Countdown to PHWBC 2014

A special press conference was held on April 23rd 2013, to officially announce the countdown to Port Harcourt’s tenure as World Book Capital (WBC) 2014. The Garden City will assume the title on 23rd April next year which is World Book and Copyright Day. The press conference was called by the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, H.E. Engineer Tele Ikuru, Chairman of the PH WBC Committee, as planning for this exciting year of events is now underway.

Present was the distinguished panel to support the countdown; it included the writers Pa Gabriel Okara and Captain Elechi Amadi, Trustee of the Rainbow Book Club, Mrs. Judy Nwanodi and the Honourable Commissioner of Information Mrs Ibim Semenitari. Also in attendance were various members of the Port Harcourt 2014 WBC committee which is headed by the Deputy Governor and which includes high ranking Rivers State government officials. 

The press conference officially began with an opening address by H.E. Engineer Ikuru. He named other foreign cities that had worn the crown previously, including Yerevan, the 2012 holder which was handing over the WBC baton to Bangkok on the day of the press conference. H.E. Engineer Ikuru also spoke about the significance of Port Harcourt’s win to the city and the nation; he concluded by declaring that the official countdown to 2014 had begun.

Mrs. Nwanodi and Captain Elechi Amadi also gave speeches. Mrs. Nwanodi pointed out the historical significance of Port Harcourt and urged all stakeholders to join hands with the Rivers State Government and the Rainbow Book Club to ensure the success of the year-long activities. Captain Amadi began by congratulating the noble citizens of Port Harcourt on the WBC victory; he emphasized the benefits of reading and concluded with a call for writers to write more; publishers to publish more; printers to print more and readers to read more.

The UNESCO Abuja Officer-in-charge, Prof.(Mrs.) Hassana Alidou, though absent due to a previous commitment, sent in her address in which she congratulated the people of Port Harcourt and Nigeria as a whole  saying the win was ‘…a global recognition of Nigeria’s distinguished literary tradition.’

The press was invited to ask questions; many were concerned about the lasting benefits of the programmes for 2014. The panel assured them that the planned initiatives have been carefully created to ensure sustainability with all programmes for schools, libraries and writers having provision for the transfer of skills that will empower local stakeholders to be able to carry on with the programs long after 2015. 

Finally, the Honourable Commissioner for Information gave the closing remarks in which she called on all Nigerians to support the project and encouraged the press to ensure the story of Port Harcourt World Book Capital 2014 is told to the world.