The National Publishers Association has described books as a pertinent tool for human and national development.

In a paper presented to mark this year’s Book and Copyright Day with the theme: “Share A Story”, the President/Chairman-in-Council of the association, Hon. Uchenna Cyril Anioke, while highlighting the significance of books to human development and endeavors, noted that “Human beings and books have a long relationship that dates back to antiquity. It is safe to assume that if the relationship were not productive for both parties they would, for long, have parted ways.

“Publishing industry is imbued with the endless quest for the expansion of the frontiers of knowledge without which human civilization would have frittered World Book and Copyright away. It is our onerous responsibility as publishers to make sure the book-chain is not disrupted.”

Anioke pointed out that the invention of printing during the 15th century contributed immensely to modern development, adding that “books are considered as critical variables to national development.

“Again, without books, the quest for knowledge, education will go into extinction, comatose. We need to bring within the periphery of our consciousness that science is cumulative in nature. This means that no scientific study stands or walks alone. Every bit of innovation is a pile up on previous existing body of knowledge. Books are the custodian, the ware house of these bodies of knowledge.

“More so, books play high roles in the socialization process of the mass of the people. Human infants are the weakest in the animal world. It cannot eat by itself cannot bath and indeed cannot talk. But at a very tender age a child can differentiate a doctor from a lawyer in a painting in a book. By this, the child is gradually socialized into professions and how to behave towards each profession. The same scenario plays out in other human endeavours like politics, commerce, and sports.”

Quoting Adams Smith in his thesis on how human development was made possible, he noted that “the development of a nation is not synonymous with infrastructural development or capital accumulation but on the development of individuals who on themselves are agents of development. Hence the positive transformation of a society is a function of human capacity and intellectual development which is made possible through the instrumentality of books.

“Books can only achieve the noble objectives stated above if there is high level of literacy of citizens coupled with a sound reading culture. The book is a large scale literary composition which serves as a source of information or sphere of human endeavor.”

Anioke listed some of the challenges being faced by people who wants to read and print books, saying: “Books play important roles in national development. However, there are some hurdles, constraints confronting the book industry that tend to dwarf its ability in performing the these roles.

“One notable challenge is illiteracy. This is one’s inability to read and to write in any human language. When one cannot read, then the purpose of publishing a book is utterly, technically defeated. literacy is the most debilitating, nauseating factor hindering books from contributing to national development.

“Moreover, scholars are of the view that finance is a factor militating against book publishing sector. Publishing is capital intensive and because of the shaky, wonky nature of the Nigerian economy, most financial institutions like banks consider it extremely risky to extend loan benefits to publishers. Cases abound where publishers are unable to repay such loans thereby lending credence to worries entertained by financial institutions. Indeed, limited access to funds has constituted vary serious problem for publishers, thereby limiting their operational capacities to produce books. In addition, poor reading culture is a significant, tall challenge hindering the book industry from effectively contributing to national development. This is an ugly situation whereby those who can read have blatantly refused to do so. It is indeed risky for publishers to engage in their businesses when there are no reading publics.

“Many who attempt to read today do so because of their examination or to earn a certificate. People no longer read to improve their knowledge. This has greatly shrinked the scope of the target audience when writing and publishing books. Without an improved reading habit, the publishing industry will not record any substantial growth.

He noted that piracy, infrastructural decay, epileptic power supply, bad roads and insecurity are some of the most vicious obstacle facing the book industry in Nigeria.

He decried the near collapse of the bookstores and libraries to enhance book reading and research in Nigeria, saying, “time was when we had the Odusote, Abiola, Yinkus, etc bookshops. Likewise, libraries have disappeared from our educational environments. These have negatively affected the book industry and consequently, our national development Way Forward/Recommendations Despite the myriad of problems besieging the publishing industry today, some practical steps have been suggested that will positively challenge the story line.”

He gave out some lasting solutions, saying that “Publishers should embrace this new global innovation as it is the new trend in the publishing industry. It is also recommended that Nigerian publishers should engage in dual publishing. This means combing digital publishing with the traditional publishing methods to meet our local peculiarities.

“Government should make education more accessible to all. Adult literacy programme should be given added attention by the government. Resuscitation and equipping of public and school libraries. Return of reading clubs and literary societies to schools.

“Publishing industry should be well funded. Loan should be given to publishers at reduced cost.cos

“Printing, publishing and educational materials should be duty free. Make publishers pay moderate percentage of his prolit as tax. Enforce copyright law and strengthen NCC. Resuscitate the moribund paper mills. Encourage foreign investors to invest in paper mills.

“National Book Policy should be made available Government involvement in book fairs. Copyright and piracy education should be included in the secondary school curriculum.

“Publishing firms should make effort at training and retraining of their technical staff professionally to ensure efficiency and adapt to global best practices in the book industry.”