On Friday, May 9th, the Booksellers Association of Nigeria (BAN) conducted their BAN training session during the 24th Nigeria International Book Fair scheduled for 2025. Themed ‘Assessing Organizational Strengths for Enhanced Financial Performance,’ this gathering occurred at the Balmoral Convention Center within the Sheraton Hotel located in Ikeja, Lagos. Attendees included numerous publishers, writers, and bookstore owners hailing from across Lagos State. Notable figures present were former leaders and experts in the field like Mr. Lukmon Dauda, President of the Nigerian Publishers Association; Mr. Dayo Alabi; Dr. Kolade Mosumo, among several distinguished guests.
The keynote address was delivered by Professor Bashir Odufuwa, who holds the position of Provost at the College of Engineering and Environmental Sciences at Olabisi Onabanjo University. His talk focused on enhancing businesses in today’s climate, emphasizing that “the world of books has become particularly difficult nowadays, so we must figure out ways to tackle these challenges.”
The ability to comprehend the advantages and disadvantages of various organizations is crucial. Additionally, all parties involved in the book industry should collaborate to develop strategies enhancing the sector’s efficiency or sustainability. Most critically, it’s essential to address modern challenges by adopting current technologies, concepts, or programs aimed at supporting the book business.”
At the event, Mr. Dayo Fisayo, the President of BAN, also addressed attendees. He explained the purpose of the gathering and outlined several profit-making strategies for book sellers: “Our aim with this event is to support our members’ development; it occurs annually as part of our ongoing initiative. Throughout the year, including every quarter, we organize various training sessions designed to arm our members—booksellers and those involved in similar ventures—with tools needed to generate income through their businesses. The association collaborates with internal experts or invites outside professionals, such as today’s keynote speaker, to inspire and strengthen our community, providing essential insights and tactics specific to successful bookselling.”
When it comes to strategic planning, everybody aims to grow their enterprise so that it becomes robust enough to thrive despite economic hurdles. This ambition represents an ideal scenario. However, several factors must be considered within a business. For instance, does the company have a clear succession strategy? Is sustainability achievable in the long term? Additionally, understanding your target audience and being knowledgeable about customer preferences as well as staying current with product offerings—these aspects are crucial.
We mustn’t overlook technology or fail to leverage its benefits, as numerous innovations and advancements in the tech realm can’t be ignored. We can’t stay rooted in tradition and claim everything is fine; instead, it poses significant challenges. With online bookstores emerging and people becoming increasingly aware of technological trends, young readers particularly favor reading on their smartphones. Thus, adapting strategies for these changes becomes essential.
To conclude, Robert Lawson, the treasurer of BAN, addressed strategies for maintaining organizational profitability: “Within the book industry, several actions can ensure sustained success—monitoring internal processes, tracking cash flow and inventory levels, and educating employees to achieve optimal outcomes. These measures are crucial since they acknowledge that numerous parties contribute along the book supply chain, including authors, publishers, and retailers. Cooperation plays a vital role here. It is essential that businesses have confidence in each other and tackle challenges collectively so that publishers may confidently release their works knowing that booksellers will handle sales directly to consumers without undermining the retailer’s position within the distribution network,” he stated.
The highlights of the event include a Q&A session featuring panelists along with key figures such as Mrs Folashade Shinkaiye, Managing Director of Sterling Publishers; Mr Kola Olaitan, Managing Director & CEO of Best in Books Ltd.; and Mrs Yomi Ogunlari, Managing Director of Showers Publishers Limited.
The Nigerian Booksellers Association is a not-for-profit group aimed at safeguarding the welfare of book sellers and fostering growth within the country’s publishing sector.
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