ASABA/Nigeria: The first-ever World Book Day Festival in Delta State was officially flagged off in Asaba on March 6, 2026, with renowned author and international communications entrepreneur, Lady Ejiro Umukoro, calling for urgent revival of libraries across Nigeria and a renewed commitment to promoting reading culture among young people.
The festival, tagged LightRay/Distortion World Book Day Festival 2026 with the theme “That Which Bends, Rises,” was organised by LightRay! Media Books and Creative Society with support from the Delta State Government through the Office of the Head of Service.
Delivering the keynote address at the event, Umukoro lamented the steady decline of reading culture in Nigeria, warning that book clubs, book-a-thons and literary performance platforms that once thrived in schools and communities are gradually disappearing.
According to her, although some literacy clubs are actively supporting reading culture by engaging schools, donating books to libraries and organising literary discussions, the majority of such clubs are concentrated in major cities, leaving rural communities across Delta State’s 25 local government areas without similar initiatives.
She noted that across primary and secondary schools, book clubs are fast disappearing, while many children are growing up in a society where the culture of literary engagement is steadily eroding. The same trend, she added, is also visible across universities in Delta State and Nigeria at large.
Umukoro emphasized that libraries remain critical platforms for knowledge development and intellectual growth, urging young people to cultivate the habit of reading as a foundation for personal development and national progress.
“The LightRay/Distortion World Book Day and Festival is not just a celebration; it is a platform for change. By participating in this festival, we are taking a stand for literature, creativity and the economic future of our creative communities,” she said.
She explained that the festival was designed as a long-term intervention to revive literacy, rebuild libraries and inspire a new generation of readers, writers and creative thinkers across Nigeria.
Umukoro announced that professionals, civil servants, public and private schools, libraries, book clubs, associations and students from secondary and tertiary institutions are eligible to participate in the festival’s competitions, workshops and other activities, with cash prizes running into millions of naira.
Participants will compete in several categories including best book clubs in secondary schools and communities, most vibrant and efficient libraries, book-a-thons, performance arts, poetry, stage plays, skits, best short AI film, as well as script writing and voiceover artistry.
She revealed that obtaining a copy of her bestselling novel, “Distortion,” which has been adopted by the Delta State Ministry of Education as a recommended literature text for students, serves as the entry requirement for participation in the festival’s competitions and activities.
Umukoro also encouraged students, educators and literary enthusiasts to register ahead of the major April 23 World Book Day celebration, noting that participation requires acquiring copies of the ministry-approved Distortion literature.
The literary festival, which drew students, book enthusiasts and literary stakeholders, marked a significant milestone in Delta State’s literary calendar as it celebrated the power of books, creativity and intellectual engagement.
In their goodwill messages, Dr. Omena Egedi and Chief Mrs. Theresa Allanah described the World Book Day Festival as a landmark initiative that would strengthen literary development in Delta State.
They noted that the festival, alongside other planned competitions and literary activities, had come to stay in the state and commended Umukoro for her dedication to promoting education and her positive impact on the lives of young people, particularly the girl child.
Also speaking, the Head of Service of Delta State, Dr. (Mrs.) Mininim Oseji, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Head of Service, Dr. Wilson Chukwuka, underscored the importance of reading in human development.
Chukwuka noted that reading remains one of the most effective tools for acquiring knowledge, warning that failure to read inevitably leads to ignorance and limits intellectual growth.
Organisers disclosed that prizes worth over ₦500,000 in some categories would be won by participants in various competitions scheduled as part of the celebration.
Umukoro further revealed that the festival forms part of a broader three-month literary engagement programme, followed by nine months of post-event amplification, which will culminate in a global creative showcase in March 2027 aimed at positioning Nigeria’s literary and creative talents prominently in international conversations on inclusion and resilience.
Declaring the festival open, she urged participants to fully engage in the workshops, competitions, showcases and performances lined up for the year-long project.
“Let this festival be a revival of our creative economy, a catalyst for social impact and community building. Let it inspire young minds to pick up a pen, turn the pages of a book and dream bigger than they ever thought possible,” she said.
Umukoro expressed appreciation to the festival’s partners and collaborators, particularly the Head of Service of Delta State, Dr. Mininim Oseji, the National Association of Seadogs, educators, book clubs and literary stakeholders for supporting the initiative.
Lady Ejiro Umukoro is the Founder and President of LightRay! Media Books and Creative Society, a ChangeMaker Award recipient of the United States Agency for Global Media, and a British Council International Communications Award recipient, widely recognised for her contributions to literature, communications and creative development.
