Oiwona Launches Two Books

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Publishing Industry Has The Capacity To Improve The Educational Sector …………….

Segun Ajayi – Kadir

By Chidemma Olu

Speaking as the key note speaker Director – General, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria(MAN) who was ably represented by the Director of Economies and Statistics of Manufacturer Association of Nigeria(MAN) OLUWASEGUN OSHIDIPE said that the publishing Industry Has The Capacity to Improve the Educational sector of the republic at the Nigerian Publisher  Association (NPA) Annual Conference and General Meeting with the theme (Publishing in an import dependent economy The Way Forward) at the function suite of Sheraton hotel and towers, Ikeja, Lagos. Speaking further as the key note speaker  Oshidipe said that the publishers do really need to adopt technology, new business, models, as well as understand the globalization of publishing adding that knowledge, education and literature would definitely make publishing interesting and lucrative. 

Oshidipe used many indices to drum home his intellectual presentation to the participants as he added that the population of the nation is an Advantage to the publishing industry if only they could put their houses in order, thereby the demand for published materials would be in high for all and sundry , he further disclosed to the participants that Nigerian population at the independence stood at 45million while population is now standing at over 45 million while the population is now standing at over 195 million  as he added by the year 2050 the population will be standing at 400 million which would be a high advantage for publishing industry and other sectors of the economy. 

He pleasantly said that the way forward for publishing industry in republic is that all the publishers should fly and excel together at all times no matter what challenges that might crop up in the course of discharging the social contracts to the citizens, as he added that there has to be a declaration of the state of emergency in the publishing industry so that the right applications would be provided for effective publishing of all kinds of books for school e.t.c. He said that all publishers must be members of NIGERIAN PUBLISHER ASSOCIATION of (NPA)  as well as commissioning a  study industry to deeply and critically look into grey areas of publishing industry and proffer solutions so that publishing would no longer be an import dependent economy .

Speaking as the president of Nigerian Publisher Association (NPA) , and as well as Chairman in Council GBADEGA ADEDAPO graphically narrated to the audience that the (NPA) was establish in 1965 to fill the gap in the supply of educational materials to the government and  the citizenry as he added that it has since been as a collective voice for all reputable book publishers in the republic and a force to reckon with by the government in the formulation of policies in the educational and books related matters. 

Speaking again to the participants the president and chairman –in- council of (NPA) dwelled on the theme of the 2019 conference which is (Publishing In An Import Dependent Economy) The Way Forward adding that this has been carefully thought out from inclusivity and as well as to enable stakeholders in the book publishers industry to come together and find a lasting solution to the hassles facing the smooth operation of book publishing, printing and distribution.

Speaking again the President and Chairman -in- Council Adedapo said that they had carefully picked an experienced administrator kadir DG MAN as the keynote speaker and also a panel of discussants had been put in place to examine the theme and proffer solutions to the challenges rocking the book industry and stakeholders adding that panelists are Hon Dr. Wale Okediran (Onigeje Ara of Iseyinland) Former president of the Association Of Nigerian Authors(ANA), Dare Oluwatuyi , president of the Book Sellers Association of Nigeria ( BAN ), Princess Layo Okeowo CEO , FAE Ltd and Chairperson of Pulp Paper and Products, Printing and Publishing Sectoral Group of MAN , Hon Chief Uche  Anioke MD/CEO Acenta Ventures Ltd  Enugu , Prof. Andrew Okwilagwe, Vice chancellor of Westland university, Iwo, Osun State, Prof Umumna Opara immediate past president Nigeria Library Association (NLA)and the last but not the least Olugbemi Malomo President Chartered Institute Professional Printers of Nigeria (CIPPON). Speaking again Adedapo said that their contributions to the nation’s economy cannot be dwarfed as attitudes by the government towards them publishers should be accorded Stakeholder in the knowledge and creative sector of the economy. 

The moderator of the panel of discussion Barr John Asein also Director General, Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) chairman of the event and as the chairman he said that the fight of piracy is for all and sundry, adding that all hands must be on the plough to making sure that piracy is fought at a shell stand. He also moderated the panel of discussion very effectively and the panelists   themselves did exceedingly posited and marshaled out their opines frankly telling the government the sacrosanct truths that the government needs to be heavily involved in the processes of books publishing. Of a truth they panelists distinguished themselves with adequate submissions that the government should provide an enabling environment for the publishers to thieve on.

Speaking with iconblazemagazineonlineportal Chief Executive officer (CEO) Parresia Publishers limited Azofi Omoluabi – Ogosi said that the Federal Government ought to be heavily involved in the publishing of books for the nation adding that other publishers outside Nigeria do largely get their government involved in the publishing exercise, thereby making knowledge, skills, education, and literature more readily available for the creative industry. She said that she is into fiction publication as she added that what the keynote speaker Oshidipe of MAN and the ebullient panelists had recommended would be a take home point for synergy amongst the publishers.