Publisher Advocates for Trade Publishing Inclusion in Fund

Anwuli Ojogwu, the Chief Executive Officer of Narrative Landscape Press, is advocating for the inclusion of trade publishing in Nigeria’s Creative Economy Development Fund. Speaking at the QEDNG Creative Powerhouse Summit in Lagos on Tuesday, Ojogwu pointed out that publishers are often overlooked despite their significant role in developing intellectual property for film, television, and other creative sectors.

She noted that publishing was excluded from both the Creative Economy Development Fund and a government mapping exercise aimed at identifying activities within the creative economy. Ojogwu emphasized that the traditional classification of publishing as merely educational overlooks its commercial potential.

She argued that trade publishing is essential for generating intellectual property that can be adapted into various formats, including films. Additionally, Yibo Koko, Director General of the Rivers State Tourism Development Agency, criticized the government's approach to culture, suggesting that it should be viewed as an economic asset rather than a mere "feel-good" activity.