Okada Books, Nigeria’s trailblazing digital publishing platform, is set to cease operations on November 30, 2023.
The company, founded in 2013 by Nigerian writer Okechukwu Ofili, attributes its closure to formidable macroeconomic conditions. Ofili expressed the team’s efforts to sustain the virtual bookshelves but conceded to insurmountable challenges.
Read more: Okadabooks’ Statement on Closing
Okada Books, a catalyst for self-publishing in Nigeria, aimed to simplify book distribution in a market where securing traditional publishing contracts is arduous. The platform allowed authors to directly share and monetize their work through its Android app and online portal, earning the company a 30% commission on each sale.
RECOMMEND: Microsoft Hires Sacked Executives at OpenAI, Sam Altman and Greg Brockman
Despite boasting a library of over 40,000 original books and 400,000 registered readers, the closure leaves writers seeking alternative avenues.