Managing Director of Macmillan Nigeria, Iyiola Adelakun, has said that this year’s edition of the Macmillan Literary Night, the 12th in the series, will be uniquely different.
He made the statement while introducing the publishing company’s deputy chair, who doubles as chair of its literary events committee, Mrs. Francesca Emanuel, at the press conference in Lagos to announce the event on Wednesday.
Mrs. Emanuel took it from there and made a succinct presentation about the event billed to take place on Thursday, November 6, at the Agip Recital Hall of the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.
The holder of the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) said the theme for this year’s event is ‘The Rebirth’, which reflects the characteristic responsiveness of her company’s promotion of ennobling and productive values, essential to national development.
She recalled that in the last 15 years, Macmillan Nigeria Publishers Limited has chosen a different theme relevant to the point in time, for every edition of the event. Such themes include ‘Echoes of the Children of the Land’ (2004), ‘Leadership and Governance’ (2008), ‘Penning our March to the Golden Year’ (2010) and a host of others.
“In 2012, in frustration, the theme was ‘Break it – Stumbling Blocks to National Development’. In 2013, in a desperate cry for change, we chose the theme, ‘Fix it – the Nigerian Character,” she said.
Emanuel lamented that despite these efforts on the part of her company over the years, it would appear that the expected dividends of the country’s democracy and immense natural wealth are yet to be fully exploited.
“We all know our problems, but we blame others for our failures. We refuse to see each and every one of us as part of the problem. We distance ourselves as long as we are not directly affected. We are not concerned, as long as we feel we can take care of our own needs. We amass wealth by hook or crook, stupidly thinking that our wealth will see us, our children, our children’s children (ad infinitum) through whatever ills befall our country.
“The helpless, the silent, the desperate, the stingy; all of us are part of the problem,” she declared.
She said further that it becomes even really frightening when religion is used to foist mayhem on the populace.
“When society exhibits these symptoms, a rebirth becomes imperative. Hence our theme pointing the direction for us to see, to address, to know and to actualise,” she said.
Emanuel, who said that Macmillan Nigeria Publishers Limited is the singular corporate organisation that has consistently sponsored a literary event for 15 years, explained that Nigeria can be a great nation. Macmillan, she said, wants to create awareness of the socio-economic realities, with a view to evoking requisite positive attitudinal change for the country’s development.
“(Nigeria) has produced many resourceful, intelligent and talented sons and daughters, who have exhibited strong passion to take us to greater heights. Every day, these men and women are making immense contributions to make the world a better place. We therefore cannot give up hope, nor can we continue to wait for a messiah to come and deliver us. Solutions must be found and we are the ones to do it,” she said.
She added that there is urgent need for a re-birth, a change of attitude, a re-instating of our norms, values and talents, which can have a positive impact on our society.
The night will feature some of Nigeria’s outstanding entertainers like Joke Silva, Ihria Enakimio and Taiwo Ajai-Lycett. Also on stage will be the Crown Troupe of Africa led by Segun Adefila, and a host of others.
