PHOTOS: Faces at Simon Kolawole’s book reading in Port Harcourt

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PHOTOS: Faces at Simon Kolawole’s book reading in Port Harcourt

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August 8, 2023

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On Monday, Simon Kolawole, author of ‘Fellow Nigerians, It’s All Politics’ — a collection of his essays — was the guest at a book reading event organised by the August Meeting and held at the Port Harcourt Club 1928 in Rivers state.

The event was hosted by Kingsley Wali, the convener of Unity House Foundation (UHF), a good governance advocacy group, and an ardent advocate of reviving the culture of reading in Nigeria.

OJC Okocha, former chairman of the Nigerian Body of Benchers, chaired the book reading. He was represented by Oros, his son.

Below are photos from the book reading.

Kingsley Wali, the host, making a speech on the need to encourage a culture of writing, collaboration and mentorship, and institutional support to revive book reading in Nigeria

Students from Seacrest Preparatory & International Secondary School and Aladumo International School

Oros Okocha, PhD, stood in for his father, OCJ Okocha, as the chair of the event

Prof Stephen Okodudu taking a question from the audience

Prof Okodudu spoke on the construction of ethnic identity in the competition for resources, including power

A student reading Kolawole’s essay on “The Value of a Nigerian’s Life”

Copies of the book in display. The first 30 to arrive at the book reading got a free copy courtesy Wali, who was also marking his 61st birthday

Kolawole: “I keep writing despite my frustrations and discouragement because I discovered there are still people who believe Nigeria can be great”

Blessing Wikena, former chief press secretary, Rivers state government, said in his days as a student, friendships were formed around sharing and reading books

The audience was drawn from a wide range of professionals

A student of Aladumo International School asked readers to put what they learn from reading to use and to promote a nation free of ethnic prejudice

Iniro Wills, former commissioner in Bayelsa state, suggested that although reading a whole book might be difficult for some people but they should read whatever is of interest to them

Hilda Dokubo, Nollywood legend, spoke on building a true Nigeria devoid of ethnic and religious biases

Staff and students from Seacrest Preparatory & International Secondary School and Aladumo International School

Prof Eme Ekekwe, formerly of the University of Port Harcourt, was also in attendance

A student reading ‘Rome was not destroyed in a day’ from the book

An ovation for Wali after he announced the institution of an inter-school quiz competition to encourage the culture of reading

Guests displaying copies of the book after the event

Kolawole signing a copy of his book for Iduama Wali

Source: Top Stories