Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi and winner of the 1986
Nobel Prize for Literature, Prof. Wole
Soyinka on Thursday, April 10, 2014 joined
other notable Nigerian and African writers and literary workers at the stand of the Port Harcourt World Book Capital 2014 at the London
Book Fair held from April 8-10, 2014 at Earls Court Expo Centre, London.
In his goodwill messages with support of
the project, Gov. Amaechi pledged that Port Harcourt was indeed ready to serve
as the World Book Capital of the World for the next 12 months, beginning from
this month, April.
Other Nigerian dignitaries who witnessed a
panel discussion by Nigerian writers abroad on the significance of The World
Book Capital Project to the fortune of Nigerian writing, publishing
and educational development, among others included: The Vice Chancellor of the
Kwara State University, Prof. Rasheed NaAllah and the Project Director for the
World Book Capital, Mrs. Koko Kalango.
“The event also featured Readings and Conversations on/around
the theme: Port
Harcourt World Book Capital 2014 And, Possibilities of The
Nigerian And African Literature in The Year Of Nigeria’s Centenary.”
Stakeholders of Port
Harcourt World Book Capital, in their statement revealed that: “Port Harcourt, the
prime oil city of Nigeria, is the
UNESCO World Book Capital for 2014. The
capital city of Rivers State is the first
City in Africa South of the Sahara to be so unanimously
voted by the UNESCO committee for the project as the World Book Capital. In the
bidding process, Port Harcourt competed and beat 10 well-reputed centres of
literary production and expression, including Oxford. The city takes over the reign from
Bangkok on April 23, 2014; and from then through April
2015, will serve as centre of global attention for literary and educational
activities.
“The
title ‘World Book Capital’
is conferred by UNESCO on a city in recognition of the quality of its
programmes to foster the promotion of books and to encourage reading. The concept
was initiated in 2001 with Madrid as the first city to be given the title,
followed by Alexandria in 2002 and New Delhi in 2003. Bangkok, the current
World Book Capital City, will hand over to Port Harcourt in April 2014,” they
stated.
Furthermore, they added: “Rainbow
Book Club submitted a bid to UNESCO with the support of the Rivers State
government that led to the emergence of Port Harcourt as the UNESCO World Book
Capital 2014, the first sub-Saharan city to receive this honour!
“With
the theme: Books: Windows to
our World of Possibilities, Port Harcourt beat 10 other contenders to clinch
this nomination. Undoubtedly, this honour will have a catalytic effect on the
Niger Delta region, creating an army of social change agents who, informed and
empowered by reading, will work collaboratively to build a peaceful, prosperous
and just society.
“2014 also marks 100 years
since Nigeria was formed by the British colonial government. This milestone in
Nigeria\'s history presents a unique occasion for positive change. That is our
hope, and it is one we are already working towards through the support of
activities such as the Port
Harcourt Book Festival.”
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