Nigeria-based publisher Okada Books just announced last week that they will be officially closing its virtual doors on November 30. This is a sad moment for the African literary community indeed.

Founded in 2013, Okada Books was Africa’s leading digital books provider of 40k+ original books and 400k+ registered readers. The founder and CEOS is Okechukwu Ofili, who started the publishing company to simplify distributing and selling books in Nigeria.

Okada has published a range of fascinating fiction and nonfiction over the years including Lucy Chiamaka Okwuma’s Neglected, Tope Omotosho’s Redemption Series, ‘Wunmi Izuagie’s In Search of a Bride, Ngozi Ilondu’s The Chronic School Hater, and more.

Okada Books announced the news on their social media platforms, sharing an incredibly heartfelt letter with all of us. Read on below:

Dear OkadaBook Family,

I hope this message finds you well. It is with a heavy heart and a sense of profound gratitude that I reach out to you today.

After much consideration and reflection, we have come to a difficult decision. OkadaBooks will be closing its virtual doors on November 30, 2023. This has not been an easy choice. We’ve explored various avenues to keep our virtual bookshelves alive, but, unfortunately, the challenges we face are insurmountable.

Over the years, we’ve experienced incredible journeys together-delving into new worlds, discovering diverse voices, and fostering a community of readers and writers that we are immensely proud of. Each one of you has played a crucial role in making OkadaBooks what it is today, and for that, we are truly grateful.

Your support and passion have been everything to us. We’ve witnessed amazing stories unfold, celebrated the triumphs of authors, and, most importantly, built a community that cherishes the written word. Although this chapter is coming to an end, the stories, memories, and connections will endure.

We understand that this news might come as a shock, and we are here to assist with any questions or concerns you may have. Please feel free to reach out to our support team at [email protected].

On behalf of the entire OkadaBooks team, I want to express my deepest gratitude for being part of this incredible journey. Thank you for sharing your love of literature with us and contributing to the vibrant community that has flourished here.

As we bid farewell to OkadaBooks, we hope that you continue to explore the vast world of literature through other avenues. The adventure doesn’t end; it merely takes a new and exciting turn.

Thank you once again for your unwavering support and for making OkadaBooks a cherished part of your reading life.

Wishing you all the best in your future literary adventures.

Regards,
Okechukwu Ofili
CEO, OkadaBooks

We are sad to hear this news of an African publisher shutting down. The publishing industry is a competitive place and this news illustrates how tough it can be to keep publishing books in this current digital era.