Dr Chido Onumah, Coordinator of the African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), on Thursday said the centre and its partners were set to publish a book on Nigeria at 60 to mark the independence anniversary.
Some of the partners include the Government of Ekiti State, Premium Times Books, Yiaga Africa, Sahara Reporters, Oak TV, CDD, Enough is Enough, Nigeria, and TechHer.
Onumah in a statement said that the book, titled, “Remaking Nigeria: Sixty Years, Sixty Vioces”, with a foreword on “Federalism in Nigeria,” by Dr Kayode Fayemi, Governor of Ekiti State.
The book is edited by Dr Chido Onumah, Coordinator of AFRICMIL.
“Today on Oct. 1, 2020, Nigeria is celebrating her 60th year of political independence.
“After 60 years of independence, most Nigerians, particularly the youth, hold the view that the country has failed to work for them in a way that is satisfactory and enduring.
“The aim of the book, therefore, is to give voice to young Nigerians, the critical change agents, to help the country understand and sharpen its focus on those issues that hold the key to its collective survival.
“Clearly, the new decade will be a defining moment for Nigeria.
“Sixty years after independence, fifty years after a civil war, and at the beginning of a new decade, it is important that a new generation of citizens is challenged to reposition the country,” he said
Onumah said that from interaction with young people and discussions on social media, there appeared to be an information and knowledge gap among young people about the history and socio-political evolution of Nigeria.
He said that beyond the lack of understanding of history, there was also a dearth of ideas on what needed to be done and how to get Nigeria out of its current situation.
He said the book and the activities around it are supposed to address these problems.
He said that contributors to the book are young Nigerians with fresh ideas on nationhood, democracy, and development.
Onumah said that the book focused on issues such as federalism, elections and democracy, constitutionalism, environmental justice, data and ICT.
He listed other issues as the economy and social inclusion, media and press freedom, youth engagement, law and human rights.
Others are education and social services, religion and multiculturalism, leadership challenge and good governance, corruption and accountability, foreign policy and regional cooperation.
He said that contributors consisted of academics, politicians, journalists, writers, youth activists and organisers, gender activists, human rights and civil society activists, among others.
Onumah said that they focused on the many challenges confronting Nigeria from their experience, research, and advocacy.
He said that the publication which was supported by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), and Ford Foundation would be launched later in October.
