Business
NBRP Reviews 2021 Reading Promotion Activities, Plans for 2022
By Edozie Obasi-Eze
The Network of Book Clubs and Reading Promoters in Nigeria (NBRP), after a busy year marked by a series of virtual and physical events, has taken a retrospective look into 2021 with respect to reading promotion activities in the country while recounting the milestones achieved and the foundational blocks laid for the group’s activities in 2022.
Commenting on this in a recent event in Lagos, Mr. Richard Mammah, NBRP President, said 2021 has been an eventful year for the Network what with the setbacks of the pandemic outbreak of 2020.
Richard Mammah
“We are happy that major steps were taken this year towards the growth of the group as a pivotal body for galvanising harmony among book clubs and reading promoters in Nigeria,” he said.
NBRP was born in February 2020 after a gathering of a few book lovers sparked the need to create a broad platform for organising reading promotion and advancing the course of reading in Nigeria. Since then, the group has grown into over 50 members who are representatives of reading groups, books clubs, and reading for writing groups, library custodians and enthusiasts, and so on.
Mammah said teething issues have been experienced in getting activities of the group off the ground but there has been an overall success with major annual events adopted by the group such as the Quarterly Business Meetings, the Annual Convention and General Meeting, the Book and Copyright Day to mark the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Book and Copyright Day every April, and the National Reading Week.
An audacious but necessary initiative of the group is the vision of 774 book clubs in Nigeria, in line with having at least one major book club in every local government area in Nigeria.
2021 also saw the group implementing the National Book City Initiative, taking its inspiration from the UNESCO World Book Capital initiative, which adopts one city in the world annually to serve as hub and anchor for reading promotions activities across the given year.
Localised to suit the Nigerian environment, NBRP considered the merits of consolidating book activities in one location for a whole year so as to achieve greater traction and Uyo was chosen as the first National Book Clubs City for 2021. After the group’s first annual general meeting in Uyo in September, Uyo also emerged as the National Book Clubs City for 2022 commencing from 23 April 2022 while Lagos will follow in 2023, commencing from 23 April 2023.
Meanwhile, at the Uyo AGM, the group, in collaboration of other stakeholders in attendance, drawn from the National Library of Nigeria; Nigerian Copyright Commission; Booksellers Association of Nigeria; Nigerian Publishers Association, Librarians of Nigerian Universities; media and information managers; authors; the political class; students and the broader reading public, reviewed the current state of the reading enterprise in Nigeria, the operations of the NBRP and steps to boost the reading culture through greater exploration of public libraries, book clubs, e-books and social reading, and resolved as follows:
To amplify the continued poor appreciation of the place of reading in national development and the inadequate deployment and maintenance of infrastructure in this regard; To call attention to the imperative of an all-out drive to emplace the reading enterprise at the centre of the national development process given its notable multiplier effect across all levels and strata of national growth and achievement;
To emphasise the urgent need for value reorientation, and aggressive readership promotion to entrench the reading culture in all communities within the Nigerian Society; To secure endorsement for NBRP’s campaign towards the establishment of at least one well-kitted library and book club per local government in the country;
To demand that a Library Bill of Rights should be passed by the legislature as an instrument to provide uncompromising support for intellectual freedom and the provision of all types of libraries for all; To request that a libraries’ advocacy group comprising book clubs, stakeholders in the book trade, schools, students, parents, journalists, non-governmental organisations, donor agencies, and so on, should be formed to lobby for the continued prioritizing of libraries on the agenda of government; To reiterate that social reading should continue to be encouraged given its impact on the proper cultivation and enhancement of sound human values, peer review, and the multiplicity of constructive ideas for individual and national development; To require that stakeholders in the book trade should continue to work at improving the book value and supply chain for greater reader impact, reading culture enhancement and national development through taking steps towards the gradual restoration of the structural elements of the holistic book chain; To hold governments at all levels accountable to their social function and proper positioning of the education and culture sector in the national development process; To advocate voluntary citizens and Community initiatives and involvement in book clubs establishment and libraries management; and To urge stakeholders in the book trade to work towards the introduction of an Integrated private sector-driven National Books Distribution Company that would help address bottlenecks in the books supply chain and lead to the lowering of costs.
Hearty commendations were also extended to His Excellency, Mr Udom Emmanuel, Governor of Akwa Ibom State for his support for, and participation at the Conference and for accepting and signing up to serve as Grand Patron of Akwa Ibom Book Clubs.
A further collaborative effort was also manifested at the 23rd Lagos Book and Arts Festival (LABAF) on 18 November 2021, when a session of the publishers’ forum held. With the theme, “Getting Books to Readers across the Country and the role of Library and Resource Centres in getting Books to Readers,” stakeholders in the book sphere including writers came together for deliberations on the way forward. At the end of the session, the following resolutions were made and, signed by Jahman Anikulapo of Committee for Relevant Art, Mr. Gbadega Adedapo of Nigerian Book Fair Trust, Chief (Hon) Uchenna Cyril Anioke of Nigerian Publishers Association, Dare Oluwatuyi of Booksellers Association of Nigeria, Dr. Nkem Osuigwu of African Libraries and Information Associations and Institutions, and Richard Mammah of NBRP:
To encourage greater collaboration and networking among players in the books ecosystem as part of a drive for a more seamless books sector and to better facilitate joint advocacy in the overall interest of all players, book industry stakeholders must be fully ready to raise their voices and make their activities more visible for all to see through enhanced public awareness and sensitization; To remind government of its role in the continued nurturing and development of the book sector, beginning with the coming into effect of a National Book Policy within the shortest possible time; To encourage the attachment of functional and viable book clubs to all libraries in the country; To encourage governments across board, and particularly at the local government area level, to establish, maintain, staff and furnish at least one community library per LGA whose book stock must be renewed and updated annually; That going forward, libraries should be seen and regarded as more than ‘houses of books,’ but even more appropriately as ‘living community houses and centres of ideas and culture’ where unfettered dissemination and transmission of information is maximally encouraged and takes place; That government, as well as stakeholders in the book trade, should pay even greater regard to factors of ease of availability and affordability of books as a way of engendering improved readership patronage, and that in a practical sense, stakeholders should do more to facilitate the coming into being of at least one ‘National Books Distribution Company’ as a practical vehicle for lowering distribution and marketing costs within the next three years; That Publishers must take advantage of the Information Technology tools prevalent amongst the youths nowadays, to package their contents for readers across various formats (audio books, e-book, v-book, braille etc.) to encourage and promote reading amongst the youths; and That the respective associations in the book trade should continue with their ongoing engagements in respect of the restoration of the traditional book chain and invest more resources in order that we may be able to better guarantee the immediate and long-term sustainability of the books ecosystem in Nigeria.
NBRP also played a collaborative role in the United Nations SDG’s Book Clubs Reading list, which was announced on the occasion of the 2021 World Book and Copyright Day, by way of encouraging its members to sign up as ambassadors for the UN SDG’s Book Clubs African Chapter with a view to creating a reading atmosphere for the selected books in the list to get to the target audience.
“Majority of these activities are not one-off,” Mammah said, adding that “the numerous emergent initiatives, assignments and projects, most of which are collaborative with relevant stakeholders, will continue in 2022 as NBRP progresses to deepen its roots towards the overall objectives of getting books and reading into the daily culture of Nigerians.”
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in partnership with Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, has launched a specialised 12-month capacity development programme to prepare 300 young Nigerian graduates for careers in the nation’s oil and gas industry
The NCDMB–Renaissance Oil and Gas Field Readiness Training Programme will provide participants with industry-relevant expertise in mechanical, electrical and instrumentation engineering, combining three months of intensive classroom instruction with nine months of structured on-the-job training at partner oil and gas service companies.
The programme has enrolled 300 beneficiaries, comprising 240 trainees in Lagos and 60 in Port Harcourt.
During the inauguration of the programme, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr Felix Omatsola Ogbe, said the initiative underscores the Board’s commitment to developing indigenous technical capacity, increasing Nigerian participation in the petroleum industry and supporting the country’s economic growth.
Represented by the Board’s Assistant Manager, Human Capacity Development, Tari Bufazi, Ogbe said the training would equip participants with practical experience and internationally recognised certifications needed to compete in the global energy industry.
“This is more than the commencement of a training programme. It is the beginning of a journey for young Nigerians who will acquire world-class skills in mechanical, instrumentation and electrical disciplines,” he said.
According to him, specialised competencies in automation, instrumentation and engineering operations have become increasingly critical as Nigeria prepares for a new wave of investments in the oil and gas sector.
“Instrumentation, electrical and mechanical engineering are foundational to the survival, profitability and safety of the Nigerian oil and gas industry. This training is designed to close existing gaps and prepare participants for industry demands,” he added.
Ogbe urged the beneficiaries to seize the opportunity to develop themselves into innovators, problem-solvers and future leaders capable of driving the industry’s growth.
In the same vein, the General Manager, Nigerian Content Development at Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Olarenwaju Lanre Olawuyi, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to building indigenous capabilities through sustained investments in human capital.
Represented by Funso Alabi, Olawuyi said the programme was deliberately structured to expose participants to both classroom learning and practical field experience across mechanical systems, electrical operations, instrumentation and control, software development, networking and cybersecurity.
He noted that the practical component would bridge the gap between academic knowledge and workplace expectations, enabling participants to acquire competencies increasingly sought after by employers.
“At Renaissance, we believe local content development must create real capability, strengthen indigenous expertise and empower Nigerians to lead,” he said.
He also reminded the trainees that technical competence alone would not guarantee success, stressing that professionalism, integrity, teamwork and a strong safety culture remain essential qualities in the oil and gas industry.
The Chief Executive Officer of Radial Circle, the programme’s lead training provider, Ranti Omole, disclosed that the beneficiaries emerged from a highly competitive selection process involving thousands of applicants drawn from the NCDMB database.
He said the objective of the initiative extends beyond issuing certificates, noting that the programme is designed to produce industry-ready professionals capable of making immediate contributions in operational environments.
“We are building competence and skills. By the time you complete this programme, you should be field-ready and able to fit seamlessly into industry operations,” Omole said.
He encouraged participants to remain disciplined, embrace continuous learning and leverage the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues from different parts of the country.
The operational successes of the Nigerian Navy’s sustained offensive against oil theft, illegal refining, pipeline vandalism, and militancy in the second quarter of 2026 have aided Nigeria’s crude oil production to reach 1,735 million barrels per day in June.
Recall that the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) announced that the 1.735 million barrels per day represented 104 per cent of Nigeria’s Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) quota.
However, the Director of Naval Information, Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, in a statement over the weekend, in Abuja, noted that the feat was the highest crude oil output recorded since April 2020.
According to Folorunsho, the offensive against crude oil theft, illegal refining, pipeline vandalism, militancy, and other forms of economic sabotage in the Niger Delta under Operation DELTA SENTINEL was intensified to consolidate first-quarter gains.
“Since April 2026, the Nigerian Navy has conducted over 580 intelligence-driven operations across Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Cross River, and Lagos State.
“These operations have resulted in the recovery of over 4.7 million litres of stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products, as well as the arrest of over 91 suspects involved in crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, militancy and related crimes.
“It also led to the dismantling of over 48 illegal refining sites, interception of multiple vessels engaged in crude oil theft, and the destruction of criminal logistics networks supporting economic sabotage.”
ALSO READ: Concerned Northern Forum Call for Caution over NNPC Ltd Recruitment
Folorunsho said that one of the major operational successes recorded was the arrest of the motor tankers – MKPODU, WESTAF, and STELIOS K, which were linked to the theft of more than 900 metric tonnes of suspected stolen crude oil.
He said it resulted in the recovery of over 708,000 litres of illegally refined products and 310,000 litres of stolen crude oil from a single illegal refining site in Ndoni, Rivers.
“It also facilitated numerous intelligence-led operations that dismantled reactivated refining sites, intercepted illicit fuel consignments and prevented criminal syndicates from restoring illegal production capacity across the Niger Delta,” he said.
According to him, coordinated riverine operations led to the deactivation of scores of illegal refining sites, reservoirs, dugout pits, storage facilities, warehouses, concealed fuel caches, pipeline connections and militant hideouts.
The director of naval information also said that the operations exposed a growing trend of criminal syndicates attempting to reactivate previously dismantled refining camps, prompting sustained follow-up operations.
He said the follow-ups prevented the regeneration of illegal refining ecosystems and progressively disrupted the economic viability of crude oil theft networks.
“The Nigerian Navy notes that these sustained operational gains coincide with the recent announcement by the NUPRC of increased crude oil production, exceeding the OPEC production quota.
“This indicates improved security around critical oil and gas infrastructure and the collective efforts of security agencies in fighting crude oil theft.
“Persistent naval presence across the Niger Delta waterways has denied economic saboteurs the freedom of action, disrupted illicit petroleum supply chains, and enhanced the integrity of critical oil and gas infrastructure,” he said.
The naval spokesperson reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime domain, protecting vital national assets, and enhancing oil production to support the Federal Government’s goal of reaching 2.5 million barrels per day by 2027.
He added that the service would continue to conduct intelligence-led operations and strengthen inter-agency cooperation to further degrade oil theft networks within the Nigerian maritime environment in line with the vision of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, has assured investors that Nigeria will continue to strengthen its legal and regulatory framework to provide certainty for investments in the country’s energy sector, building on the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Lokpobiri gave the assurance at the just-concluded Lawyers in Energy International Conference 2026 organised by the Lawyers in Energy Network in Lagos.
He added that the Federal Government was committed to building a transparent, predictable and enforceable legal environment to support the country’s energy transition and sustain investor confidence.
Lokpobiri, represented by the Director of Legal Services in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Terlumun Tyendezwa, said Nigeria’s energy transition must be driven by laws and regulations that provide certainty for investors while supporting the country’s climate commitments.
ALSO READ: Dangote Refinery Shields Nigeria from Global Fuel Price Shock – S&P
He said the Federal Government was determined to shape Nigeria’s energy transition on its own terms by ensuring that the sector operates within a transparent, predictable and enforceable legal framework.
According to him, the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) has laid a solid legal foundation for the sector, while regulators have continued to develop rules that provide greater clarity for both upstream and downstream operators.
Lokpobiri stressed that legal certainty was indispensable to investment decisions, noting that sound policies alone would not attract capital unless they were backed by effective implementation.
“The energy sector must be governed by a framework that is transparent, predictable and enforceable. What this means in practice is that there is clarity in our legal framework,” he said.
He added that investor confidence depends on certainty created by law and regulation.
The minister noted that Nigeria had already demonstrated its commitment to climate action through the Climate Change Act and the establishment of a carbon credit framework.
According to him, these initiatives provide incentives for investors and assure businesses that Nigeria remains a stable destination for long-term investments.
He warned that decisions taken today by lawmakers, regulators and legal practitioners would shape Nigeria’s energy future for generations.
Lokpobiri reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to strengthening regulatory institutions, deepening stakeholder engagement and improving the country’s legal framework to protect investors, host communities and the public.
He urged participants at the conference to use the gathering to address difficult issues confronting the sector and contribute practical solutions for Nigeria’s energy future.
In his keynote address delivered virtually, the Secretary-General of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation, Farid Ghezali, said regulatory stability, fiscal clarity, contract sanctity, environmental standards and policy consistency had become as important as resource potential in attracting investment.
“The global energy transition has fundamentally changed how investors evaluate destinations, with regulatory stability, fiscal clarity, contract sanctity, environmental standards and policy consistency becoming as important as resource potential.
“In this new reality, geology is no longer enough,” said Ghezali, who described regulatory uncertainty as Africa’s biggest hidden tax and harmonisation as its biggest untapped incentive.
He said investors currently faced more than 50 different legal and regulatory systems across Africa’s petroleum industry, increasing transaction costs, delaying projects and diverting capital to regions with more predictable legal environments.
“Harmonisation does not remove sovereignty; it multiplies it. It turns individual efforts into continental strength,” he added.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Lawyers in Energy Network, George Etomi, said lawyers would play a decisive role in helping countries achieve their 2060 net-zero targets through stronger legal and regulatory frameworks.
“As lawyers and energy professionals, we have a vital role to play in shaping the legal and regulatory architecture that will support sustainable investment, encourage innovation, manage disputes and promote responsible energy development,” Etomi said.
Founder and Executive Secretary of the Lawyers in Energy Network, Raqueebah Oloko, said the conference examined the legal and regulatory reforms required to help African countries navigate the global energy transition without sacrificing their development priorities.
NUPRC Charges Oil Bloc Winners on Compliance with PIA
Sahara Opens Kaduna, Jigawa Recycling Hubs
Andy Burnham Sworn In as UK Prime Minister After King Charles Meeting Writing
Fake Agency DG Adeniyi Reveals How ₦1.3bn Found Its Way Into 2026 Budget
Alleged $789,950 Fraud: Court Slams ₦500m Bail on Former Warri Refinery MD
BREAKING: Four Police Officers Arrested for Extorting ICPC Chairman in Abuja
Trump’s Family Unveils New Cryptocurrency Platform
Senate Denies Receiving Petitions Against Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Nominees
Dangote Cement Lights Up Benue Host Communities With CSR Initiatives
Reps Recommend 3-year Jail Term For Aviation minister
Tems Sets New Record On Billboard Hot 100 Chart
