Okada Books, a digital publishing and book marketing platform in Nigeria, has announced the end of its operations, marking the conclusion of a decade-long journey in facilitating self-published books and empowering writers.
The company’s CEO, Okechukwu Ofili, revealed the decision in a memo, citing insurmountable macroeconomic challenges as the primary reason for the closure.
Despite exploring various avenues to keep the virtual bookshelves alive, the company faced economic challenges, leading to the difficult decision to close its virtual doors on November 30, 2023. Okada Books, over its 10-year run, amassed a library of over 27,000 books and engaged with 300,000 active readers.
The closure comes amidst challenging economic conditions in Nigeria, with businesses grappling with the effects of economic policies. President Bola Tinubu’s policies have faced criticism for contributing to widespread impoverishment.
In bidding farewell, Ofili encouraged users to explore alternative avenues for literary adventures, emphasizing that the adventure doesn’t end but takes a new and exciting turn.
The closure poses challenges for Okada Books’ users, who may need to seek alternatives, potentially turning to platforms like Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing, which may come with higher costs. The shutdown is a setback for writers seeking affordable self-publishing options and impacts readers who relied on Okada Books for accessible literature.
Launched in 2013, Okada Books aimed to simplify book distribution and sales in Nigeria. It provided authors with a direct channel to share their works with readers and offered a democratised means to generate income. Okada Books was selected as one of the 12 startups for Google’s Launchpad Accelerator Africa in 2017, highlighting its significance in the digital publishing landscape.
