contemporary society.
Similarly, Professor McDonald Idu delivered a lecture on food as medicine, exploring the therapeutic properties of medicinal plants and their relevance to preventive healthcare. His presentation underscored the relationship between nutrition, physical wellbeing and intellectual productivity, reinforcing the importance of maintaining good health as a prerequisite for effective learning, concentration and sustained engagement with knowledge.
The convergence of literary exhibitions, school outreach activities and expert presentations underscored the broader vision of the Abuja Book Fair to strengthen Nigeria's literary ecosystem and promote a sustainable culture of lifelong learning. By bringing together established literary figures, emerging readers and professionals from different fields, the initiative provided an important platform for knowledge exchange, intellectual stimulation and the advancement of literacy consciousness.
Akpokene, while emphasising the need for broader institutional participation in the campaign, appealed to government agencies, corporate organisations, educational institutions and well-meaning individuals to support the initiative through sponsorship and strategic partnerships. He maintained that rebuilding Nigeria's reading culture was a collective responsibility that required sustained investment, deliberate advocacy and collaboration across different sectors of society, stressing that the organisers could not accomplish the mission alone.
The Flomat Books chief executive reiterated the imperative for Nigerians to return to reading, describing books as indispensable instruments for intellectual empowerment, professional development, informed citizenship and national progress. He maintained that a society that neglects reading risks undermining its intellectual capital and future leadership capacity, urging individuals, families, schools and institutions to make reading an enduring national habit. His central message remained emphatic: Nigerians must begin to read again.
