In a recent interview with The Nigeria Education News, Mr. Gbenro Adegbola, a renowned education books publisher and tech enthusiast, shared his thoughts on the publishing industry. Mr. Adegbola works with FirstVeritas and has been actively tweeting about Nigerian affairs.
When asked about publishers publishing political books for monetary gains, Mr. Adegbola stated, “Look, my publishing philosophy is that all writers deserve publication.” He further emphasized that publishing is a business, and profit is a primary motivator, saying, “For monetary gains? Listen, publishing is a business; everything is for monetary gain.” Mr. Adegbola noted that most businesses are undertaken for profit, and publishers have a social responsibility but ultimately aim to make a profit. He said, “You may have a social responsibility, but 99% of your business undertaken is for profit, and that’s why you are not an NGO.”
Regarding the literary quality of books, Mr. Adegbola stressed that it is subjective and important. He praised former President Ibrahim Babangida’s (IBB) book, saying, “IBB’s book was superb. I am surprised that he could write so well.” When questioned about the importance of literary content versus profit, Mr. Adegbola noted that literary content is subjective and a publisher publishes what they think is good for their work. He emphasized that every writer deserves publication, and the market will decide what is profitable. Mr. Adegbola said, “The market will decide, oh… I don’t want this one, I cherish this one.”
Mr. Adegbola also highlighted the importance of freedom of expression, stating that Nigeria should remain a free world where anyone can publish their work without restriction. He compared thought control to communist regimes and emphasized that Nigeria’s constitution guarantees freedom of expression. Mr. Adegbola said, “Are we in Russia?… That is thought control, it sounds like something like Communist Russia and Marois China.”
On the issue of piracy, Mr. Adegbola acknowledged that it remains a major threat to publishers, despite efforts by the Nigerian Copyright Commission and the Publishers Association to address the problem. He noted that piracy is an intractable issue and that the problem persists despite the work of regulatory bodies. Mr. Adegbola said, “Yes, piracy is a major threat, and it’s becoming more and more of a problem because it’s getting more sophisticated.” Mr. Adegbola also discussed the challenges of tackling piracy, comparing it to the issue of fake drugs and the work of NAFDAC. He emphasized that while regulatory bodies are doing their job, the problem of piracy remains unsolved. Mr. Adegbola said, “They’re doing what they’re supposed to do. But like I said, it’s an intractable issue.”
The interview concluded with Mr. Adegbola reiterating the importance of freedom of expression and the role of the market in determining the profitability of published works. As the publishing industry continues to navigate the complex landscape of creativity, profit, and intellectual property, Mr. Adegbola’s insights serve as a timely reminder of the delicate balance that must be struck. With piracy on the rise and freedom of expression under scrutiny, the industry must adapt and innovate to ensure that the voices of writers like IBB and others continue to be heard.
In the words of Mr. Adegbola, “Every writer deserves publication, and the market will decide what is profitable.” As the industry looks to the future, it is clear that this philosophy will remain a guiding principle for publishers and writers alike.
