Book enthusiasts in Lagos gathered in their numbers at Ikeja bus stop early on Thursday, April 27, for a walk that formally launched the Nigerian commercial hub as the Nigerian National Book Clubs City, 2023.

The walk, which commenced at 8:50 a.m., was organised by the Network of Book Clubs and Reading Culture Promoters in Nigeria (NBRP), in conjunction with myriad of partners from all across the book ecosystem, as part of activities to promote the culture of reading in the state.

It took participants through the Obafemi Awolowo Way to the Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, where a copy of the “Lagos Book Charter: Suggestions For Improving The Culture Of Reading In Lagos”, was presented to the State Governor and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Idowu Obasa respectively, received by the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Special Adviser on Education (OSAE), Mr Waheed Kasali.

Responding, Kasali reiterated the government’s commitment to promoting the reading culture and the quality of education in the state, promising that the proposals would be diligently studied with a view to implementing points that were accepted.

Following this, the party moved on to the Lagos Television (LTV) grounds, where school children and other book lovers had already assembled for different readership promotion activities.

In his address to the audience, the president of NBRP, Richard Mammah, noted that “there are lined-up activities for the next year which are centred around books and promoting the reading culture all across Lagos. So, this is not just a day event.”

Several book gifts were awarded to school children, including free copies of the book, The Adorable Adenike and the Villagers Bridge, by child author, *Temiloluwa Ogunlere.* Author and Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Authors, Lagos, Solake Adetutu, also donated copies of her book to the iRead Mobile Library at the session.

Among organisations that partnered with the NBRP are the National Library of Nigeria, the Nigerian Book Fair Trust, the Nigerian Copyright Council, the Association of Nigerian Authors and the Booksellers Association of Nigeria.

Others are the Nigerian Library Association, the Committee for Relevant Art and the Bulleidaz Motorcycle Club. Members and volunteers associated with the respective organisations as well as other members of the public were part of the walk and reading sessions.

The next activity In the Book Year schedule is billed to hold on Friday, May 12, 2023 when NBRP hosts a joining event- a Readers’ Parley on New Trends in Reading Promotions at the forthcoming 22^nd Nigerian International Book Fair scheduled to take place in Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos.

•Delegates from the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and the legendary World Wrapper Man during the walk

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