FG unveils Abuja book project to promote literacy, reading culture

Disturbed by the monster called illiteracy, the Federal Government, yesterday, unveiled the Abuja book city project to encourage reading culture among citizens and pave way for the country to enjoy the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)-shared values.

Presenting the 2025 Abuja Book City Logo in the federal capital, National Liberian and CEO, National Library of Nigeria, Prof. Chinwe Veronica Anunobi, stressed the need for stakeholders to collaboratively tackle illiteracy and poor reading culture, which she labelled a weapon of neo-colonisation.

Anunobi, who noted that the success of the project lies in the active participation of all stakeholders, harped on the need to build a community, where books are cherished, and reading is celebrated

She said: “This national engagement will, if properly executed, create a lasting impact on national development. When understanding is given to the citizenry on when and what reading brings to their mental, socio-political, and economic well-being, the initiative will have achieved a milestone.

“It will be stating the obvious that reading and literacy make a complete man, engender competencies and fire for life-long learning.

“From government agencies to private sector partners, and from educators to community leaders, each of us has a role to play in making this vision a reality.

“Together, we can build a community where books are cherished, and reading is celebrated. Let us join hands and voices to work and speak for Nigeria’s sustainable development.”

The librarian called on stakeholders, including publishers, library associations, booksellers and authors, to join hands to promote the initiative. Earlier in his remarks, Coordinator, Network of Book Clubs and Reading Culture Promoters in Nigeria (NBRP), Loye Olowookere, who pledged that his body would undertake sensitisation events after the logo unveiling, disclosed that the organisers would also facilitate the establishment of book clubs in the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), under the 774 Book Clubs project of the NBRP.