THE Nigerian Copyright Commission, Port Harcourt Office, celebrated the 2023 Copyright Week with an event organised for stakeholders on the 28th of April 2023 in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Speaking at the occasion, the State Coordinator, Port Harcourt Office, Mrs. Nkechi Ezinma presented the Director-General’s press statement to mark the World Book and Copyright Day 2023 which focused on the theme for the year “Indigenous Languages”.
The Deputy Director, National Library, Port Harcourt Office Mr. Kingsley Ebulonu who presented the keynote address at the occasion, spoke on the benefits of indigenous languages and called on authors and publishers to ensure availability of more books in indigenous languages which he said would go a long way in preserving the country’s indigenous cultures.
Chairman, Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Rivers State Chapter, Mr. Adi Wali stressed the importance of books as a means of preserving cultures and acquiring knowledge. He used the opportunity to call on the Federal and State Ministries of Education to make Literature a compulsory subject at the Senior Secondary School level to serve as a tool for inculcating cultural values in the youths.
The event also witnessed book reading performances in different languages from students representing several schools in the state.
Stakeholders at the event included representatives of the Forum of Gospel Music Ministers of Nigeria (FOGMMON) led by Mr. Wale Babatunde; South-East Booksellers Association, represented by the Coordinator, South South of the Association, Mr. Odinaka Okechukwu and others.
