Mr Tope Babayemi, CEO, Different Aesthetics, Arts and Culture Management and Mr Yinka Olaniyan, Executive Director, Macmillian Publishers Ltd at the media briefing, of 11th annual Literary Night in Lagos.
Mr Tope Babayemi, CEO, Different Aesthetics, Arts and Culture Management; Dr Iyiola Adelekan, Managing Director, and Mr Yinka Olaniyan, Executive Director, Macmillan Publishers Ltd at the media briefing of the annual Literary Night in Lagos.
Change
Lagos, Nov. 8, 2013, Mrs Francesca
Emanuel, the Deputy Chairman, Macmillan Publishers Company Limited, on Friday,
said every Nigerian had a role to play in making the country a better place.
Emanuel made the call at a media
briefing, on the organisation’s forthcoming 11th Literary Night
entitled: ``Fix it, the Nigerian character” in Lagos.
According to her, Nigerians need to
work towards achieving the desired change in the country, urging them to be
proactive.
``We cannot continue to handle
things with a fire brigade approach both as leaders and people.
``The change demands that the
average citizen of Nigeria plays a prominent role of being responsible in order
to move the country forward,” she said.
Mrs Emanuel was represented by Mr
Yinka Olaniyan, an Executive Director, he urged Nigerians not to be complacent,
lackadaisical and nonchalant to happenings in the country.
She noted that any responsible
citizen would be worried about the negative perception of Nigerians
internationally.
``A country that was conceived
as the giant of Africa has descended far down the ladder due to character
deficiencies in some of her citizens.
``The Nigeria green passport is
always derided at entry points of other nations of the world,” she said.
According to Emanuel, Macmillan has
resolved to pay closer attention to the solutions instead of focusing on the
problems through its literary night.
``It is a way of tell people what
they are not getting right and ways to correct them.
``We are aware that the factors like
endemic corruption, violence, collapse of the family values and institutions
are partly responsible for the present bad image of the country.
``We will not bemoan our fate any
further; rather we would call out Nigerians through this event to bring about
the desired change,” she said.
The yearly programme is scheduled to
hold on Nov. 14, in Lagos.
It will feature dance drama, songs
and poetry among others, with notable actors including Taiwo Ajayi-Lycett and
Norbert Young performing.
