Digital Publishing in West Africa: Technology and the future of the book
DATE: Wednesday, 11 May 2011
VENUE: Nigeria International Book Fair, University of Lagos
SPONSORS: Click here to view details of this year's sponsors
Overview
This full-day workshop, held in conjunction with the 2011 Nigeria International Book Fair, examined many of the same issues that the Book Fair was focusing on this year. What is the current "digital landscape" in West Africa and beyond? How will shifts in technology affect the work of publishers and booksellers? What does the future hold in store for the beloved printed book?
The workshop provided a forum for networking and included a keynote address, a speaker-led panel session, a World Café sharing session, case studies presentations, a marketplace display for participants and suppliers, and a moderated interactive session that involved all participants. The workshop appealed to a broad spectrum of information professionals, including researchers, authors, print and online publishers, advocacy organisations, publishing NGOs, booksellers and librarians, and policymakers - essentially all who create, communicate, or use digital information.
Information for Change 2011 was organised in collaboration with The Nigerian Publisher's Association, The Nigeria International Book Fair, and CODESRIA.
The facilitator for this event was Abdul-Hakem Bolade Dirisu Ajijola, Partner in Consultancy Support Services Ltd., a Nigeria-based ICT, Human Resources and Organization Development consultancy firm, and a member of the Council of Regional Advisors for West and Central Africa of IDRC (International Development Research Centre).
Programme
0900-0930: Registration, coffee, tea, networking, display set-up
0930-0935: Welcoming comments from the organizers
0935-1000: Keynote speaker, followed by questions from participants - Bibi Bahara-Yusuf, Cassava Republic
Session 1: What is the current "digital landscape" in West Africa and beyond?
1000-1100: Two 15-minute presentations, each followed by 15 minutes of questions from participants
Speaker 1: Barrister Inye Kemabonta, Director of Standards and Regulations, Nigerian Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)
Speaker 2: Dr. Linus Ikpaahindi, recently-retired National Librarian of Nigeria
1100-1115: Break
1100-1115: Facilitated discussion: all participants and speakers
Session 2: How will shifts in technology affect the work of publishers and booksellers?
1215-1315: Marketplace buffet lunch: Marketplace buffet lunch: over lunch, all participants will tour display tables to discuss new, evolving, and emerging digital publishing activities and technologies from participants and suppliers in the publishing chain.
1315-1430: Four 15-minute case studies, each followed by 5 minutes of questions from participants
Case study 1 (Academic): Divine Fuh, Langa’a initiative
Case study 2 (Activist): Sandra Obiago, Communicating for Change: Social Change Through Broadcast and Digital Media
Case study 3 (Cultural): Jeremy Weate, Co-founder, Cassava Republic Press
Case study 4 (Research): Robert Cornford, Oxfam: Making Research and Policy Content Visible and Useful
Session 3: What does the future hold in store for the beloved printed book?
1430-1545: World Café: small group facilitated discussions (1430-1515) and rapid feedback (2 minutes each) (tea will be served during this session)
1545-1630: Facilitated discussion: all participants and speakers bring together the learning and experiences of the workshop
This discussion will provide all participants the opportunity to comment on the World Café session feedback. During this session, the workshop will also attempt to answer the question: "What are the next steps we can take as publishers, or researchers, or information specialists, or activists, in a digital world?" All workshop participants - panellists, keynote speaker, and participants - will be asked to make at least one a contribution.
1630-1640: Concluding comments from facilitator and organisers
1640-close of venue: Networking and further discussions among participants