Accessible Publishers Ltd was honored to receive a delegation from Room to Read, a renowned non-governmental organization (NGO) promoting reading culture globally, on Monday, November 4, 2024.

The team, comprising Alison Ziki (South Africa), Zamaradi Islahi (Tanzania), Titus Kazungu (Kenya), and Bunmi Ala (Nigeria), visited to conduct a feasibility study on various aspects of the publishing industry in Nigeria.

Objective of the Visit:

The primary objective of the visit was to gather insights on: book culture and reading habits in Nigeria, publication and content development processes,gender balance and representation in book development and contents packaging, management composition of publishers in Nigeria, government support for indigenous publishers, and atronage and book policy among others.

Welcoming and Interaction:

The General Manager, Operations, Mr. Taiwo Akanni, warmly on behalf of the Management Team warmly welcomed the Room to Read team to Accessible Publishers Ltd’s corporate headquarters. The management team who received the visitors are: Mr :Caleb Akinmola, (Editorial head)
Dapo Adebayo; (Head, Digital Media).
Afisu Adeniyi: (Warehouse Manager)
Kemi Jagunmolu; Admn Executive and Olufemi Timothy OGUNYEJO, the Registrar, Best In Print Academy.

The Accessible Management team
engaged with the visitors, providing comprehensive responses to their queries.

Visitation to Best In Print Academy

Thereafter, the team was led to visit Best In Print Academy, where they were warmly welcomed by the Registrar, Olufemi Timothy OGUNYEJO.

The Registrar explained the rationale behind the establishment of the Academy by Mr. Gbadega Adedapo, the Proprietor and Chairman of the Governing Council. The team was impressed by the Academy’s mission to bridge the gap in professional training for the printing and publishing industry in Africa.

The Room to Read team was enthusiastic about collaborating with Best In Print Academy to produce more professional personnel for the production aspect of the Printing and Publishing Industry.

They recognized the potential of the Academy in enabling African printers to compete favourably with their Western counterparts.

During their tour of the Academy, the team was surprised by the state-of-the-art training facilities. They commended the Academy’s commitment to excellence and innovative approaches to training.

The visit marked the beginning of a promising partnership between Room to Read and Best In Print Academy. With shared goals and values, both organizations are poised to make a significant impact on the printing and publishing industry in Africa.

Remarks and Comments:

The Room to Read team expressed admiration for Accessible Publishers Ltd’s commitment to promoting reading culture and publishing high-quality content. They commended the company’s: impressive catalog of titles, strong editorial team, efficient distribution network and dedication to promoting Nigerian authors and content

Alison Ziki, Team Lead, praised Accessible Publishers Ltd for being “a shining example of indigenous publishing excellence in Nigeria.” She emphasized that Accessible Publishers Ltd was chosen as their first point of call in Oyo State due to its reputation for quality and innovative publishing practices.

The mission of Room to Read:

The NGO’s mission includes:
a. Promoting reading culture in Africa
b. Training authors and writers.
c. Discovering budding talents.
d. Providing intellectual empowerment to young writers
e. Supporting education and literacy initiatives

Feasibility Study Outcomes:

The Room to Read team gathered valuable insights from the interactions with Accessible Publishers Ltd’s management team. The study’s outcomes will inform their strategic plans for establishing a presence in Nigeria and collaborating with local publishers.

Conclusion:

The visit of Room to Read to Accessible Publishers Ltd marked a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to promoting reading culture and publishing excellence in Nigeria. The positive remarks and comments from the Room to Read team reaffirm Accessible Publishers Ltd’s position as a leader in the Nigerian publishing industry.

Recommendations:

1.⁠ ⁠Continued collaboration between Room to Read and Accessible Publishers Ltd to promote reading culture and literacy in Nigeria.
2.⁠ ⁠Exploration of opportunities for joint initiatives, training programs, and content development.
3.⁠ ⁠Strengthening of relationships between Room to Read and other Nigerian publishers to foster industry growth.

Report Prepared by:
Olufemi Timothy OGUNYEJO
The Registrar,
Best In Print Academy Ibadan