OkadaBooks

Last updated
OkadaBooks
OkadaBooks Logo.png
OkadaBooks logo
Type of business Internet company
Type of site
Reading app, self-publishing
Available inEnglish
Dissolved 30 November 2023;15 months ago (2023-11-30)
Headquarters Yaba, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria
Area servedWorldwide
OwnerOkadaBooks
Founder(s) Okechukwu Ofili
URLokadabooks.com
RegistrationRequired
Launched2013(12 years ago) (2013)
Current statusDefunct
Native client(s) on Android, iOS, Web

OkadaBooks was a self-publishing and bookselling platform based in Nigeria, [1] [2] founded by Okechukwu Ofili in 2013. [3] [4] [5] It was selected by Google's "Google for Start-up Accelerator" in 2017. [6] In 2018, it hosted a writing competition in partnership with Guaranty Trust Bank called "Dusty Manuscript". [7]

Contents

History

OkadaBooks was founded by Okechukwu Ofili in 2013. [8] [9] [10] The name is a combination of okada – a motorcycle taxi typically used to circumvent traffic in Nigeria and other West African countries – and books. [3] The platform was started when the founder was still an author at BellaNaija and YNaija , and was frustrated at the fact that bookshops were not paying him for books already sold. [11] [12] [13] OkadaBooks offers books as mobile phone downloads. [2]

On 30 November 2023, the platform was closed with the owners citing "insurmountable challenges" as the reason. [14] [15]

References

  1. ↑ Philip Nwosu (6 November 2020). "Digital economy in Nigeria driven by innovative platforms – John Obaro". The Sun Online .
  2. 1 2 Tolu Ogunlesi (6 October 2015). "A new chapter in Nigeria's literature". Financial Times .
  3. 1 2 "Make Authors Rich Again". International Publishers Association. 29 June 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  4. ↑ "Celebrate children's day with these books on OkadaBooks this weekend". Business Day . 29 May 2021.
  5. ↑ Otosirieze Obi-Young (31 August 2018). "African Writers Series' Classics Now Available for Affordable Downloads on OkadaBooks". Brittle Paper . Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  6. ↑ Yomi Kazeem (20 March 2018). "Google is making good on its promise to bet more on African startups and developers" . Quartz .
  7. ↑ Jayne Augoye (9 February 2018). "'Dusty Manuscript' contest for budding writers berths in Lagos". Premium Times .
  8. ↑ Adaobi Onyeakagbu (29 October 2018). "Okechukwu Ofili, CEO of Okadabooks, is our MCM today!". Pulse Nigeria.
  9. ↑ Muyiwa Matuluko (22 April 2014). "Okadabooks Review: The Truly African eBook Platform". TechCabal.
  10. ↑ "Okadabooks: Warum Nigeria kein Kindle braucht". Deutsche Welle (in German). 4 October 2017.
  11. ↑ Hadassah Egbedi (17 September 2017). "OkadaBooks – The Innovative Platform Revolutionising Book Publishing In Nigeria". Ventures Africa. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  12. ↑ Laju Iren (23 November 2016). "Okada books: How one company is 'recycling' the publishing wheel". Vanguard Nigeria Newspaper .
  13. ↑ Kole Omotoso (13 March 2019). "OkadaBooks comes to the rescue!!!". The Guardian .
  14. ↑ Eleanya, Frank (21 November 2023). "Okadabooks to shut online book store over 'insurmountable' challenges". Business Day. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  15. ↑ Oloruntade, Ganiu (20 November 2023). "Digital publishing pioneer Okada Books is shutting down after ten years". Tech Cabal. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
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