Speakers

Dr Victoria Okojie
Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN),and Chairperson, IFLA Africa Section, Nigeria

Biography

Dr. Victoria Okojie is the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN), a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Education. She is a Member, Governing Board of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) and Chair, IFLA Division V, as well as Member, UNESCO International Advisory Committee Memory of the World Programme. Dr. Okojie has a passion for promoting the use of books and public access to information for development. She is currently advocating for inclusion of libraries in the implementation of the United Nations Agenda 2030 in Nigeria.
Dr. Okojie has held many top positions in the profession, including Area Director, The British Council, Ibadan, and worked as a consultant to the World Bank and United Kingdom, DfID. She has served as Member, Advisory Committee, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Access to Learning Award and Global Libraries Program; and Member, Governing Board of National Library of Nigeria. The Fellowships and Awards received include: Fellow, UNESCO Institute of Lifelong Learning, Hamburg, Germany; Fellow, Nigerian Library Association, Fellow United States Government International Visitor Leadership Program; Associate, IFLA International Leaders Programme.

Presentation Abstract

 

Books, Reading and Society in Nigeria: A Case Study of the Port Harcourt World Book Capital Project

 

The immense importance of books and reading is generally agreed in Nigeria. This presentation examines the current state of availability of books and reading promotion. The Port Harcourt World Book Capital project which ran from 23April, 2014 to 22 April, 2015 was used as a case study on how government, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and other stakeholders can collaborate in the promotion books and reading for development. Suggestions on how to increase the impact of books and reading on the society were made. These are: development of synergy and a more coordinated approach; provision of a conducive environment; stronger regulation and quality control; and creation of reading/library periods in schools, among others.