The Managing Director of First Veritas Educational Content and Delivery Limited, Gbenro Adegbola, has said the causes of dying reading culture in Nigeria can be traced to insecurity and the dwindling economy bedevilling the country.
Adegbola made this known on Friday during an exclusive interview with CEOAFRICA in commemoration of April 23rd: the World Book and Copyright Day.
The United Nations has chosen April 23rd to pay homage to authors, books, and the copyright laws that protect them.
The MD of First Verita, expressed that the World Book and Copyright Day is a day “set aside by the United Nations to celebrate the book and its culture, the issues affecting the book as well as copyright, and to also sensitize people on what goes into the production of books.”
He averred that the major factor contributing to the decline of reading culture in Nigeria is basically economic problems, noting that books sell more in the past than in the current dispensation.
Adegbola traced the beginning of the decline to the early and mid 1980s, saying “it became worse during the Gen. Babangida and Gen. Abacha regime.
“Educational institutions were at a time closed for almost a year which led to a lot of people losing faith in the educational sector.
“However, with the rebirth of democracy and greater stability in the economy, the publishing industry began to witness a gradual climb back into prominence.”
He further explained that Nigeria has returned into economic, political and security problems which adversely affect books and publishing, since individuals can only read for pleasure when they feel safe.
The publisher lamented on the attitude of most Nigerians who consider books as important only for educational purpose and once that purpose is achieved they have no use for reading anymore.
Speaking on how to promote reading culture in Nigeria, the seasoned publisher asserted that both the government and industry players have a lot to do in the regard.
He, however, recommended that the Federal Executive Council should initiate the idea of picking “a book of the month” and have a minister make presentation on such book at the end of the month.
“This will be reported in the news and it will have a spill down effect on the people which will help inspire a good reading habit among the populace,” he said.
He also urged the Publishing firms to intensify their effort towards the publication of quality books and making it readily available to people who are committed to reading.
Contrary to the fears of some book lovers, concerning the possible extinction of hardcopy books at the expense of e-books, Mr Gbenro maintained that electronic-books are only complementary and that “it can never replace nor reduce the innate appeal of the hardcopies.”
He further stressed that in recent years, most published books now have a digital component to it and in spite of this, the publishing sector is still experiencing growth.
He disclosed that the copyright laws in Nigeria is not perfect yet and can be improved upon in the area of enforcement, enjoining the Copyright Commission to do more at enforcing the Copyright laws in Nigeria.
Adegbola advised the youth to continue to develop their minds and to seek information through the cultivation of a good reading habit in order to be relevant in this information age.
