‎Nigeria Cannot Build a Reading Nation by Leaving Book Clubs to Work Alone

There is something troubling about a country that produces writers, publishes books, celebrates literary achievements and organises book fairs, yet still struggles to make reading an ordinary part of everyday life.

Nigeria is not short of stories. From the historical experiences of our communities to the contemporary realities of our cities and villages, there is no shortage of material worth reading, documenting and preserving. Our writers continue to tell these stories in different languages and forms. Our publishers bring new titles into circulation, while libraries, schools and bookshops provide spaces where knowledge can be encountered.

Yet, an important question remains: who is bringing readers together, particularly beyond the familiar literary circles?

Reading is often discussed as though it were simply a matter of personal discipline. Children are told to read more, students are encouraged to visit libraries, and young people are reminded that books are essential to their future. These messages are important, but they do not address the entire problem. A reading culture does not grow through encouragement alone. It requires people, institutions, opportunities and communities that make reading a shared experience.

This is where book clubs become important.

A book club can begin with a handful of people meeting in a classroom, a library, a community centre or someone's sitting room. They may not have impressive facilities or financial resources. What brings them together is a shared interest in books and the willingness to discuss ideas. Over time, such gatherings can develop into spaces where young people learn to express themselves, listen to different opinions, question assumptions and discover perspectives beyond their immediate surroundings.

But many book clubs operate independently, with limited access to resources, networks and opportunities for collaboration. Some struggle to sustain activities, while others depend heavily on the commitment of a few individuals. Their work may be valuable, but their reach remains limited.

A national reading movement cannot afford to leave these groups isolated.

The need for a common platform

Established in February 2020 following an inaugural meeting at the offices of Ignite Africa Leadership Foundation in Ikeja, Lagos.

The Network of Book Clubs and Reading Culture Promoters in Nigeria (NBRP) emerged from the recognition that existing book clubs and reading promotion organisations could achieve more by working together.

The idea is straightforward but important: bring reading promoters under a common platform, encourage cooperation, support existing clubs and create opportunities for more Nigerians to participate in reading activities.

NBRP is not simply about bringing people who love books into one organisation. Its broader purpose is to strengthen the connections between readers, authors, libraries, publishers, booksellers, educators and other stakeholders in the book ecosystem.

One of its most ambitious initiative seeks to ensure the emergence of at least one book club and a properly equipped library in every local government area.

Nigeria has 774 local government areas.

Behind that number are communities with different histories, educational needs, languages and cultural experiences. Imagine a child in a rural community having access to a functional reading space. Imagine young people in a small town organising regular discussions around books written by Nigerian and African authors. Imagine communities where reading is not associated exclusively with examinations but becomes part of social and intellectual life.

According to NBRP's report of its September 2025 AGM and National Conference in Abuja, Ibadan was selected as the 2026 National Book City.

Previous host cities include Uyo, Lagos, Yenogua and Abuja.

The National Book Clubs City initiative is another effort to give reading promotion greater visibility by recognising and supporting cities that can serve as focal points for literary activities. Through such initiatives, reading can move beyond individual institutions and become a visible part of community life.

NBRP also identifies book donations, reading activities, capacity development and national engagements among its areas of work.

Why collaboration matters

No single organisation can solve Nigeria's reading challenges. Not even a well-established national network can do it alone.

Government institutions have responsibilities in education, literacy development and public library provision. Schools must create environments where children encounter books beyond prescribed textbooks. Publishers and booksellers must continue to make quality reading materials accessible. Authors must keep producing works that speak to the experiences and aspirations of society.

Libraries, book clubs and community organisations must also find ways to bring these resources closer to readers.

The strength of NBRP will therefore depend, in part, on its ability to build meaningful relationships across these different interests.

Its engagement with the National Library of Nigeria, literary organisations and other stakeholders demonstrates the importance of partnership in advancing reading promotion. Its wider ambition should be to make collaboration possible even at the grassroots, where the absence of resources and institutional support is often most visible.

There is also a need to look beyond the established literary centres.

A young reader in Azare, Bauchi, should have opportunities to participate in literary conversations just as a reader in Lagos or Abuja would. A book club in Maiduguri should not feel disconnected from developments in Ibadan, Enugu, Kano or Port Harcourt. Reading promotion should not become another activity concentrated in a few major cities.

This is why regional partnerships, community-based book clubs and stronger connections between existing literary associations deserve serious attention.

Nigeria's literary strength lies partly in its diversity. Our reading initiatives should reflect that diversity.

The question of young readers

Perhaps the most important reason to invest in reading culture is the younger generation.

Children and young adults are growing up in an environment where information is readily available, but access to information does not automatically translate into understanding. Social media has changed how people communicate, learn and spend their time. It has also created opportunities for discovering books, authors and ideas.

The challenge is not necessarily to persuade young people to abandon digital platforms. Rather, it is to help them develop the curiosity and critical thinking required to engage meaningfully with the information they encounter.

A young person who reads widely is better positioned to question information, understand different viewpoints and participate thoughtfully in public discussions.

Book clubs can contribute to this development by making reading interactive. Instead of simply completing a book, members can discuss its characters, examine its arguments, challenge its ideas and relate its lessons to their own experiences.

Such encounters can be particularly valuable in schools and communities where opportunities for intellectual discussion are limited.

This is also why reading initiatives must be inclusive. Children, students, teachers, out-of-school young people, adults and people with different educational backgrounds should all have a place in the conversation.

From national ambition to visible action

NBRP has an important ambition, but ambition must continually be matched with visible results.

The 774 Book Clubs and Libraries Project, for instance, presents a considerable undertaking. Establishing sustainable reading spaces across hundreds of local government areas will require resources, reliable partnerships, committed local coordinators and consistent monitoring.

It will also require an approach that recognises the different circumstances of communities.

A library is not functional merely because books have been donated to it. Someone must manage it, readers must know it exists, and the books must reflect the needs and interests of the community. Similarly, establishing a book club is only the beginning. Its survival depends on regular activities, committed members and an environment that encourages participation.

NBRP must therefore continue to strengthen its structures, communicate its activities and make its work more visible to the public.

There is considerable room for digital engagement too. An organisation seeking to connect reading promoters across Nigeria should have a strong and consistent online presence. Its website and social media platforms can become meeting points for readers, authors, book clubs and prospective partners. Regular updates, interviews, reading recommendations, author conversations and reports from member organisations would help people understand the network beyond its name.

More importantly, its online presence should reflect the actual work happening within its communities.

The opportunity is not simply to become more visible but to become more accessible.

A responsibility beyond one organisation

Nigeria's reading challenge should not be left to teachers, librarians, authors or book clubs alone. It is a shared responsibility.

Parents can introduce books into family life. Schools can make reading enjoyable rather than treating it solely as an examination requirement. Communities can support local reading groups. Government can invest in functional public libraries, while private organisations and individuals can contribute resources, expertise and opportunities.

Authors, too, have a role to play. Every book that finds a reader has the potential to begin a conversation, challenge an assumption or inspire a new ambition.

For NBRP, the task is to help connect these efforts and make them stronger through collective action.

The organisation's journey should be measured not only by the number of meetings it holds or partnerships it announces, but also by the number of sustainable reading communities it helps strengthen, the opportunities it creates for young readers and the extent to which its initiatives reach people who have traditionally been left outside literary conversations.

Ultimately, the success of a reading movement is not determined by how many people talk about reading culture. It is determined by how many people actually begin to read, continue reading and find others with whom they can share what they have discovered.

Nigeria has the writers, the stories, the intellectual resources and the human potential. What we need is a stronger connection between those who produce books and those who can benefit from reading them.

Perhaps the next important literary gathering in Nigeria should not only be remembered for the authors who attended or the books displayed, but also for the reading communities it helped establish.

A nation of readers cannot be built by isolated efforts. It requires a network of people who understand that the future of reading is a collective responsibility.

And that is a conversation Nigeria must take seriously.