Prominent legal practitioner Dr. Muiz Banire SAN has issued a passionate call for Nigerians to embrace reading as a means of addressing the country’s social challenges. Speaking at the launch of “Making Movies the Nollywood Way” by Best of Nollywood (BON) founder Seun Oloketuyi, Dr. Banire emphasised the critical need to revive Nigeria’s reading culture.
The book launch took place on Sunday, September 7, at the Radisson Blu hotel in Ikeja, Lagos, drawing a distinguished audience of entertainment industry stakeholders and dignitaries.
Dr. Banire shared a revealing personal experience to underscore his message, recounting how he had gifted copies of the King of Dubai’s memoirs to friends with gubernatorial ambitions. When he followed up months later, he was disappointed to discover that most recipients had not bothered to read the books. This experience reinforced his belief that cultivating a reading culture is essential for both documenting knowledge and providing instruction for future generations.
The sentiment was echoed by former Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Rt. Hon. Ikuforiji, who criticised successful Nigerians for failing to document their journeys and share valuable insights with others. He praised Oloketuyi’s publication as an exemplary contribution to advancing knowledge within Nigeria’s creative industry.
Author Seun Oloketuyi explained that his book aims to serve as a mentorship tool for emerging creative talents, providing access to wisdom from established industry professionals featured throughout its pages. The work has garnered endorsements from featured filmmakers Biodun Stephen and Yemi Morafa, both of whom credited the BON Awards with significantly advancing their careers and praised Oloketuyi’s unwavering commitment to Nollywood’s development.
The star-studded launch event attracted notable personalities, including representatives of Oba Saheed Elegushi, Lagos State Tourism Commissioner Toke Benson, actress Biola Adebayo, Barrister Pelumi Olajegbesi, Gboyega Akosile, and Hon. Desmond Elliot, among other prominent figures who gathered to celebrate this educational initiative aimed at nurturing industry growth and knowledge sharing.
Seunmanuel Faleye is a brand and communications strategist. He is a covert writer and an overt creative head. He publishes Apple’s Bite International Magazine.
