Uchenna Anioke, the President and Chairman-in-Council of the Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA), has called on the Federal Government to involve publishers in any future changes to the national education curriculum. Anioke made this appeal during the 2024 Annual Conference and General Meeting of the NPA, held on Thursday in Lagos. The conference, which was themed “Publishing in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Exploring The Future of Content Creation, Delivery, and Copyright,” focused on the evolving challenges and opportunities in the publishing industry.

Anioke emphasized the crucial role that publishers play in the successful implementation of any curriculum reforms. According to him, publishers are the ones who will ultimately produce and distribute the educational content resulting from such changes. He pointed out that the current practice of excluding publishers from the decision-making process is unacceptable. He stated, “It is publishers that will ultimately produce and make available, in whatever format, the outcome of such a curriculum change.” He further argued that failing to involve publishers, along with authors, printers, booksellers, and other stakeholders in the book chain, would amount to intellectual sabotage, both direct and indirect. Anioke stressed that a more collaborative approach is essential for the successful integration of curriculum changes in the country.

In addition to his call for greater publisher involvement in curriculum development, Anioke also advocated for the revitalization of Nigeria’s paper mills, many of which are currently dormant. He highlighted that without functional paper mills, the country’s publishing and printing sectors would continue to depend on foreign markets for their paper supplies. This reliance, he suggested, could hinder the growth of the local industry.

Anioke also urged the government to adopt an education policy that encourages the production of books in Nigeria’s three major indigenous languages. He cited examples from countries like Russia, China, Germany, Japan, and India, which have advanced in writing, teaching, research, and publishing through the use of their native languages. To achieve this, he called for the empowerment of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) to collaborate with publishers, authors, and translators on this critical goal.

The theme of the conference, according to Anioke, was selected to address the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on industries worldwide, including publishing. He emphasized that publishers, as key vendors of knowledge, have much to gain by embracing AI technologies in their work.

Rasaq Jaiyeola, the former president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, echoed Anioke’s sentiment, stressing that publishers must adapt to the AI era to enhance their contributions to Nigeria’s educational system. Jaiyeola, who is also a Chief Consultant at A.J. Silicon and Chairman of the conference, highlighted the need for publishers and authors to gain knowledge of AI to protect their intellectual property rights.

Lukman Dauda, Vice-President of the NPA and Managing Director of Evans Brothers (Nigeria Publishers) Ltd., also emphasized the importance of embracing AI for the future of the publishing industry. Dauda encouraged attendees to approach the conference with an open mind, reminding them that the decisions made at the event would shape the future of Nigeria’s publishing sector.