By
Anote Ajeluorou
TODAY
in Icheon , South Korea, after one year of successful programming designed to
stimulate interest in books and reading in and around Port Harcourt, Rivers
State and Nigeria generally, the city of Icheon will take over as UNESCO World
Book Capital 2015.
The day also coincides with UNESCO’s World
Book and Copyright Day, with attention drawn to respect and protect
intellectual property rights across the world.
While handing over from Port Harcourt to
Icheon, Director of Rainbow Book Club and Port Harcourt World Book Capital
2014, Mrs. Koko Kalango highlighted the many virtues of the book and why it
continues to be a sort-after commodity in spite of the socio-economic problems
that often militate against it.
She said, “In spite of these terrible
occurrences, and the many challenges of the world in which we live, the book
continues to stand out, the repository of the written word, enabling mankind
pass on information, and therefore knowledge, from generation to generation.
Today the book has brought us together as a family, united by a shared thirst
for knowledge, linked by the common desire to advance the written word for
benefit of the individual, the society and our world”.
Kalango drew attention to the common tragedy
that engulfed Nigeria and South Korea when Port Harcourt received the baton
last year from Bankok, then current book capital when over 200 Chibok
schoolgirls were abducted by Boko Haram and
a boat sank off the coast of South Korea, with the loss of 302 students.
According to her, “Nigeria became the World
Book Capital amidst mixed feelings of joy and grief. Nine days before this
historic occasion, over 200 girls were abducted from a high school in Chibok by
Boko Haram, an islamist extremist group
that believes western education is evil. It seemed ironical that the book was
being brought to focus, against the backdrop of a retrogressive and dangerous
movement directly opposed to the ideals of the World Book Capital initiative.
Such tragedy, if anything, should challenge us to continue to work to rescue
our society from the grip of those who stand against the progress and liberty education
brings.
“Two days after the Chibok girls were kidnapped,
304 people, mostly students from the Danwon High School, here in South Korea
lost their lives in a boat mishap when the MV Sewol sank just off your
coastline”.
Kalango emphasized the changes that had taken
place since the prestigious World Book Capital, adding, “The support of our local,
national and international partners was critical in enabling us actualise our
objectives. Indeed today, we can see change taking place – ‘Rivers of
possibilities, rippling from the city of Port Harcourt, through the country
Nigeria, to the continent of Africa.’
“I welcome you to the World Book Capital experience.
I encourage Incheon in its vision of BOOKS FOR ALL by which you seek ‘to form an environment where all citizens may read books without difficulty
and access the source of wisdom and information at any time’. Today, Port
Harcourt hands over to Incheon as UNESCO World Book Capital City. On behalf of
the good people of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, I bring best wishes for a
wonderful year ahead to the good people of Inchoen”.
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