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Author and former parliamentarian, Mr Orok Duke, has called on the Federal Government to introduce tax relief on imported books and printing equipment to revive Nigeria’s struggling publishing industry.
Duke said high printing costs and the increasing reliance on foreign publishing companies were making books expensive and discouraging Nigerian writers from publishing their works.
He made the call in Abuja on Thursday at “Readings II”, a literary event featuring poetry, book reviews and the unveiling of his new publications.
The event attracted academics, lawmakers and literary enthusiasts, who read excerpts from Duke’s works.
The author lamented that the publishing industry had witnessed a decline, with bookshops becoming less widespread and access to affordable books increasingly difficult, particularly for students.
“We should give consideration to duties on importation of books and printing equipment. If you write and cannot publish, you become discouraged,” he said.
Duke stressed that supporting local printing and publishing would not only reduce the cost of books but also encourage reading and knowledge acquisition among Nigerians.
He disclosed that he had made electronic versions of his books available to widen access to his works.
Beyond the publishing industry, Duke called on Nigerians to take responsibility for documenting their personal and collective histories, warning that failure to preserve their stories could allow others to shape their narratives.
“If the lion does not tell his own story, the story of the hunt will always celebrate the hunter,” he said.
He urged individuals and communities to embrace writing as a means of preserving their experiences, values and contributions for future generations.
Earlier, reviewers at the event underscored the importance of book reviews in promoting reading culture, expressing concern that many people purchased books without reading them.
They described Duke as a prolific storyteller and meticulous researcher whose works explored history, the environment, war, family and societal values.
Unveiling the books, Senator Gershom Bassey, who represented Cross River South Senatorial District, commended Duke for his literary talent and contributions to knowledge.
Bassey described writing as a special gift, noting the importance of authors in preserving knowledge and documenting society.
Also, Senator Eteng Williams, representing Cross River Central Senatorial District, represented the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, at the event.
Williams said Akpabio would have attended but was unavailable due to other official engagements.
He announced a donation of N10 million on behalf of the Senate President, alongside a personal contribution of N1 million, in support of the literary initiative.
Meanwhile, a minute’s silence was also observed in honour of colleagues and elders who died between the first edition of the reading in 2017 and the current edition.
