World Book Capital: Port Harcourt now on world map, says Lawmaker

“Port Harcourt is on the spot light. World attention will be focused on Port Harcourt for the next one year”.

A member of the House of Representatives, Dakuku Peterside (APC- Opobo/Nkoro), said the designation of Port Harcourt as the World Book Capital had put the city on the world map.

The UNESCO designated Port Harcourt as the World Book Capital for 2014, the first in Sub-Saharan Africa, while Alexandria in Egypt, was the first in Africa in 2002.

Mr. Peterside told the News Agency of Nigeria in Port Harcourt on Thursday that the event would open a window of opportunities for Rivers and Nigeria, especially in the literary world.

“Port Harcourt is on the spot light. World attention will be focused on Port Harcourt for the next one year.

“A lot of young people will be exposed, will be given opportunities, their skills will be honed and of course, there will be opportunities for networking.

“But most importantly, we are going to re-invent the culture of reading and of course, a whole lot of literary works in the city of Port Harcourt. There is a lot to be gained from Port Harcourt serving as the World Book Capital for the next one year,” he said.

The lawmaker also called for collective effort to promote reading culture among the youth, saying that it was one way to keep their minds busy.

He urged Rivers residents to key into the World Book Capital programme and use the experience to improve the standard of education in the state.