By Onilede Titi Faith
As e-books and digital libraries continue to reshape Nigeria’s reading culture, bookshop owners in Abuja say they are reinventing their businesses to stay afloat in a market where millions of titles are now just a click away.
In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday, the booksellers acknowledged that digital access has disrupted print sales but insisted that innovation is keeping them relevant.
Ms. Aisha Bagu, who runs a virtual bookstore, said consumer behaviour has shifted sharply toward digital platforms.
“The convenience of browsing an online catalogue, downloading books in seconds, or carrying an entire library on your phone is irresistible,” she said.
While admitting that walk-in customers have declined, Bagu explained that the challenge has spurred creativity.
“Honestly, it’s been a mixed bag. People now say, ‘Why buy a book when I can download it for free?’ But this has pushed me to innovate.
“We host poetry nights, book clubs, and writing workshops. People now come for the experience, not just the books.
“We even launched a WhatsApp platform where customers can browse our inventory or download sample chapters.
“I’m also considering partnerships with schools to curate digital reading lists,” she added.
For another bookseller, Mr. Chinedu Paul, who operates an e-book marketplace, the belief that print is dying is a misconception.
According to him, the future of bookselling is hybrid, combining both physical and digital platforms.
“Readers want flexibility. Print isn’t dead, and bookstores aren’t either, they’re evolving,” he said.
Paul noted that while many readers enjoy the tactile pleasure of flipping through physical books, others prefer the convenience of digital reading.
“Whether you’re in a Lagos classroom logging into an e-library at dawn or in a Kaduna shop flipping through a hardcover, both forms have a place. Digital and physical bookselling are two sides of the same coin,” he explained.
He further argued that virtual libraries should not be seen as competitors but as gateways that can draw readers back to traditional shops for special editions, signed copies, or simply the joy of turning real pages.
Paul concluded that the most resilient bookstores will be those able to merge digital convenience with the communal warmth that has always defined book culture.
