NBFT launches 10m books initiative, stakeholders demand urgent action on out-of-school crisis

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s education and publishing sectors have called for urgent measures to tackle the country’s growing out-of-school children crisis, as the Nigerian Book Fair Trust (NBFT) launched a 10 million books distribution project aimed at reviving public school libraries nationwide.

The initiative was unveiled during the 25th Nigeria International Book Fair held at the Wole Soyinka Centre, formerly National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, from May 13 to 14, 2026.

The event, organised by the NBFT, brought together publishers, booksellers, librarians, authors, educators, students, government agencies, and other key players in the knowledge industry to discuss solutions to Nigeria’s education and publishing challenges.

The first day of the fair focused on the theme, “Education for All: Closing the Gap on Nigeria’s Out-of-School Children Challenge.”

In his welcome address, NBFT chairman, Dare Oluwatuyi, described the silver jubilee edition as historic, noting that it coincided with the relocation of the fair to the iconic Wole Soyinka Centre.

“This year’s edition is significant for two reasons. First, we are celebrating the silver jubilee of the most consistent book fair in Africa. Second, we are doing so at the Wole Soyinka Centre, formerly National Theatre, which is symbolic, historic and befitting for this milestone,” he said.

Oluwatuyi said the alarming number of out-of-school children in Nigeria informed the choice of the theme.

“As of 2024, Nigeria had approximately 18.3 million out-of-school children – 10.2 million at the primary level and 8.1 million at the junior secondary level – the highest number globally. UNESCO reports that between 272 million and 273 million children and youths are out of school worldwide as of early 2025. These troubling figures compelled us to act,” he stated.

He announced the launch of the 10 million books donation project as part of efforts to restore public primary and secondary school libraries across the country.

“This is a bold initiative to revive libraries nationwide. We appeal to individuals, organisations and stakeholders to support it through the donation of books or funds,” he added.

Oluwatuyi also commended the Reproduction Rights Society of Nigeria (REPRONIG), the major sponsor of the event, for supporting advocacy on copyright protection and the future of Nigeria’s knowledge economy.

He expressed concern over recent changes in the national curriculum without adequate consultation with stakeholders in the publishing industry, urging the Federal Ministry of Education to intervene to prevent losses within the sector.

The NBFT chairman further applauded Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for speaking against piracy and pledging support for the creative and publishing industries.

Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, Prof. Salisu Shehu, praised the NBFT for sustaining the book fair over the years and pledged continued participation by the agency.

“It is an event that showcases what we do as a nation in promoting books and knowledge. We must all address the crisis of out-of-school children,” he said.

National Librarian, Prof. Chinwe Veronica Anunobi, also lamented the worsening education crisis, noting that Nigeria’s out-of-school population now exceeds the population of some countries.

Participants at the conference identified insecurity, poverty, poor implementation of education policies, child marriage, inadequate infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms, and weak community engagement as key drivers of the out-of-school challenge.

They stressed that the issue should not be limited to children outside school but should also include children enrolled in school but not learning effectively, described as “invisible children.”

Stakeholders recommended stronger data-driven planning, increased budgetary allocation to education, improved learning infrastructure, community involvement, and legal backing for education policies to ensure continuity and implementation.

They also called for attitudinal change among citizens and urged parents to play a more active role in the education of their children.

The second day of the fair featured an executive roundtable organised by the Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA) on the theme, “The Future of Publishing in Nigeria: Survival, Scale and Sustainability.”

President and Chairman of Council of the NPA, Lukman Dauda, said the publishing industry was facing growing pressure from technological disruption, economic hardship, poor government policies, and declining reading culture.

“The publishing industry globally is undergoing rapid transformation driven by technology, changing reading habits, economic realities, digital disruption, and government policies. In Nigeria, these developments present both opportunities and challenges,” he said.

Dauda warned that poorly implemented education reforms and policy inconsistencies could damage the publishing industry if stakeholders were excluded from decision-making processes.

Panelists at the session identified piracy, rising production costs, the collapse of local paper mills, excessive port charges, and constant curriculum changes as major threats to the industry.

President of the Nigerian Booksellers Association, Dapo Fisayo, recalled that the publishing industry enjoyed greater policy stability in the 1990s when approved textbooks remained in use for longer periods.

“Today, the curriculum and approved titles change too frequently, making planning difficult for publishers, booksellers, students and parents,” he said.

Managing Director of Everlike Publishers, Kayode Adeyemo, described the high cost of paper and production materials as one of the biggest challenges confronting publishers.

Other discussants, including Alli Semako Okunade of Atlantic Publishers and Msurshima Comfort Chenge of Fortham Publishers, advocated stronger collaboration among stakeholders, greater use of technology, and improved copyright enforcement to combat piracy.

They also urged government to involve publishers in policy formulation and to enact laws that would protect the publishing industry rather than relying solely on policies that could easily be abandoned.

The NPA announced that the long-awaited Publishers Institute of Nigeria would commence operations later this year.

The fair also featured children’s performances, exhibitions, competitions, seminars, and workshops by professional associations including the Nigerian Library Association, Association of Nigerian Authors, and the Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria.

At the awards ceremony, the NBFT honoured individuals and institutions for their contributions to the Nigerian book ecosystem.

Recipients included Lanre Aina, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award, alongside Avilant Merchant Nigeria Limited, CSS Bookshop Limited, Accessible Publishers, Evans Publishing Group, University Press Plc, and celebrated publisher and author, Kolade Mosuro.