The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), Prof. Salisu Shehu, has been appointed Chairman of the 25th International Conference of the Nigerian Book Fair and its Silver Jubilee celebration.
The annual International Book Fair is organised by the Nigerian Publishers’ Association (NPA) through its statutory arm, the Nigerian Book Fair Trust.
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This year’s edition, held under the theme “Education for All: Closing the Gap on Nigerian Out-of-School Children,” brought together education stakeholders, publishers, scholars and development partners from Nigeria and abroad.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of the Nigerian Book Fair Trust, Mr. Oluwadare Oluwatuyi, said Prof. Shehu’s appointment was aimed at strengthening collaboration between the NPA and NERDC, while also recognising his leadership and commitment to repositioning the Council for improved impact in the education sector.
He noted that the conference theme reflects the Association’s commitment to supporting ongoing education reforms, particularly the Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), which prioritises addressing the challenges of out-of-school children and Almajiri education.
Mr. Oluwatuyi also announced a donation of books valued at ₦10 million to schools across Nigeria, describing it as part of the Association’s contribution to improving access to learning materials, especially in public schools.
In his remarks, Prof. Shehu reaffirmed the NERDC’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with the Nigerian Publishers’ Association and other stakeholders in the education value chain.
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He described the collaboration between both institutions as essential for promoting knowledge development, literacy and national progress.
Prof. Shehu, who also chaired the conference and Silver Jubilee ceremony, expressed appreciation to the organisers for the honour, noting that the recognition extended to the entire NERDC.
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He commended the relevance of the conference theme, describing it as timely and aligned with national development priorities aimed at expanding access to education and reducing the number of out-of-school children.
He further applauded the ₦10 million book donation initiative, describing it as a practical demonstration of commitment to improving educational outcomes in Nigeria.
The 2026 International Conference and Silver Jubilee celebration was held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts (formerly National Theatre), Iganmu, Lagos, from May 13 to 15, 2026.
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The event attracted participants from Nigeria and several countries across Africa, Europe and Asia, highlighting its growing international relevance in education and publishing discourse.
Prof. Shehu was accompanied to the event by the Director of the Book Development Centre, Dr. Judith Kanu, and his Special Assistant (Technical), Dr. Garba Dahiru Gandu.