LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- Key players in Nigeria’s publishing sector have urged the Federal Government to strengthen regulation within the industry.
They warned that rising production costs, piracy, and weak library systems are threatening the future of book publishing in the country.
Using the platform of the ongoing International Book Fair at the National Theatre in Lagos, stakeholders in the publishing industry called to the government during a roundtable discussion organized by the Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA) on Thursday.
The roundtable, themed “The Future of Publishing in Nigeria: Survival, Scale and Sustainability,” examined major challenges facing the sector, including declining reading culture, piracy, rising printing costs, weak library systems, and the growing impact of technology on local publishers.
The roundtable was attended by several prominent figures, including renowned scholar Olu Obafemi, Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, Dr John Asein, alongside the National Librarian and Chief Executive Officer of the National Library of Nigeria, Prof. Chinwe Anunobi.
READ ALSO: Samuel Olusegun Osoba Dies At 92
Also in attendance is the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, Prof. Salisu Shehu.
Publishers, authors, librarians, and education stakeholders at the event appealed for the revival of the National Book Council introduced during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Speaking at the event, President of the NPA, Alhaji Lukman Dauda, said the publishing industry was too important to function without proper coordination.
Dauda stressed that books remained central to Nigeria’s educational development. He also urged the government to involve publishers in decisions concerning educational materials and policies affecting the industry.
According to participants, the council would provide proper coordination for activities across Nigeria’s book ecosystem while helping to develop effective policies for the industry.
READ ALSO: Foluke Daramola-Salako Joins 2027 Political Race Under APC
Participants explained that the proposed National Book Council would bring the government as well as every player involved in book making and distribution to improve policy direction and promote book development nationwide.
In that context, a participating attendee challenged the belief that digital technology had replaced printed books.
The participant, who identified herself as a member of Generation Z, said she still preferred hard-copy books because they offered a more personal reading experience.
At the end, stakeholders called for urgent reforms to reposition the sector for growth, sustainability and long-term survival.
They reiterated that these would help restore confidence in Nigeria’s publishing industry while encouraging reading culture across the country.
(NAN)
