Today, there were three main events: the public presentation of Port Harcourt as the UNESCO World Book Capital, 2014; a "Role Model Reads to Children" event where Dame Alice Lawrence Nemi, the Honourable Commissioner for Education, Rivers State read to children; and a book signing session. All events were open to the public. The first, that seemed to be the highlight of the day was the official presentation of Port Harcourt as the UNESCO World Book Capital City, 2014. In attendance were the Nobel Laureate for Literature, Professor Wole Soyinka; the Commissioner for Information, Rivers State, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari who represented the Governor of Rivers State, HE Governor Rotimi Amaechi; the Country Representative of UNESCO, Dr Joseph Ngo who represented Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova. Seated also were the guest writers for the Garden City Literary Festival, Doreen Baingana, Veronique Tadjo and Chibundu Onuzo. Also seated were writers from the city of Port Harcourt, Igoni Barrett, Chief Elechi Amadi, and Pa Gabriel Okara.
The event which was co-hosted by Who Wants to Be a Millionaire host, Frank Edoho opened with music from the Rivers States Schools Orchestra. The group of young children also led the audience to sing the National Anthem, which seemed to take on a new meaning, as the second stanza ended "...Great lofty heights attain, to build a nation where peace and justice shall reign."
Throughout the event, it seemed that every speaker focused on how as a country, we can attain lofty heights by supporting the ideas that literature carries. Koko Kalango, the Festival Director gave the welcome speech; she talked about the motive behind the title of this year's festival "The broad theme is interesting because it allows examine the work of women who are operating in the literary space- writers, publishers, book sellers, literary critics. We will also be looking at what women write about and how relevant female writing is to the modern world, also how women are portrayed in literature."
She emphasised the importance of reading to thinking, to the growth of any society. "A reading people is a thinking people. In a reading society, thinking society, when we see a broken down fuel tanker, we do not go there and take our buckets to fetch petrol to sell for a little money. A thinking person knows that this is a dangerous thing to do as a single match can set a blaze that can kill dozens of people in minutes." She ended her address by welcoming everyone to the Garden City Literary Festival.
This was followed by the Governor's welcome address presented by Mrs. Ibim Semenitari who lauded the activities of the Rainbow Book Club, as a strategic partnership with the state government in shining the light of enlightenment on the darkness of ignorance in the state. She espoused the potentials that Port Harcourt held being the UNESCO World Book Capital City, 2014, and said that the state would support in the activities. "Let me on that note welcome you to the beautiful city of Port Harcourt and to the city of Rivers, to a state that is full of possibilities," she said, concluding the Governor's address.
The Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova was represented by the country rep, Dr Joseph Ngu. He lauded the work of the Rainbow Book Club as being in alignment with UNESCO's work. He said "In April 2013, Port Harcourt would be the first African city to serve as the UNESCO World Book Capital City. Books are transmitters of knowledge. They promote mutual understanding and help fight ignorance. That's why UNESCO wants to help combat illiteracy. This is why UNESCO is engaged as the lead agency for the global education for all women... With Port Harcourt as world Book capital in 2012, Africa will be able to share its vision of books with the world. We can also address the many challenges encountered by the national stakeholders. The stakes are high and we know that much has to be done, to ensure its success. But rest assured that UNESCO will continue to work with all the parties concerned. Thank you for your attention."
There was an interlude to the speeches with Pa Okara who read his poem "The Call of the River Nun."
Professor Wole Soyinka took to the podium to give his speech, which he drew largely from social realities, happenings in the world of science and poetry. It was an exercise in decoding the coded language of science and transmitting it in the language that we all understood. He commended the Rainbow Book Club's work, as a legacy, a war of the forces of light against the forces of darkness. He commented on the Aluu incident "worse of all is that it took place in front of people who watched. Silent participants...I believe quite frankly that this country is at war: between the intellects and against the forces of reprobate thinking."
It is in fact a fight for our humanity, he says "If we surrender to these banal forces in the society, we cease to be human beings. All organisations that wage war against enlightenment wage war, not against the state, but against humanity itself. We have the responsibility to support and sustain such efforts, and that makes RBC an ally organisation. Despite the horrors that surround us, we are very much alive, very much productive. It is an internal and external message, we must continue to preach to our children if we have any hope at all and any faith in our humanity." On Port-Harcourt's selection as the World Book Capital City, he said "This is an honour, not only to the nation but to the African continent. This is recognition that something is going right in Nigeria despite negativity. "
The logo for Port-Harcourt as the World Book Capital, 2014 was was unveiled by writers of Port-Harcourt; Wole Soyinka and his wife, Mrs Folake Soyinka, Mrs Ibim Semenitari and the invited writers.
Dr Obari Gomba reviewed the book Nigerian Literature: Coat of Many Colours. He had a lot to say, here is a summary "Mrs Kalango's book has a colourful front cover with fourteen pictures of Nigerian writers. Soyinka's photo is the biggest. Does it surprise you? There are other 36 writers on the back cover. They have all added value to the book, period. If you envy them with a bias, then run for office in the next elections. Fifty Nigerian authors are listed. There are fifteen women. This is less than the 35% affirmative action for women; it calls more women to write...The scope of the book is impressive and covers all the generations of Nigerian writers. Many young writers are represented. That is not too many to sing the success of our generation. We have people who have done two, three works and are listed here. It is good that Ms. Kalango has not fallen in the class that says that wait for us until we are grey."
The event came to a close with the Vote of Thanks delivered by Chief Elechi Amadi. Copies of the book were given to members of the audience, who hurried to some of the writers who were around for pictures and autographs.
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