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Transforming Academic Publishing in Nigeria: The FUTMinna BookHub Project

Local authors often struggle to get their work published and distributed due to a lack of access to publishing infrastructure and financial resources. Meanwhile, Nigerian institutions face barriers to accessing current, high-quality academic materials, relying on outdated or international sources that may not be relevant to local research needs.

The Federal University of Technology Minna (FUTMinna) is stepping up to address these challenges with a project that seeks to revolutionise academic book publishing in Nigeria. Through its Academic Publishing Centre (APC), FUTMinna aims to break down the barriers to knowledge by adopting Open Access (OA) publishing, allowing free access to academic materials for students, educators, and researchers.

In partnership with Datasphir and supported by the Open Book Collective (OBC), FUTMinna is piloting the BookHub platform as a comprehensive, open-source solution for publishing locally authored academic books. This initiative is set to create a sustainable publishing ecosystem that will serve as a model for institutions across Nigeria.

Redefining Academic Publishing
At the heart of this initiative is the BookHub platform, which will publish at least 26 Open Access books by the end of 2025. The OA model ensures that these books are freely accessible to scholars, students, and researchers, removing barriers of cost and geographic location. Local authors will be empowered to publish their work without the constraints of traditional publishing systems.

The Timeline
The FUTMinna BookHub project is set to unfold over the next year with key milestones to track its progress:

  • Laying the Foundation (Q1 2025)
  • Regional Workshops & Book Sprints (Q1 2025)
  • Scaling Up & Platform Enhancements (Q2-Q3 2025)
  • National Stakeholder Workshop (August 2025)
  • Project Review & Sustainability (Q4 2025)

To learn more about this transformative project, visit the official FUTMinna BookHub page: https://apc-minna.bookhub.ng 

What’s Next:
Eko-Konnect 2025
The next major event in the timeline is the Eko-Konnect Conference on January 29-30, 2025. Datasphir will showcase BookHub’s capabilities and discuss how this transformative platform is reshaping the landscape of academic publishing. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue this groundbreaking journey.

Join the Movement
FUTMinna, in partnership with Datasphir and the Open Book Collective, is setting the stage for a brighter future in academic publishing. If you’re an academic publisher, author, or institution interested in joining the Open Access movement, Contact us today to explore opportunities for collaboration.