CORA Art & Cultural Foundation
CORA HOUSE, No. 95, Bode Thomas Street Surulere, Lagos Stampedecora.blogspot.com
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| Overview of the conference room |
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Cross section of audience at the event
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COMMUNIQUE
INTRODUCTION
1. A Book Industry Conference on the ‘Bring Back the Book’ initiative was held on Monday, January 17, 2011 at the Banquet Hall, Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, under the aegis of the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA) and other major stakeholders (Publishers, Librarians, Booksellers, Academia, Parents, NGOs, Writers and Schools). The sub-theme of the Conference is ‘When the President wants to bring back the book – what’s to be done?’
2. The Conference acknowledges that books and reading contribute to professional and academic success: self-discovery; cultural awareness; self-expression; engaged citizenship and collective good. It was now resolved that the development of the publishing sector and revival of the reading culture must be a priority objective of the cultural, economic and educational policy of this country.
3. The Conference considered papers on the following topics:
- The business of the book
- The creative aspects of the book
- Educational aspects of the book
- Promotional aspects of the book.
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| Cross section of participants |
RECOMMENDATIONS
4. At the end of the deliberations, the conference resolves as follows:
i. The nation deserves a functional National Library, while all 36 states and 774 local government councils should be mandated to establish and maintain functional urban, rural and mobile libraries;
ii. For the promotion and propagation of the reading culture, literature is crucial and government should promote its status and development in schools;
iii. Banking and other financial institutions should be encouraged and supported by government to see the book industry as a challenged sector for special attention;
iv. Preferential or reduced postal rates should apply to books and periodicals for cheap and efficient distribution;
iv. Preferential or reduced postal rates should apply to books and periodicals for cheap and efficient distribution;
v. Government in partnership with the private sector to set up an endowment fund for book development;
vi. Government should support book fairs, literary festivals and reading campaigns around Nigerian books within and without the country’s borders;
vii. Legislative backing and funding should be provided to Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations at local and national levels in the promotion of reading initiatives;
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A session of the conference: Consulting strategist and Ut Specialist, Erabor Okogun of Meloria Sevices; with Publisher/Book Dealer, Kolade Mosuro; Publisher/author Dillibe Onyeama of Delta Books and Convener, Enugu Book Convention and Secretary General of Nigeria Publishers Association, Kunle Sogbein |
viii. Government should patronize Nigerian and African authored books and should make use of the book chain for this purpose to enhance local capacity;
ix. Books published in indigenous languages should be actively encouraged and supported;
x. Government should provide adequate resources to the relevant agencies responsible for the eradication of illiteracy;
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| The Communique Committeee in session |
xii. Paper, machinery and equipment for printing and publishing of books should be exempted from customs tax and duties in order to make books more affordable; and
xiii. Government should set up a Book Advisory and Readership Committee (BARC) under the Presidency which will evolve ultimately into a Commission. The body will coordinate all efforts aimed at bringing back the book.
SIGNED TODAY THE 17TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2011
JUMOKE VERISSIMO KOLADE MOSURO
SECERTARY CHAIRMAN
OTHER IMAGES
 Conference Director, Deji Toye of CORA/ LODt Associates
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| Representative of DG National Mass Literacy Commission, Dr Haladu with the author and Book Activist, Mobolaji Adenubi and the Arts Editor of Nigerian Compass, Chuka Nnabuife, who moderated the session |
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| Adesuyi of Havillah Press with Jeremy Weate of Cassava Republic Press and Ayodele Arigbabu of Dada Books (COMMUNIQUÉ COMMITTEE)
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