Okadabooks, an online community of writers and readers, is shutting down its virtual book store due challenges described as “insurmountable”.
A statement posted online by the platform notes that the closure will be effective from 30 November.
Read also: Nigeria lost $82.7m to internet shutdown in 2022 – Report
“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,” the company noted in the statement.
Okadabooks was founded in 2013 by Okechukwu Ofil who was frustrated at the fact that bookstops were not paying him for books already sold.
The choice of the name Okadabooks is a tribute to how the commercial motorbikes, popularly known as Okadas, meander traffic jams on the busy streets of Nigerian cities. The idea is that Okadabooks will bypass the obstacles most authors face, by helping them get their books directly to readers on a platform they have become very comfortable with – their phones – and at very affordable prices.
“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. Each one of you has played a crucial role in making Okadabooks what it is today, and for that, we are truly grateful,” the company noted in the statement.
