The nigerian publishers association was established in 1965 by a group of publishers with the aim of maintaining a viable book industry which would contribute to nigerias national development. Policies that make things hard for the publishing industry should be avoided. Nigerian publishing industry drama displaying signs of. Government established paper and pulp making industries, and an elaborate. On the face of it, nigeria has a vibrant book publishing industry, with perhaps the largest number of publishing houses in any african country. While newspaper publishing is done throughout the country, magazine and book publishers are based mostly in large cities. Book piracy in nigeria international publishers association. With 24 titles on its list including the work of chimamanda ngozi adichie the company is leading a revolution in the movement to publish books by africans for africans. This is because of the vital part that books play in the social transformation of the country. Learn africa plc best book publishing company in nigeria.
Firstofitskind in the industry, the programme operates through a network of independent sales associates who bring books. Problems of the book publishing industry in nigeria. List of printing and publishing companies in nigeria. Publiseer is a digital publishing platform for african authors and artists. The new gong basically functions as a cooperative of writers leveraging on their own editorial, managerial and technical skills to run a publishing project to produce quality books. Before the 1914 amalgamation of the diverse peoples on the geographical entity named nigeria, publishing had been. The nigerian tribune has reported some good news regarding the state of the nigeria s publishing industry. The government should not only sponsor governmentowned publishing companies but also private publishing companies. The situation in pakistan is not far from that of nigeria, where problem areas in the book industry include authorpublishers, book production, distribution. Literamed has in its stable over 400 titles of books all widely accepted in nigerian schools. Expectedly, the book industry in nigeria is grossly undercapitalized. The nigerian book industry has come of age blessed with experienced professionals in all aspects of the industry. Pdf problems of the book publishing industry in nigeria. It is the publisher of the popular lantern books which is a household name among nigerians and across west africa.
Book publishing in nigeria is one of the oldest businesses in the history of the nation. No one would agree more with that proverb than an innovator and startup founder like okechukwu ofili, whose frustration with the publishing and distribution industry in nigeria propelled him to create okadabooks, an e publishing platform that is revolutionising book publishing in nigeria. Traditionally, the term refers to the distribution of printed works, such as books, newspapers, and magazines. This book publishing company was established in 1969 and since then, the company had worked it way up as one of the best publishing companies in the country. Black tower publishers nig ltd could be your answer. Over the years, the book industry has remained a massive, greatly influential global consumer market. Okadabooks the innovative platform revolutionising book. The book sold more than 250 copies in less than 3 months of publishing. The new gong, is an innovative publishing house working out of lagos, nigeria, which seeks to showcase the best of nigerian writing in english.
Book piracy in nigeria this year, resourcerich nigeria overtook south africa to become africas biggest economy. At one stage, prospects for the book industry in nigeria appeared rosy. This action has over the years been a bottle neck for publishers. Although 52 percent of the establishments in the publishing industry.
If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise cambridge core to connect with your account. The role of education in national development were highlighted followed by the place of publishing and book. Nigeria shares with other developing countries a variety of problems in providing. The activity has grown from small beginnings into a vast and complex industry. The government of nigeria should introduce better policies that can favor both the authors and publishers.
Books have a vital role to play in nationbuilding which includes preserving cultural heritage and values. Book publishing companies in nigeria established to meet the reading and cultural needs of the country and the world at large. A discussion of the advantages of having a welldeveloped indigenous publishing industry. On a final note, a high income industry like the printing industry should not be left to haphazard development. Lagos, nigeria literamed publications nigeria ltd, a leading childrens book publisher in nigeria was incorporated in 1969. All you require to become a publisher is to erect a signpost outside your office or residence. Home page nigerian publishers association nigerian.
Established in 2004, farafina books has become one of nigeria s leading independent literary publishers. The nigerian publishers association was established in 1965 by a group of publishers with the aim of maintaining a viable book industry which would contribute to nigeria s national development. The association provides a forum through which publishers come together and deliberate on various issues affecting the publishing industry and the book. Masobe books joins nigeria s publishing industry, calls for submissions. Problems and prospects of book publishing in nigeria. This is because of the ripple effects of the action on both publishers and authors alike. The government should not only sponsor governmentowned publishing companies but also private publishing companies as doing this will promote the. It is true what is said of necessity, of it being the mother of invention. Top 10 book publishing companies in nigeria atblast. With the advent of digital information systems, the scope has expanded to include electronic publishing. With the usa accounting for just 29% of global book. Book publishers of nigeria list of book publishing. Its imprint, lantern books, is a household name in nigeria and west africa.
Book industry reels in debt as publishers, booksellers bicker. By anote ajeluorou nigeria has had a fairly robust book publishing history starting from the establishment of university college, ibadan uci in 1948. In the history of writing, the invention of paper and printing and the growth of book production, attention. The publishing industry involves production and dissemination processes to make information, such as literature, music, software, and travel aids, available. Diamond publications is a renowned publishing and printing company that has long been engaged in the services of book publishing, contract publishing, events management, training and consulting. There is no doubt that there is a crisis in the book trade in nigeria today, caused by a shortage of books and reading materials and a continuous increase in book. Early history of book publishing in nigeria the very first printing press in nigeria was established in calabar in 1846 by rev. Book production and publishing in nigeria aslib proceedings vol. The npa is the only collective voice of publishers in nigeria. This book publishing company was established in 1969 and since then, the company had worked it way up as one of the best publishing companies. In nigeria, he resells the books for between one hundred. A little more than a decade ago, the publishing industry was confined to printed workstraditional books. The bookstar club is an initiative of learn africa plc to foster a vibrant reading culture by bringing worldclass books closer to nigerians. The paper examines the concept of national development within the nigerian perspectives and the problems associated with its national development.
Hope waddell of the presbyterian church of scotland mission. Presently, i have a science book i will like to futher distribute throughout nigeria. Nigeria has had a fairly robust book publishing history starting from the establishment of university college, ibadan uci in 1948. The new gong publishers of new african fiction, poetry. Though farafina continues to struggle against the limitations of publishing in nigeria. Publishing is the activity of making information, literature, music, software and other content available to the public for sale or for free. The book publishing industry in nigeria problems and prospects. Black tower global enterprise is a company, which runs the mainline online self publishing organization. There is no doubt that there is a crisis in the book trade in nigeria today, caused by a shortage of books and reading materials and a continuous increase in book prices, as is evident from even a cursory examination of shelves in nigerian bookshops. There is no denying the fact that the freedom of expression and the press is contained in the nigerian constitution. The book publishing industry in nigeria problems and prospects volume 1987 abiola irele. Book piracy has been an issue trending in the nigerian publishing space recently. Publishing s glacial production and sales schedule, in which even a hot book takes a year or two to reach the market, means that some of the most urgent stories will not get told as quickly. Our asset as a nation remains the robust intellectual capital and the enabling.
Opportunities, challenges of book publishing in nigeria in. Book industry reels in debt as publishers, booksellers bicker one of the sectors hard hit by nigeria s dire economic situation is the book industry, especially the literary aspect. The tribune details successful talks between the association of nigerian printers anp and the nigeria publishers association npa, organizations which until recently were publicly feuding over the recently implemented tariffs on imported books. Nigeria shares with other developing countries a variety of problems in providing adequate numbers of highquality books. History of publishing, an account of the selection, preparation, and marketing of printed matter from its origins in ancient times to the present. The largest concentration of publishers is in new york city. The study examines the problems of book publishing industry in nigeria as books are effective medium of communication for intellectualism. Before the 1914 amalgamation of the diverse peoples on the geographical entity named nigeria, publishing had been in existence some 68 years earlier. Literamed is nigeria s current leading children book publisher.