Economy
University Press Sees Future in e-Book Publishing, But Identifies Key Threats
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The book publishing business in Nigeria has not been profitable lately and the reason for this has been identified by the Managing Director of University Press Plc, Mr Samuel Kolawole.
University Press is one of the major publishers in the country. It commenced operations in Nigeria as an arm of the British Oxford University Press in 1949 with the name Oxford University Press (OUP) Nigeria.
At the 42nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) University Press in Ibadan, Oyo State last week, Mr Kolawole, blamed activities of amateurs for the bastardisation of the publishing sector in Nigeria.
He also knocked the Nigeria Educational, Research and Development Council (NERDC) for not putting systems in place to checkmate the industry, saying it has now become an all-comer affair.
“The rules are there, when you produce a book in Nigeria you’re supposed to get a certification from the Nigeria Educational, Research and Development Council (NERDC) but not many so called publishers would do it.
“It is the responsibility of the NERDC to monitor the books in circulation to ensure that books that have not gone into certification are not allowed in the market.
“So, the regulatory authorities have the responsibility to certify good quality books and should also be able to enforce the good quality books in schools so that books that have not gone through their process of certification and met the standards are not allowed to be sold in schools,” the University Press boss lamented.
Mr Kolawole expressed confidence that if the regulatory bodies and state governments ensure that only quality books are in circulation in Nigeria through adherence to standards and certification, amateurs, who do not care about standards, would be chased out of the ecosystem.
He, however, called on the state ministries of education to scrutinise the books they recommend to schools, noting that the Nigeria Publishers Association was making efforts to ensure that its members meet the minimum requirements for good quality books.
Speaking on the performance of the company in the 2019 fiscal year, Mr Kolawole informed shareholders that although the sales of primary and secondary schools dropped in the course of the year below what they were before, they were still higher than the books it sold for the tertiary level.
“This shows us that there is an opportunity in that area and we will continue to explore it, while we also improve on the primary and secondary schools segment which have been our major backbone in terms of turnover and performance,” he added.
He noted that the future is in e-book publishing as shown by the COVID-19 pandemic, but stressed that the major challenge of infrastructure amongst other uncertainties in the future would remain.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the fore the need to diversify but challenges such as infrastructure, among other things, would remain into the post COVID era and also leveraging on technology so that the sector is better positioned whenever such occasions arise,” he said.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, has been cut down by N50 to N1,125 per litre from N1,175 per litre by Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
The refinery confirmed this development via a statement on Thursday to newsmen.
Dangote Refinery described this downward review of the product’s price as a reflection of its ongoing commitment to ensuring price stability, improving affordability, and supporting Nigeria’s energy security objectives.
It further said it underscores its responsiveness to prevailing market conditions and its efforts to pass on cost efficiencies to downstream partners and consumers.
In the statement, the company said it remains focused on its broader mission of contributing to economic growth, enhancing fuel availability, and fostering a more competitive and sustainable petroleum sector in Nigeria.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Crude oil prices rose more than 2 per cent on Thursday after a cargo vessel was hit by an unknown projectile near Oman, putting an evacuation effort for ships from the key Strait of Hormuz on hold.
Brent futures gained $1.52 or 2.1 per cent to settle at $75.26 a barrel, while the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude chalked up $1.58 or 2.3 per cent to trade at $71.92 per barrel.
The flow of oil and gas has been disrupted since the joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran at the end of February, but the agreement between the US and Iran to end the war has allowed the resumption of traffic through the crucial strait.
The United Nations International Maritime Organisation on Thursday paused its effort to shepherd ships and seafarers through the strait after the cargo ship reported a suspected attack. This reawakened concerns about the worldwide flow of oil.
Reuters reported that Iran fired on the cargo ship as it attempted to pass through the strait after Iranian authorities said the security of vessels passing outside designated Hormuz routes is not guaranteed.
Previously, crude shipments through the strait rose to their highest since the start of the war on Wednesday. Before the war, about 20 per cent of world oil supplies passed through the Strait, located between Iran and Oman.
Key fuel oil producers Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Oman have moved to increase shipments from ports outside the Persian Gulf. Middle Eastern fuel oil exports are set to jump by 20 per cent from May to about 508,000 barrels per day in June.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Gulf allies on Thursday that any deal with Iran would take their interests into account, as he wrapped up a Middle East trip aimed at winning over regional partners with deep reservations about the preliminary accord.
The US and the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) said a lasting peace would mean addressing Iran’s ballistic missiles, drones and support for proxy groups. However, the US also threatened that if Iran threatens or blocks ships in the strait, there will be a “problem.”
The Wall Street Journal reported that Iran estimates charging for security, safety and environmental services in the strait, which would bring in $40 billion a year for the states involved.
In Venezuela, thousands were feared dead after two powerful earthquakes affected the capital, Caracas. The quakes could slow the increase in Venezuelan oil exports expected by US President Donald Trump’s administration after it captured Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro in January.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Eggs Sellers and Distributors Association of Nigeria (ESDAN) has kicked against the proposed plan involving the production of egg powder to tackle the glut of eggs.
The National President of ESDAN, Mrs Olaide Graham, made the position clear in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) this week.
Egg glut occurs when egg production exceeds consumer demand, resulting in a surplus that often forces farmers to sell at reduced prices to avoid spoilage.
The Lagos State Government recently announced plans to establish an egg powder processing facility as part of efforts to address seasonal egg glut in the poultry sector.
Mrs Graham described the initiative as a welcome development but maintained that it would not address the fundamental challenges facing the industry.
“The establishment of an egg powder factory in Lagos to address the egg glut situation will have a positive impact if it is properly implemented and the product meets market standards.
“It could help reduce waste and, to some extent, stabilise prices temporarily.
“However, egg powder may not be widely accepted as a substitute for fresh eggs in this part of the country because of differences in taste, texture and consumer perception.
“Many consumers still regard fresh eggs as more nutritious,” she said.
According to her, the major issue is identifying and addressing the root causes of the egg glut rather than focusing solely on processing surplus eggs.
“We have a population of over 200 million people. Why should there be an egg glut?
“We need to examine what farmers, distributors and other stakeholders are not getting right and provide the necessary support.
“Egg powder is not the cure for egg glut in Nigeria. Stakeholders should come together to identify sustainable solutions,” she said.
Mrs Graham noted that egg powder could serve as a raw material for the production of other goods, but should not be viewed as a long-term remedy for the challenge.
She emphasised the need for improved distribution systems across the egg value chain.
“Effective distribution can go a long way in addressing the problem.
“We should remember that Lagos distributes not only eggs produced within the state but also eggs brought in from other parts of the country.
“In every challenge, there is always a solution, but egg powder is not the major solution to egg glut,” she said.
The ESDAN president also dismissed concerns that egg distributors could be negatively affected by the proposed factory.
“Distributors have nothing to fear because Nigerians are accustomed to consuming fresh eggs.
“The number of consumers who will continue to prefer fresh eggs will still be higher.
“Even if egg powder production affects access to fresh eggs, there will still be ways to address that challenge.“If the purpose of producing egg powder is to reduce glut, then that is why distributors have joined the conversation,” she said, according to the news agency.
-
Feature/OPED6 years agoDavos was Different this year
-
Travel/Tourism10 years ago
Lagos Seals Western Lodge Hotel In Ikorodu
-
Showbiz3 years agoEstranged Lover Releases Videos of Empress Njamah Bathing
-
Banking8 years agoSort Codes of GTBank Branches in Nigeria
-
Economy3 years agoSubsidy Removal: CNG at N130 Per Litre Cheaper Than Petrol—IPMAN
-
Banking3 years agoSort Codes of UBA Branches in Nigeria
-
Banking3 years agoFirst Bank Announces Planned Downtime
-
Sports3 years agoHighest Paid Nigerian Footballer – How Much Do Nigerian Footballers Earn