The just concluded 2nd Toyin Falola Annual International Conference(TOFAC), organized by the Ibadan Cultural Studies Group, in collaboration with the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC), saw scholars, identifying vibrant entrepreneurship, infrastructural, technological developments, zero tolerance to corruption, poverty reduction, greener economic, as factors which would serve as catalyst to reviving Nigeria and Africa.

Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, has charged Heads of Agencies under his Ministry to pursue projects and programmes that will have direct impact on Nigerians and transform their lives. The Minister gave the charge in Abuja during a meeting with Senior Management Staff of the Ministry and Chief Executive Officers of parastatals in the Ministry.

In a bid to meet the demands of the ever-evolving and competitive entertainment industry, MAP Media Consult, a talent management firm in Lagos, is organizing an event tagged, “Fashion VS Music” a stage and platform for young designers and artistes to showcase fresh talents that the nation is endowed with.

For book lovers and the book industry in Nigeria, last week was a week to remember for a long time. It was one week to remember for two significant things that happened, which underline the importance of book to the general well being of Nigeria as a nation.

For many that graced the 4th edition of authors’ forum, a gathering of authors and major stakeholders in the book industry organised by the foremost publishers, University Press Plc at Ibadan penultimate week and those who had graced the previous editions, one major issue that was observed was the concerted effort by the company to use the resources at their disposal to address some of the problems in the educational sector.

Yesterday at the June 12 Culture Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Home, a play written by Samm Art Williams was staged as part of activities by Zimrage Multimedia Company to mark Professor Wole Soyinka’s 78th birthday. Among the cast that delivered the scripts are actors and actresses drawn from Nigeria and abroad.

Professor Steve Okecha, Special Adviser on Technical Education to the Minister of Education recently launched a book titled ‘’Now l Know My People’: A Commentary on the Ndokwa Nation. Prof Okecha, former lecturer, Ahmadu Bello University and an astute university administrator brought his vast experience as a widely travelled scholar of international repute to bear at the double honours on the day he also laid bare “away with the Oligarchs – a hard knock on oppressors of the people in whatever guise.

In Lagos, this year’s World Music Day has come and gone, courtesy of the National Troupe of Nigeria. But having come and gone, the memory lingers on. The lingering memory is not as a result of fulfillment of expectations going by the demands of the event which would have involved an almost all day fun filled musical concert.

The Agip Hall of the Muson centre shook to its foundation recently with the spectacular performance of IPI NTOMBI, South Africa’s popular dance drama by students of Greenwood House, Ikoyi. Though stated for 5.30pm, parents, arts and culture enthusiasts filled the hall before the scheduled time.

Set to make its official debut with an exposé of a series of products dubbed Ivie, is a creative arts company, Lizaad. According to Chuma Anagbado, illustrator and founder, Lizaad is a creative arts company set up to seek and provide functional applications for a new art form, which he calls Spontinism.

The importance of poetry as a vehicle for proper historical documentation was brought to the fore last week during the commemoration of America Independence Day, held at the consulate’s office in Lagos.

Considering the central, even towering, role that journalists play in shaping the thoughts and perception of a nation, it often makes sense to acknowledge their contribution to national discourse whenever it comes in form of a book. For journalists who are blessed with long lives and remarkable careers in particular, the tendency to make their narratives the barometer for measuring the nation’s pulse is very high.

Poetry is one area that many people do not understand very well because it embraces the accessible as well as the inaccessible. But which ever way people see it, the mere fact that a poem is unclear does not disqualify it from being a poem as long as it possess all the poetic devices like rhythm, profundity, imagery etc. This is what many will see as they go through the refreshingly rich collection of poems by Abike Muyiwa titled “Uncut”.

As Nigeria gradually matches on to her centenary year come 2014, the modest effort of Port Harcourt based non governmental organization, the Rainbow Book Club, the organizers of Garden City Literary Festival, Garden City Book Fair and Get Nigeria reading may bestow on the nation a garland of honour in the area of book and human capital development.

All roads will, no doubt, lead to the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), venue of the launch and public presentation of two books written by former Chairman, Editorial Board of Vanguard, Chief Kola Animasaun.