By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigerian e-book distribution startup, OkadaBooks, which allows users to bypass traditional publishers and publish their stories, will shut down by the end of this month.
In a message seen by Business Post on Monday, the platform, which was established by Mr Okechukwu Ofili, said, “After much consideration and reflection, we have come to a difficult decision, OkadaBooks will be closing its virtual doors on November 30, 2023.”
The statement added that, “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.”
Mr Ofili founded the platform in 2013, borne out of his frustrations in selling his self-published book in Nigeria.
Okadabooks aimed to solve the problem of helping writers leverage mobile technology to create a platform that enables more authors to write their stories and sell them to a wide and growing audience.
He said, “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.”
“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,” he added.
There were more than 100,000 users registered on the platform, and more than one million e-books published.
Some years ago, Mr Ofili said the platform sought to raise $200,000 in funding to help it accelerate growth but as of press time, it is not clear if that was a success.
“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,” the statement added.
