In a world where many people scroll past hundreds of headlines in a single day without stopping to understand any of them, a gathering in Yenagoa on Tuesday asked a simple but important question: Are Nigerians still reading?

At the Conference Centre of the Nigerian Content Tower, Swali, writers, journalists, academics, public relations practitioners and university students gathered around books, ideas and memories as the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) hosted the 5th edition of its Book Reading Programme.

For several hours, the noise of everyday life gave way to conversations about Nigeria, its struggles, its possibilities and the responsibility of those who write about it.

At the centre of the conversation was veteran journalist and strategic communication professional, Paul C. Nwabuikwu, whose 2025 book, The Pain and the Promise: Insights and Fragments on Nigeria and People, Public and Personal (1990–2025), became the lens through which participants reflected on three decades of Nigeria’s journey.

The event attracted members of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Bayelsa State Chapter, the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), academics and undergraduates.

Representing the NCDMB Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the General Manager, Corporate Communications Division, Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, said the programme was deliberately created to encourage Nigerians to read, learn and exchange ideas.

“Books give us the opportunity to learn from the experiences and knowledge of others, and to engage issues from different perspectives,” Ogbe said.

He explained that NCDMB’s responsibility extends beyond technical skills in the oil and gas sector, stressing the importance of developing the intellectual capacity of Nigerians.

“We must continue to encourage a culture of learning. We must read widely, think critically,” he said.

For Nwabuikwu, writing has never been merely about filling newspaper columns or putting words between the covers of a book.

It is about making sense of a country that has often been difficult to understand.

“Journalism is the first draft of history,” he said, explaining why he strives to give depth to the issues he writes about.

His book captures his reactions to events spanning 1990 to 2025, including Nigeria’s military intervention in Liberia and Sierra Leone through ECOMOG.

But behind the political events and historical reflections lies a more personal message.

Nigeria hurts, but Nigeria also holds promise.

That, according to Nwabuikwu, is the meaning behind the title The Pain and the Promise.

During an interactive session, he also explained why humour sometimes finds its way into serious writing.

“Humour is like an escape valve,” he said, describing it as a way writers can communicate difficult truths while reducing tension.

And for young people dreaming of becoming writers, his advice was remarkably simple: don’t become somebody else on paper.

“Be yourself; don’t try to write like other people,” he advised. “Whatever you are passionate about.”

The NCDMB Book Reading Programme began in August 2024, with Azu Ishiekwene as the inaugural guest author. Subsequent editions featured Dayo Oketola, King Bubaraye Dakolo, Agada IV, and Dr. Dakuku Peterside.

The initiative has since evolved into a meeting point for writers, academics, students and media practitioners — a space where books become the starting point for conversations about Nigeria.

And perhaps that was the strongest message from Tuesday’s gathering:

In a country overflowing with information, reading is still the difference between merely seeing a headline and understanding the story behind it.