Abuja Book City Launches Celebrity Read Aloud

Where words meet wonder, Abuja’s ascent to Book City status is a testament to the power of literary imagination, community engagement, and collective vision.

As the pages turn, a vibrant tapestry of literary imagination, community, and reality unfolds, weaving Abuja’s transformative journey to becoming a thriving Book City.

The Network of Book Clubs and Reading Promoters in Nigeria (NBRP) and the National Library of Nigeria and Partners in collaboration with Abuja Book City 2025 is launching and hosting its Maiden Celebrity Read Aloud event bringing together some of Nigeria’s finest writers and authors of pedigree.

In a world where technology dominates our daily lives, a group of passionate book lovers in Abuja is on a mission to revive the joy of reading and make their city a hub for literary excellence. Welcome to the Abuja Book City initiative, a groundbreaking project that aims to promote reading culture, foster community engagement, and inspire a love for learning.

The journey began in 2023, when the Abuja Chapter of NBRP successfully defended its bid to host Book City in 2025. This provisional recognition marked the starting point for a series of events, partnerships, and initiatives designed to make Abuja a beacon for book lovers.

Under the leadership of Chief Loye Olowookere, Abuja NBRP Coordinator, Hajia Rasheedat, Deputy Coordinator and Dr. Chido Onumah, the General Secretary, the team has worked tirelessly to build a community of readers, writers, and literacy advocates. Dr. Chido brings his expertise to the table, ensuring that the initiative remains true to its mission.

One of the key milestones achieved by the team is the creation of a brand identity for the Book City. The logo and theme, designed to reflect the city’s rich cultural heritage, have been unveiled, and promotional materials such as t-shirts, banners, and face caps have been produced.

But Abuja Book City is more than just a brand – it’s a movement. The team has organized a series of events, including a virtual awareness campaign (“What are you reading?”), participation in the Education Resource Centre (ERC) Book Fair, and a courtesy call to the National Librarian and the Director General of Nigerian Copyright Commission(NCC) respectively.
These efforts have helped to build a community of book lovers and generate excitement around the initiative.

As Abuja Book City gears up for its official launch, LightRay! Media, a multi-award-winning media, communications, and publishing organization, is at the forefront of promoting new paradigm shifts for storytelling by Nigerian and African authors. By adapting to the changing reading habits of modern readers, particularly Gen-Z and digital natives, LightRay! Media is revolutionizing the literary landscape in Nigeria and Africa.

The Executive Director of LightRay! Media highlights a disturbing trend in Nigeria’s publishing industry: despite having a population of over 200 million, there isn’t a single publishing mill in the country. This calls for urgent attention from the minister in charge of the creative economy and governors across the 36 states and FCT to address the deficit in employment generation, engagement, and promotion of creative skillsets in the publishing and literary ecosystems.

To promote reading culture and literary appreciation, Abuja Book City and LightRay! Media are hosting a Celebrity Read Aloud event on Thursday, March 30, 2025. The event features an impressive lineup of Celebrity Speakers and Readers, including:

Lady E Ejiro Umukoro, author of Nigeria’s bestselling Mental Health Crime True Crime Story
Bassey Ekpo Bassey Jr.
Funmilayo Braithwaith
The keynote speaker is Chief Nyaknno Osso, a distinguished Librarian, while Oye Omolara Margaret, HoB NLN FCT branch, will host the event.

Book lovers, readers, book clubs, publishers, writers, researchers, and literary members of institutions are invited to join this exciting event and be part of Abuja’s journey to becoming a Book City.

“Reading is the foundation upon which all learning is built,” says Chief Olowookere. “By creating a culture of reading in Abuja, we’re not only enriching the lives of our citizens but also building a brighter future for our community.”

Join the Abuja Book City movement today and be part of a journey that will inspire, educate, and uplift. Together, let’s turn pages and build futures.