By Adeyemi Okediran
At the early hour of December 21st, 2019, Center for Research and Media Development CRIMMD, erected the Tallest Christmas Book Tree in the world.
The occasion which was used to mark the 16th year anniversary of the CRIMMD FREE PUBLIC Library was led by the Director-General of the Center for Research and Media Development CRIMMD, owners of CRIMMD Free public library and CRIMMD Photo Museum.
The first book was laid at 9 am by a three-year-old Michael Abiola, a son of one of the staff of CRIMMD, the young boy was assisted by the Director-General, Dr. Raphael James. The first book was a copy of ‘The Guinness Book of Records 1989 edition’ from the library, the tree hosted 7 different copies of ‘The Guinness Book of Records’. The erection took a total of 2 hours and 36 minutes and had 21 people in all participating including three years old Michael Abiola, who dropped the very first book. The Christmas book tree stands at 12.2 feet tall, with 5, 073 books. Some Nigerian authors who were at the event had the opportunity to place their books on the tree themselves. There was so much to eat and drink, in fact so much goat meat to eat though there was a delay in the arrival of the goat meat. The first CRIMMD Christmas Book tree was built in 2016 standing at 9.5 feet tall.
Dr James assisting Micheal Abiola to drop the first book for the book tree.
The library that has been running free to humanity since 2004 with no financial support from Government or any foreign organizations is also providing free skills acquisition for women, in other to alleviate poverty in the country. Dr James in his determination to make Nigeria a leading nation by first making her a reading nation has been very dogged with his reading project. He also has donated 38,977 books heading towards donating 40, 000 books by December 31st, 2019.

The authors in the house who took part in erecting the tree were: Amb Oluebubechukwu Sharon James, Africa’s youngest published author and her sister Uloma Naomi James, author of ‘The Broken Beautiful Pot’ others included Erumena Amata, author of ‘The Dimpsey Chronicle’; Olumide Olaniyan, author of ‘Lucidity of Absurdity’; Lois Otse Adams, author of ‘Olaitan Oyerinde – his struggle for a better Nigeria’; Richard Mammah author of The Nigerian Book directory and Guide’; Folasade James, author of the ‘A, B, C-Z of Breastfeeding’; M. D. Omisore, author of ‘Smart & Brilliant Writing’; Gbenga Noah Ojewoye, author of several books including his most recent ‘Compendium of Reading Culture’; Steve Obum, author of ‘A Member of an imperfect Church’.

Also in the house was the Most Elegant Girl in Nigeria/Continental Miss Aghogho Tracy Okitavwota, there were also the beautiful ladies from the Vic-Creative Mind team. There was also Madam Stephine Agbeje, the CEO of Marvelous Sickle Cell Foundation, who donated a beautifully decorated cake to CRIMMD to celebrate the Book Tree.
There was Amb Adjarho David Obaro -World Wrapperman, who runs a marathon with wrapper since 2010 for Charity Causes. The executive members of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Lagos Chapter were not left, as they took time to read out the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries – developed and developing – in a global partnership.

It was recorded that 35 other authors also sent a copy of their book each to be added to the tree, among them were Wajeed Obomeghie, who sent in ‘Fragments of History in the Benin—Afenmai relations’; Dillibe Onyeama who sent in ‘The Flaming Sword’; Nnaemeka Nwankwo Okere, author of ‘Blood at Noon’; Unyime-Ivy King, author of ‘Burning Hurt’; Ikechukwu Ogbu, author of ‘A dangling Stethoscope’; Gladys Russell, author of ‘Bronze Silhouette’; Amarachi Attamah, author of ‘My broad daydream’; Gozie Udemezue, author of ‘Widowhood Redefined’; Akpe Emmanuel, author of ‘The Stress manager’s guide’ among many others.

The planning committee of the event had the following as members: Funke Salau, Ijeoma Rosemary Thomas-Odia, Jane Longe-Abiola, Abigail Omole Olaje, Amos O Aleonomoh, Oluyinka Olarenwaju, and Folasade James. In all, 69 guests attended the Christmas Book Tree hosting.
The official photographer that captured the whole scene is the Youngest professional Photographer in Nigeria, Ikemsinachukwu Jordan James.

