Nigerian Publishers Association Courtesy Visit to NERDC on 26th February 2025
The Executive Secretary, Prof. Salisu Shehu with Nigerian Publishers Association President, Lukman Dauda (5th left) with the Managements of NERDC and NPA during the latter's visit to Council on Wednesday, 26th February, 2025.
NERDC TO DIGITALIZE BOOK REVIEW PROCESSES
The Executive Secretary, Prof. Salisu Shehu has disclosed that NERDC has commenced effort to digitalize the process of reviewing books being used in our schools for easier distinction of assessed and non-assessed books for users.
Speaking on Wednesday, 26th February, 2025, when he paid host to the Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA) at the Council headquarter, Sheda, Abuja, Prof. Shehu stated that, “NERDC will do everything on her part to reduce bottleneck its review of books by automating the processes. We shall create a digital and Internet-based data of books recommended and those not recommended by NERDC for easier assessment”.
While noting that NERDC bears a great responsibility in the field of knowledge impartment to the nation owing to the onerous task of curriculum and book development amongst others, Prof. Shehu equally acknowledged the importance of Publishers in delivering this mandate stating that we understand the importance of publishing textbooks to aid reading and learning.
According to him, “You are the first bridge we will pass, before getting to the public. If we produce curriculum, and it is not implemented, the exercise is futile. We provide the learning content, while you interpret them into printable and reading contents”.
He acknowledged that both NERDC and NPA are bearing great responsibilities in the field of knowledge impartment to the nation as their ideas shape the conscience of the nation and promote knowledge. “The destiny of a nation rests on the knowledge we are working on”, the ES said.
The NERDC boss informed that the Council has developed a new curriculum which is to be implemented in phases in our schools, starting from September, 2025. This curriculum, he disclosed, is a departure from old curriculum as it will address the current learning crisis in the country and also, encourage the use of technology.
Earlier, the Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA) also sought the assistance of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) in the fight against piracy.
The President - Lukman Dauda, informed that the action of piraters is seriously affecting their business, and if care is not taken, they may be run out of business as they may not be able to stop them.
According to the NPA President, while the association is trying to ensure better quality printing in Nigeria, the piraters are there flooding the Nigerian markets with their poorly produced materials from abroad, thereby, selling at lower rates and driving the genuine publishers out of market.
Dauda, who was elected as the 25th National President of NPA on 29th November, 2024, and whose investiture took place on the 20th day of February, 2025, said that the primary aim of the association is to protect the interest of members, as well as promote quality printing in Nigeria.
This, he said, they have been doing, but the high cost of printing occasioned by the exchange rate, billings from their respective state governments for book assessment, high cost of printing materials and other expenditures have been affecting the business negatively.
The NPA President noted that though they are businessmen, they are in the business first to impart knowledge, not profit-making. According to him, “We are business men but not driven by the profit we will make".
He used the medium to ask that NPA, being a critical stakeholder to NERDC, be included in her scheme of affairs like Board membership, Curriculum and Book Development activities among others.
The Association presented the Executive Secretary with a roll up banner congratulating him on his appointment as the ES
NPA President, Lukman Dauda (l) addressing the Executive Secretary, Prof Salisu Shehu during the former's visit to NERDC on Wednesday, 26th February, 2025
Executive Secretary, Prof Salisu Shehu, welcoming the NPA President, Lukman Dauda (r) and others members of NPA Council during the latter's visit to NERDC on Wednesday, 26th February, 2025
NPA President, Lukman Dauda (l) presenting congratulatory roll up banner to the Executive Secretary, Prof Salisu Shehu for his appointment, during the former's visit to NERDC on Wednesday, 26th February, 2025
