Day Soyinka, Amaechi, others visited Port Harcourt Book Capital’s stand at London Book Fair

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.”