Welcome to Damiete Braide's Blog: Are Nigerians still reading?.... Booksellers say yes, reveal bestselling authors

Asked whether Nigerian still read, he answered in the affirmative –not necessarily for exams alone, but to expand their knowledge. “Personally, I read many books, which have expanded my horizon. more....
Readers are leaders, and that is why we have a number of brilliant people in the country,” he commented. Managing Director of University Press Plc, Ibadan, Samuel Kolawale, observed that it is only when books are recommended on fiction that people come to buy, but when they are not recommended in Nigeria, it is difficult to sell them.

He said: “Due to the reading culture in Nigeria, which is poor and has made publishing houses to focus on textbooks, fiction or non-fictional books not recommended in Nigeria do not actually do well. The bend-down bookshops also affects the sale of books, because, in terms of piracy, many books out there are pirated, and that is one battle that publishing houses are facing.

“The concerned authorities are not doing enough in that aspect, and they appear to be helpless. They seem to be overwhelmed by the issue of piracy that they are facing. You will see so many books that have been published on fiction or educational books, but you will see them highly pirated, and it is very discouraging.

To improve the reading culture in Nigeria, he said it is a task that should involve so many stakeholders. He explained: “Parents have to ensure that their children to read. If parents do not read, how do they encourage their children to read? Parents spend more time in front of the television than read buyers see it as a privilege.”

Asked whether Nigerian still read, he answered in the affirmative –not necessarily for exams alone, but to expand their knowledge. “Personally, I read many books, which have expanded my horizon. Readers are leaders, and that is why we have a number of brilliant people in the country,” he commented. Managing Director of University Press Plc, Ibadan, Samuel Kolawale, observed that it is only when books are recommended on fiction that people come to buy, but when they are not recommended in Nigeria, it is difficult to sell them.

Continuing, he said: “Children have grown up to see their parents watching television. That has translated into the larger society. Pleasure reading comes from outside the school, while examination reading comes from the school. If parents should do a lot in making their children to read and it will improve threading culture. There is the challenge for government purchasing only context books for schools, because it is not just the mathematics or science books that will improve the reading culture but it is the books on  fiction and creative writing that will improve threading culture.” He urged the government to focus on these and help to improve on that area by making books available for them to access and read them.

A bend-down bookshop owner at Ojuelegba, who simply describe himself as Emeka, disclosed that he has been in the business of selling books for more than five years, and he is happy selling books.

“For me, a lot of people come to buy books that they like. Some of the books are motivational or inspirational books on fiction. I have observed that students and young people like to read fictional books, and they always come back to buy more books from me. Sometimes, they do ask me whether I haves a particular book by an author, and I promise to help them get the book, and they will come some other day to get the book. I can’t really put a particular number of books sold on weekly or monthly basis, but I can say that I sell many books to people, and that is what has really kept me going.

Which books sell more: he responded: “People buy good books on motivation or fiction, but I can’t really say that they have any favourite author, because all the authors are good, and their books are in high demand.

When asked if he sells pirated books, Emeka said: I don’t sell pirated books to people. I get my books from book stores or from authors. So, if those book stores do not sell pirated, then like wise I don’t sell pirated books.” Another bookseller called Christy says: “I started the business four years ago, and students, men and women do buy books from me. In a week, I could sell up to N5,000 or more. Books from favorite authors that people buy are Nora Roberts, Sherry Woods and James Hadley Chase and John Grisham, and these ones sell more than romantic novels or suspense series.

Another seller, who is fondly called Papa Books, has a stand at the Lagos State University, ……. He has been there for more than five years. For him, patronage here is by chance, because in a day, sometimes I can make sales up to N3000 to N5000. Students mostly buy Nora Roberts, Daniel Steel and they like romantic novels very well. I observed that men buy more books than women. The women folk like books on fashion, and they don’t like to read.

For about four years now, Bala sells books at Igando. He says that students are the ones that patronises him. However, he doesn’t make much, because the customers come looking for specific authors as he may not have their books. Another challenge for him is the price.

He disclosed: “I bought some books, but the students cannot afford them, because they say the price is too high and, sometimes, I try to reduce the prices of the books in order for them to buy.

Ben Carson Books sells more than other books, and patronage on a day basis yields up to N2000 or 1500. Speaking with Omolola Olunlade, a National Youth Service Corps member, who was spotted at one of the bend-down bookshops, The Sun Literary Review learnt that she loves to buy from the roadside, because she can get books for as low as N200, a price that is more affordable than buying from book shops. She admitted: “I have been buying from here since my secondary school days.”