Jos residents arrived in their droves to buy books during our annual book fair where we sell Christian books at very affordable prices.

People came not just from Jos, but also from nearby towns and villages as our book fair is highly regarded by local people.

They go home laden with piles of books to read in the months ahead. Everyone who comes is able to buy three books and receive a fourth for free.

This year the book fair was held over two days, 19-20 November, both inside our headquarters charity shop and in the garden around the building.

This raised N1.5m, equivalent to £3,000. International coordinator Tassie Ghata and the Jos team are delighted as we beat our N1m target by 50 per cent.

The money is going towards construction of a water tank for the new training centre currently being built. The water tank will store water pumped up from our bore hole.

Tassie said “Everyone who comes says ‘wow’. There are so many books for sale and they are cheap by Nigerian standards so anyone can buy however poor or rich they are.

“We began this book ministry seven years ago, in 2013, in partnership with UK charity BookAid who send us container loads of books. The people who come share testimonies of the difference the books make in their lives.”

One testimony, from Rev Mailumo of Cocin Rukuba Road, is typical. He said “The books I have bought in the past have given me materials for preaching and for caring for my congregation. I’m able to get the books I want in Jos, I don’t need to travel away from home.”