Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers will assume the title: “UNESCO World Book Capital in 2014”. This is as a result of the effort made by the Rivers State Government in collaboration with Rainbow Book Club, Port Harcourt.
This was disclosed at the opening ceremony of the book festival held at the presidential Hotel Port Harcourt.
Speaking at the occasion, the Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi said that the partnership between the Rivers State Government and the Rainbow Book Club has been tremendously rewarding and has earned the city of Port Harcourt this famous title which will raise the reputation of the state and country in the educational sector.
He further said to grace this occasion in 2014, the state would erect a world class Library, a Theatre Art Centre and Café to show that the city meant the title been given to it.
Also speaking at the occasion the Director of Festival, Mrs. Koko Kalango said that exciting things are happening in the Nigeria’s garden city as she said that the 2013 book festival is the 6th of its kind and therefore has ventured away from core literacy works to feature books from people more known in other fields than literature.
According to Mrs. Kalango, for writing to become a viable income generating stream, the book industry must be alive and well so they have invited academics, writers, publishers, book sellers, librarians and readers to rub minds and see what practical step to take to ensure that literature becomes an effective economic force in Nigeria.
Addressing press men at the ceremony, Hon. Chimbiko Akarolo, the Mayor of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, said that he has been part of the book festival for over a year and he shall continue especially in the upcoming UNESCSO World Book capital by creating an enabling environment for the visitors.
He maintained that the Port Harcourt was nominated world book capital city in 2014 on the account of the quality of its programmes, its focus on youths and the impact it would have on improving Nigerian’s cultures of books, reading, writing and publishing to improve literary rate.
The chairman of the Emuoha Local Government Area also said that they are fully prepared for the April 2014 event, adding that he would fully support the State Government as it had improved the level of reading in Rivers State. ###
