# Nigeria International Book Fair

The Nigeria International Book Fair (NIBF) is an annual cultural event in the republic of Nigeria, established in 2001. It is known to be the most attended book fair in Africa, being the only international book fair in Nigeria and the second largest international book fair in Africa. Each year the NIBF brings together book enthusiasts such as writers and poets that are generally involved in the creation of print, audio and digital books all over the country. The main aim of the festival is to promote and improve the reading culture among Nigerians and Africans as a whole. Every second week of May annually, the NIBF hosts publishers, booksellers, illustrators, authors, exhibitors and readers, who display and sell their books at discounted prices.

## History

The Nigeria International Book Fair was inaugurated in 2001. The chairman of the event is also known to be the chairman of Nigerian Book Fair Trust, who currently is Gbadega Adedapo. In 2012, the 11th edition of the fair hosted about 130 exhibitors with over 40,000 visitors.
The 20th edition of the fair in 2021 hosted the president of the international Publisher Association (IPA), Geneva, Switzerland, Shiekha Bodour Al-Qasimi, as the keynote speaker, along with several prominent individuals including the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as the Special Guest of Honour, First Lady of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Fayemi who was the chairperson of the event, and Africa's richest woman, Folorunso Alakija. The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was the Chief Host.
This 20th edition of NIBF took place in Harbour Point, Victoria Island, 27–29 July 2021. The press conference was held in Protea Hotels Ikeja introducing the theme “Awakening the Giant in Women for the Growth of the Book Ecosystem” featured the physical showcasing of books. The fair was attended by book lovers from across the globe, including those who joined virtually.
In 2022, after having been held in held in September and July in the previous two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the NIBF returned to its traditional month of May.
The 2023 NIBF was held on the Lagos mainland in Ikeja.

## Festivity

The Nigeria International Book Fair festival majorly involves the display of several books for exhibition, providing a platform for the sale of these books to interested customers. The festival also features other programmes which includes; teachers training workshop, publishers workshop, a two-day programme for children, principal officers education summit, author's groove, printers seminar and others.
The summit of school owners and principal officers of schools in Nigeria was later introduced in the 2015 edition in bid to make the event a more memorable one for both the visitors and exhibitors.
The 2021 NIBF featured the launching of the book Madagali authored by Dr. Wale Okediran, Secretary General of the Pan Africa Writers’ Association (PAWA).

## Guest of honour and theme

| Year | Theme of the Year | Venue | Focus of Interest | Guest of Honour |
| 2002 | Publishing for Peace | International Conference Centre, Abuja | Promoting peace | Wole Soyinka |
| 2003 | Women Empowerment Through Publishing | Le Meridien Eko Hotel, Lagos | Women Empowerment | |
| 2004 | Book Trade Across Boundaries | Multi-purpose Hall, University of Lagos | Trading | Dirk Koehler |
| 2011 | Technology and the Future of the Book: Implication for the African Book Industry | Afe Babalola Auditorium, University of Lagos | New Technology Application | Lateef Jakande and Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe |
| 2012 | The State of Infrastructural Development in Africa and the Future of the Book Trade | Multi-purpose Hall, University of Lagos | Infrastructural Development | |
| 2014 | Emergence of E-book and the Survival of Physical Book in Africa | Multi-purpose Hall, University of Lagos | Promoting E-books | |
| 2015 | African Youth Empowerment through Book for sustainable National Development | Multi-purpose Hall, University of Lagos | Youth Empowerment | Prof. Ismail Junaidu |
| 2018 | Networking – A Sustainable Vehicle for Dynamism and Survival of Book Business in Africa. | Jelili Adebisi Omotola Hall, University of Lagos | Networking Application | Dr. Lola Akande |
| 2019 | Optimising New Technology in Book Development and Distribution for the Promotion of Book in Africa | Jelili Adebisi Omotola Hall, University of Lagos | Utilizing Technology Book Development and Distribution | Hameed Bobboyi |
| 2020 | Information Technology as a Panacea for the Book Industry Sustainability Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic | Virtual (Online ) | Application of Information Technology | Huago Setzer |
| 2021 | Awakening the Giant in Women for the Growth of the Book Ecosystem | Harbour Point Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos | Women | Bodour Al-Qasimi |

## Sponsors and supporters

The Nigeria International Book Fair is in collaboration with the Nigeria Book Fair Trust. The festival is also sponsored by several institutions and agencies such as:
* Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council
* Nigerian Copyright Commission
* Fidelity Bank
* Quarterfold Printabilities
* United Bank for Africa
* Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA)
* Nigerian Publishers Association
* Chartered Institutes of Professional Printers of Nigeria
* International Publishers Association
* Nigerian Library Association