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Tag: Publishers

  • Tears for Nigerian readers, publishers, writers

    Tears for Nigerian readers, publishers, writers

    Books are good. Without them, I don’t know how billions of readers across the world would have survived. Books make us forget our sorrows. Books help us get superb knowledge. Books take us to places we will never physically visit. Books, books, oh my God! They are lifesavers. Through hardback to paperback to e-books and audio books, souls like mine have been enriched.

    But there is fire on the mountain. The Nigerian economy is the source of the fire and soon and very soon, we will see the effects clearly. The signs are already showing and the next few months will make them glaring.

    Some days ago, I saw a reader expressing his excitement at getting the hardback of the Nigerian edition of the fourth book of a Nigerian writer. After his excitement, he urged Nigerian publishers to invest in hardback editions of their books. I have a sad news for him: The publishers are in no position to take his advice. Reason: With the Naira doing a full-blown war with the dollar, the costs of producing hardback books have reached an alarming rate and it makes no business sense for publishers to sink money they aren’t sure of making on hardback editions.

    The crazy change in costs is not affecting just the hardback editions, the paperbacks are also hard hit. Bookstores in the last few months have had to jerk up the prices of books in their stock and the new ones they are stocking. A book recently released that is less than 400 pages is being sold at N18,000. How many people in the Nigeria of today can afford that? The implication is that automatically the number of copies that will be sold has been reduced. And what the publisher and the author will make will be next to nothing. This is a disaster for an industry where no author makes a living from publishing in Nigeria.

    Writer Elnathan John last year made 400 euros from all his books. He is the author of a novel, ‘Born on a Tuesday’, and others published by Cassava Republic. His books are popular and have undergone reprints. Yet, what he earned from the sale of his popular books is not enough to sustain him for one month. That is the fate of almost all his colleagues. Now, the situation has been worsened with the prices of books quadrupling at a time purchasing power is at its lowest.

    The new pricing regime that the economy has imposed on publishers is simply a conversion to Naira of the dollar value of the foreign editions of the same books. This in a country where the earning is miles apart from the developed world is not sustainable. But, we can’t blame the publishers because what you give is what you get: Nigeria imports almost everything that goes into book publishing. We don’t produce printing presses; we don’t produce high quality printing papers; we don’t produce quality printing inks; we don’t produce anything. This means publishers and printers have to source dollars to import papers, ink and other inputs and the added costs are automatically transferred to the buyers. When the prices become unbearable, publishers will sell less copies, find it difficult to publish more titles and book sellers will be put in a tight corner. If care is not taken, the book sellers will be unable to pay their bills and may be forced to close shops.

    I fear for traditional publishing. With high costs of printing and small profit margin, publishers may concentrate on self-funded books. If you are an author and willing to pay for the production process, they will help you get your books out, and for talents without money, their dreams will die.

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    Before now, publishers with printers in Singapore, India and some other foreign jurisdictions were incurring relatively less costs than those printing at home. When they printed thousands of copies with these overseas printers, the costs crashed radically for the simple reason that the Nigerian printer still has to import everything he uses from those foreign lands and by the time they add Customs duty and other local costs, the publishers patronising them bear the brunt. With the current state of things, printing abroad is still cheaper but it still doesn’t make the pricing affordable to an average reader. 

    As a coping mechanism, even when things have not gone this bad, some publishers started publishing only textbooks because they knew students must read books. The way things are now, parents have to fork out money they hardly make to buy books for their children in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.

    Maybe we will all resort to e-books, which require no printing papers, no inks and other printing inputs that we need dollars to bring in.

    My final take: The publishing industry before the dollar-Naira debacle was crawling. Now, it is tip-toeing and that is not good for the country, for publishers, for writers, and for readers. The fruits of the government’s reforms need to germinate fast so that the industry will not die. Now, it is on oxygen mask and how long it can afford this costly way of living is something not difficult to guess.  

  • Publishers: Books will play visible role in campaign for national peace

    As the country moves into an election year, publishers under the auspices of the Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA) have vowed to ensure that books play more visible role in campaign for national peace.

    While decrying the negative effects of piracy in the country, the group called for more stringent measures to curb the menace. The publishers made the call at a conference held at Sheraton Hotel, Lagos.

    The occasion, which doubled as the group’s general meeting, had as theme: The Book: An Instrument for National Integration. It was chaired by the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, Professor Ismail Junaidu, while the keynote speaker was Mallam Yusuf Olaolu Ali (SAN).

    In his address, the NPA President, Mr Gbadega Adedapo, urged the Federal Ministry of Education “to intensify its collaboration with stakeholders and hasten the process of finalising the National Book Policy” in order to address the multifaceted issues surrounding the book sector; while calling on “government to establish accessible grants to support book publishing in Nigeria as a strategic intervention programme to boost national integration and improve the nation’s educational system”.

    On the conference’s theme, the president assured that “publishers will devote more time and resources to ensure that books play a more visible role in the campaign for national peace, unity and progress.

    On the negative effects of piracy and other copyright abuses on the industry, he called on relevant government agencies to address the menace as a matter of urgency.”

    He commended publishers for their contribution to national cohesion through their publications, observing that their contribution  to the sustenance of the education sector despite the enormous challenges is noteworthy.

    Delivering the keynote address, Ali highlighted some of the problems and challenges that Nigeria has been faced with as a nation since its formation in 1914; while tracing the history of the book and its power as a tool of social cohesion and integration, he advised government on the need to pay more attention to the publishing industry in order to maximize the contribution of the book to national integration and economic growth.

    Mallam Ali also highlighted the importance of a sustained reading culture and urged parents and teachers to encourage their children and wards to devote more time to reading as a pleasurable pastime. “Books as an enduring medium for knowledge dissemination and information sharing play very significant roles in the advancement of civilisations. Publishers should to invest more in well-written books with quality contents that would have positive impact on national integration, social cohesion and economic development,” he said. He advocated for more literature against social injustice, economic imbalance, religious intolerance, bigotry and other practices that easily divide us as a nation and people.

    While thanking firms for their financial contribution towards the newly acquired plot of land in Ibadan for the building of the proposed NPA Headquarters, NPA president gave a report on the group’s achievements in 2018. He updated members on progress made towards the establishment of the Publishers Institute of Nigeria. Members unanimously adopted a new constitution, even as certificates of membership were presented to the newly admitted member firms. The outgoing Executive Council was returned unopposed to serve for another term of two years, beginning from 2019 with Mr. Adedapo as its President.

  • Piracy, indebtedness: book publishers to screen sales reps

    Piracy, indebtedness: book publishers to screen sales reps

    If book publishers can ascertain the integrity of their sales representatives, it will reduce the level of indebtedness by the latter, while also promoting a long lasting relationship between the two parties.

    This is the view of the Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA), which hopes that in line with global best practices, there should be a new paradigm with respect to approach to their sales representatives.

    Country Manager, Cambridge University Press, Aladesuyi Lawrence, spoke on the theme: ‘Book distribution and the future of publishing in Nigeria’ during a seminar as part of the just concluded Nigerian International Book Fair (NIBF) held at University of Lagos multipurpose hall on Wednesday, last week.

    Aladesuyi lamented that for years, book publishing firms in Nigeria,  have been at the mercy of sometimes dishonest sales representatives who often help themselves to the sweat of publishing companies by refusing to remit cash from sales of books collected from them.

    Aladesuyi said unlike in saner climes, this trend has been allowed to prevail in Nigeria because this is a society where background checks are hardly carried out on prospective business partners.

    He said: “If I registered a company 20 years ago and I want to use it today, I need to revalidate; but to do that, a discreet check must be carried out on me on my various activities including why I refused to sustain that company. But we are happy that now background checks are gradually being carried out in Nigeria because people want to take informed decision.

    Some reps will owe Cambridge (Press) and still run and register with Longman Press. The advantage (of verifying prospective sales reps) is that you are dealing with somebody you know. Human beings are relatively different. Unfortunately, we are also in a society where people commit crimes and damn the consequences. But if you want to carry out a plan today and somebody has to do a check of your activities 20 years ago, these things won’t come up.”

    Aladesuyi who challenged publishing firms to take a leaf from Cambridge style of distribution, described as ‘wasteful’ the manner in which distribution is being executed.

    “Some of us run offices in each state of the federation. Some of us have vans to distribute nationwide, while those who don’t have contract them out. All these make business becomes unproductive,” he noted

    Rather than incur huge bills, Aladesuyi suggested that publishing firms  could have regional distributors at the zones, adding that they could then dump the books at the regional offices for their clients to pick up later.

    President of Nigeria Publishers Association, Gbadega Adedapo, urged government to address inconsistent electricity supply, and ensure improved policy on importation of printing materials.

    Gbadega described the seminar as an eye-opener for NPA to start doing things differently in the book distribution chain.

    He said the event was also to checkmate those who masquerade as sales reps but eventually pirate books.

    “We had always  thought that only the poor patronise pirates, but we realised that it also includes the rich probably because the awareness is not there, while others simply find it difficult to identify the original from fakes. This is why we must as well acknowledge the integrity of our book sellers,” he concluded.

  • Etisalat seeks more publishers for €15,000 African literary prize

    Etisalat seeks more publishers for €15,000 African literary prize

    Etisalat Nigeria has urged more African publishers to enter for its $15,000 pan-African literary prize.

    The call was made in Lagos by its Chief Executive Officer, Mr Matthew Willsher, at a briefing to call for entries for this year’s edition and unveil the judges for the contest.

    The 2015 edition of the prize was won by Democratic Republic of Congo’s Fiston Mwanza Mujila with his first novel, Tram 83.

    The prize, Willsher said, “holds great benefits for the writer and the publisher”.

    Not only does it  come with a cash prize of €15,000, the winner will take part in a fellowship at the prestigious University of East Anglia, United Kingdom, under the mentorship of Prof Giles Foden, the award-winning author of The Last King of England, according to Willsher.

    “The prize also incorporates an award for Flash Fiction – an online-based competition for non-published African writers of short stories. We really value your support and hopes that it continues to increase this year as it has in the previous year,” Willsher urged the publishers.

    The briefing was attended by two of the prize patrons – renowned literary icon, Prof Kole Omotoso and awards-winning author, Dele Olojede -Nigeria’s award-winning writer/scholar Helon Habila and the media.

    This year’s panel, Willsher also announced, is to be chaired by Habila, and has South African writer and activist Elinor Sisulu and Ivorian writer, Edwige Rene Dro as members.

    He added: “We are delighted to champion the cause for celebrating the richness and strength of African literature. Etisalat Prize for Literature is about discovering and bringing to the world stage the many creative talents Africa boasts of.”

    Only books by debutant writers published not later than 24 months before submission, Willsher said, will qualify for entry. “They must also be by registered publishing houses not less than six years as incorporated publishers with registered ISBN Number or the equivalent, and who must have published a minimum of six authors. All entries should be accompanied by seven copies of the book entered along with an acceptance of our publicity terms. A publisher may submit a maximum of three books. The rules and guidelines for entry are available at prize.etisalat.com.ng.”

    Meanwhile, Habila decried that African literature is under-appreciated globally, observing that although African literature has come a long way from Things Fall Apart  in writing and publishing, more  has to be done in correcting the notion and improving the continent’s literature. “The prize is a timely correction from Etisalat. I’ve always been a champion of African literature; and this is an opportunity for me to do that,” he said.

    The briefing held at the Wheatbaker Hotel.

     

  • Polls: Division among Christians worries publishers

    The Christian Press Association of Nigeria (CPAN), an umbrella body of publishers of Christian news, has lamented the widening division among Christians over political differences.

    The development, it said, has set the church back in its evangelical mission and portrayed it in a negative light before the public.

    This was the major resolution after a stakeholders meeting by the organisation last week in Lagos.

    While admitting that Christians have shown an incredibly great interest in politics, the body said there were indices that the engagement has not been well-managed.

    In a nine-point communiqués signed by its coordinator, Gracious Akintayo and secretary, Jackson Ekwugum, CPAN lamented:  “Many Christians have been divided along party lines especially along the line of the ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party and the main opposition party, All Peoples Congress.”

    It added:  “Pastors who are supposed to give direction to church people and counsel them on staying on the will of God and protecting the cause of the kingdom of God have themselves been entrenched in partisan politics.’’

    It observed the development had degenerated to the point that “some church leaders have thrown caution to the wind by engaging themselves in verbal wars and in some instances fisticuffs over who to support and who not to support.”

    CPAN said the “integrity of the church is being compromised while church leaders are being dragged in the mud as a result of fathom allegations which have not been substantiated with facts and figures.

    “There is an atmosphere of bewitchment of the church. There seems to be too much emotion in party support than reason. People are holding to their allegiance to parties as if there salvation lies in those parties.

    “The cause of the kingdom has suffered considerably owing to blind party followership and lack of recourse to the will and purpose of God for the nation.”

    It called on Christians to exercise restrain over political involvement and continue to uphold the nation in prayers.

    “God will only act in response to the prayers of the saints. We must pray and bring all matters concerning the elections and who becomes our next president into the hands of God.

    “We must realize that the purpose and plan of God cannot be thwarted by any human force.

    “We believe that if we pray, God will act. We believe that Nigeria is strategic in the plan of God for the end time.

    “We believe that we cannot afford to fritter away the opportunity before us to enthrone righteousness, justice and peace in the land,” the Christian publishers stressed.

  • Publishers kick against proposed 30% tariff on imported books

    The Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA) has urged the government not to impose duty on imported books.

    The group made this appeal,  at its yearly conference and general meeting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    President of the association, Chief Ngwobia Okereke, urged the government not to go on with the introduction of the new tariff regime of 30 per cent levy.

    He said books are supposed to be without any import duties and warned that if government goes ahead, the move would hamper the development of the education sector.

    Similarly, Chairman, Safari Book Limited, Chief Joop Berkhout, who chaired the occasion, lamented that publishers were producing under stifling condition already without the duty which would worsen the situation.

    “The world is changing fast and we have to catch up with innovations. I understand that various meeting had been held with the Federal Ministry of Finance, Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC) to revert duty to zero in a country where there are no paper mills; where everything to produce books are imported; even electricity, only the labour force is local. We still use printing machines that are obsolete in other countries apart from restricted capacity.

    Every country must have the right to manufacture whatever they want for economic and quality reasons,” he said.

    Speaking on the theme: “Nigeria book industry: National development and government policies,” the NPA President, Okereke, said the association chose it to review the growth of the publishing industry and the society at large based on various government policies.

    Lamenting frequent changes in education policies from successive administrations, he called on the government to ensure continuity to improve education standards.

    Supporting Okereke’s call for continuity, Chairman, University Press Plc, Dr Lekan Are,  said there must be a synergy between the industry and the Federal Ministry of Education.

    “Government policies are not stabilised.  The Nigerian Publishers Association has come of age hence the government and the stakeholders must work together to move the nation forward,” he said.

    In his address, NUC’s Executive Secretary, Prof. Julius Okojie,  said the book industry had contributed immensely to the development of the society.

    Represented by Prof Akanerem Essien, Okojie suggested that the research committee of the NPA should set in motion the analysis of the potential of e-book industry in the country.

    “It is better to start now to think about it while building on your platform. For a long time to come the print book will be of great relevance in our economy,” he said.

  • He’ll be remembered as a dependable professional, says Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan was all praise for the late Dimgba Igwe acknowledging in particular his high sense of professionalism.

    The President, in a condolence message yesterday expressed commiserations to the publishers of The Sun Newspapers, the Nigerian Guild of Editors, and all friends and associates of Mr. Igwe, “for whom his unexpected death must be exceedingly painful.”

    He said the late Igwe will “always be remembered as a hardworking and dependable professional, who, through his various writings as columnist, author and public speaker, demonstrated a special ability to convey the truth and his convictions in lucid, compelling prose, and in a style that was shorn of cant and foppery.”

    He enjoined the family, friends and associates of the deceased to “be consoled by the knowledge that he put his God-given abilities to the best possible use in a very purposeful life that was wholly devoted to the defence of truth and the public interest, as well as the promotion of the highest standards of his chosen profession of journalism.”

    He prayed that God might grant them the fortitude to bear the loss of “the very forthright journalist and media administrator, and also grant his soul, peaceful repose.”

  • Publishers seek removal of 50 per cent tariff on books

    The Nigerian Publishers Association urged yesterday the Federal Government to remove the 50 per cent tariff on importation of books.

    At a Special Chief Executives’ meeting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the body said the policy was detrimental to literacy and creativity in the country.

    According to the publishers, it is against the UNESCO Convention, which encourages free flow of educational, cultural and scientific materials into member nations for the development of mankind.

    The association said by imposing the tariff, Nigeria, which is a signatory to the treaty, would force up prices of books and make them unaffordable to students.

    It could further contribute to the level of illiteracy and Nigerians’ inability to compete academically worldwide, the publishers said.

    “The policy is against President Goodluck Jonathan’s Bring-Back-the-Book campaign.

    “We, therefore, urge well meaning Nigerians to rise up to this challenge and appeal to the Federal Government, who had been misled by a section of people with selfish interest, to remove any embargo on knowledge acquisition in Nigeria and make the country a centre of affordable learning,” the association added.

  • Books’ distribution: FG to sanction defaulting publishers

    Books’ distribution: FG to sanction defaulting publishers

    The Ministry of Education has begun process of sanctioning publishers contracted to supply textbooks and library resource materials to primary and junior secondary schools across the country.

    The Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, said this in Abuja on Friday while addressing the publishers in his office.

    Wike said  the sanction was as a result of their inability to supply textbooks for the 2012/2013 academic session within the approved six weeks specified in their contract agreements with the Federal Government.

    He directed the management of the Universal Basic Education Commission, through its legal department, to write to the publishers.

    He said the legal department should indicate the relevant clauses in the agreement upon which they defaulted and the specified sanctions.

    The minister described the default of all the publishers as regrettable.

    He said the ministry had already written to the president for the nationwide distribution scheduled for launch on November 30.

    “The publishers cannot hold the government to ransom. You have been doing this but it cannot continue. We will apply the necessary sanctions,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the minister as saying to the publishers.

    Wike pointed out that after six weeks, the publishers ought to have supplied books to the 36 states and Abuja.

    “The publishers claimed that they had the capacity to deliver within schedule. I am really disappointed and I will not hesitate to recommend to the president that you don’t have the capacity,’’ he said.

    Responding on behalf of the publishers, the Managing Director of Heinemann Educational Books, Nigeria, Mr. Ngwuocha Okereke, appealed to the minister to temper justice with mercy.

    Okereke gave the assurance that the publishers would work round the clock to deliver all the textbooks and resource materials to the states before the launch.