Port Harcourt, last weekend, hosted the three writers vying for the 2024 Nigeria Prize for Literature (NPL) to a Bookfest organised by the Rainbow Book Club and NLNG.

In its 20th year, the genre in focus is Children’s Literature and the three finalists are Uchechukwu Peter Umezurike, author of Wish Maker, Ndidi Chiazor-Enenmore, author of Father’s Pride and Olubunmi Familoni, author of The Road Does Not End.

The event, which held Saturday, September 28, at the J-Signature Hotel, Port Harcourt, attracted the Commissioner for Education, Rivers State, Dr Ovy Chukwumah and the General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Mr Andy Odeh, represented by Dr Sophia Horsefall. At the event, Odeh commended the club for its efforts in making it happen yearly.

Also in attendance were the city’s literati, school children, pop culture stars and representatives of youth groups, government, corporate organisations, civil society and the media.

In her welcome speech, titled, A Legacy Of Stories, founder, Rainbow Book Club, Koko Kalango, raised the need to encourage literacy in the world. Acknowledging the importance of NPL, Kalango pointed out the link between low early literacy rates, crime and underdevelopment.

Highlighting the UNICEF report of June 2024, she said Nigeria has the highest number of out-of-school children in the world — 18.3 million, that is, one out of three, “we are in an education crisis,” she noted.

Kalango added, “of the population that are in school, many cannot read, and are therefore, unlikely to get a secondary school education. The ability to read by the time a child is 10 is critical to their success in school and their life-long learning potential.”                      

She said: “The bottom line is that if we don’t take the task to get Nigerian children to become proficient readers as a matter of national urgency, the price will be paid not only by individuals and families, but by the entire country. That is why the decision of Nigeria LNG to target literary enterprise through the Nigeria Prize for Literature is most commendable. And the idea of dedicating a prize to children’s story books is particularly laudable.”

Commending the General Manager External Relations and Sustainable Development for commissioning the book club to organise the hosting of the shortlisted writers in Port Harcourt, she noted that 2024 is an important year for the prize, as it marks the 20th anniversary of its establishment, and also, the city of Port Harcourt, as it marks 10 years it was named World Book Capital by UNESCO.

To mark this significant milestone, the club kicked off two exciting projects aimed mainly at young people: ROAR Africa – stories of notable Africans for young readers and Talking Books Africa – monthly virtual conversations with authors. Both are platforms for telling Africa’s stories.

“Why is it important that we own our narrative?” She asked. An African proverb provides the answer: “Until the Lion tells the story, the hunter will always be the hero. This proverb pre-supposes two versions of the same story: the hunter’s version and the lion’s version.”

Kalango equally raised the need to empower children, especially those in the city with both educational tools and literary skills. “A World Book Capital City must have functional libraries. The World Book Capital City needs to revive and expand the 200 book clubs that were set up in its schools in 2014. The World Book Capital City needs to revive the full-fledged Port Harcourt Book Festival, which was actually a festival of ideas and creativity.

“Talking about creativity, the 21st century education goes beyond the classroom (formal education) to the theatre, the playground, the dance floor (non-formal and informal education).

“That is why we launched the Rainbow Talent Hunt; a competition to discover, expose and reward creativity. We threw the challenge to schools around Port Harcourt. The children who would be performing this evening were the winning acts. On this stage, they would teach us a thing or two about life.”

Highlight of the book event was interview with the three shortlisted authors, Umezurike, Ndidi Chiazor-Enenmor and Familoni, by 10-year-old Miss Divine Moses and 14-year-old Master Chizorom Ogbuanu, moderated by Ibeleme Greene, a barrister and policy consultant.

Guests were treated to rich entertainment: spoken word by 11-year-old Karena Okodo and her group as well as a dance drama titled, One Language, by the Junior Active Playhouse, made up of children between the ages of six and 13. There was also a quiz around the NPL whose winners were rewarded.

Chairman, Association of Nigerian Authors, Rivers State, Chief Adi Nwali, said, “it was indeed a most electrifying moment for literature in Port Harcourt.”
An opinion also shared by Chairman, Reading Association of Nigeria, Rivers State Chapter, Prof. Ibiere Ken-Maduako, who said, “it was a lovely, inspiring, memorable, captivating and fulfilling event which inspired many young and aspiring writers to take a first step and eat ‘that frog’.”

Equally speaking on the bookfest, Dame Aleruchi Cookey-Gam, former Attorney General Rivers State, said it was “well organised and quite a stimulating session.”

For former President, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), O.C.J Okocha, “it was a well attended event and I enjoyed my stay there.” Ibim Semenitari, former Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), also commended the club “for doing a good job.”

A guest, Maxwell Maxi, while praising the organisation of the bookfest, said, “the Rainbow Midas touch of excellence is very evident and refreshing.” The filmmaker, teacher and trainer, Sam Dede, also thanked Rainbow for putting it together. The 2024 winner of the $100,000 at stake will be announced at the Grand Award Night on October 11 in Lagos.