Minna witnessed a landmark educational and cultural event on December 22, 2025, as the maiden Minna Kiddies Book Fair opened to the public, marking the first of such in Niger State dedicated exclusively to children and teenagers.
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The fair, organised by Minna Kiddies Book Hub, was conceived to deliberately nurture a strong reading culture among young people by giving them direct access to age-appropriate books and encouraging early cognitive development through critical engagement with reading materials.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer of Minna Kiddies Book Hub, 16-year-old Mahmud Dzukogi, described the fair as more than a commercial venture. “Today’s event is not just only a peek into my entrepreneurial journey as a bookseller, but a beginning to a great history in the making,” he said, explaining that the initiative was designed to prioritise children in a way that most bookstores do not.
The organisers noted that the objective of the fair is to help children in Minna begin to associate with books on a critical level, positioning reading as a primary starter for cognitive development. A major focus is to encourage parents to deliberately place books in children’s rooms and personal spaces, countering the growing dominance of toys and digital devices.
Emphasising the long-term value of reading, Dzukogi urged parents to see books as tools for expanding children’s imagination and intellect. “Books are the space-crafts to reach this greater level of thoughts; the solid way to build the future,” he said, calling on parents to actively participate in shaping the intellectual lives of their children.
The book fair featured a wide range of carefully curated titles suited for different age groups. These included board books, hardcover stories and rhymes, activity books, mini science books, general knowledge titles, books on cooking and kiddies knitting, Christmas-themed books, solar system and animal books, cities of the world, teen novels, Disney stories, encyclopedias, myths, and comic books.
As part of the activities lined up for the fair, the Minna Kiddies Book Club was inaugurated, creating a structured platform for children to regularly interact with books, exchange ideas, and develop sustained reading habits beyond the fair.
The opening ceremony also featured the foundation-laying ceremony for the permanent site of the Minna Kiddies Book Hub. The foundation was laid by the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Mu’azu Jantabo, while the Chairman of Minna Local Government, Dr. Mustapha Jibtin, formally declared the fair open.
The event attracted several prominent personalities from across the state. Among those in attendance were the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Prof. Yakubu Auna; former Commissioner for Communications Technology, Hon. Suleiman Isah; former Registrar of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Mal. Ango; Barr. Ahmed Maiwada; and Hajiya Hauwa Bako Kontagora, former Special Adviser to the Governor of Niger State, who served as the Chairperson of the occasion. Also present was the Special Adviser on Print Media to the Niger State Governor, Ms. Aisha Wakaso, sponsor of the Wakaso Poetry Prize.
Organisers explained that beyond promoting literacy, the fair is also intended to grow the Minna Kiddies Book Hub through book sales, ensuring sustainability and continued access to quality children’s books in Niger State.
The book fair runs through the festive period, with its closing ceremony scheduled for Saturday, January 10, 2026, at the Hill-Top Creative Arts Foundation, along David Mark Road, Minna. Stakeholders and parents have described the initiative as a timely intervention capable of reshaping how children in the state relate to books, learning, and knowledge in an increasingly digital age.
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