Rovingheights, the Nigerian bookstore chain, has received a special commendation from The London Book Fair (LBF) International Excellence Awards (IEAs).
The IEAs recognizes publishing achievement of organisations and individuals around the world “demonstrating passion, creativity, and ingenuity.”
The Nigerian bookstore was also shortlisted for the Book Seller of the Year category in the LBF IEAs 2023.
Rovingheights is the only African shortlistee to make a debut in the IEAs tenth anniversary.
In a statement, the judges described Rovingheights as an “impressive” bookstore and a “beacon for literacy.”
“We loved the entry from Rovingheights in Nigeria. Supported by an impressive online bookstore, social media penetration and revenues,” the statement reads in part.
“Rovingheights acts as a beacon for literacy and reading and helps programmes that gift books to children, IDP (internally displaced persons) camps and prison inmates.
“The owners are young, ambitious for their community and ones to watch and support.”
Commenting on the recognition, Adedotun Eyinade, the co-founder of Rovingheights, said: “This special commendation is a huge validation for the work that we do in increasing access to good books for our beloved customers in Nigeria- and it provides a timely impetus to do more.”
On his part, Tobi Eyinade, one of the co-founders of Rovingheights, added: “Running a thriving bookstore that is beloved by many has only been possible by the support of our stellar team, publishers, authors and customers whose confidence and patronage keep us in business.
“We are indeed encouraged to do more to counter the narrative that we are not a reading society.”
Also speaking, Adebola Eyinade, another co-founder at Rovingheights, said: “It is heartening to know that our efforts are getting the right notice. The commendation from the judges is fillip for us to continue to strive for excellence.”
Below is the full shortlist of The London Book Fair International Excellence Awards:
The Audiobook Publisher of the Year
- Macmillan Audio (USA)
- Princeton University Press (USA)
- Pushkin Industries (USA)
- Readyland LLC (USA) – Special Commendation
The Bookstore of the Year Award
- Dukagjini Bookstore (Kosovo)
- MINOA (Turkey)
- STRANDLÄUFER Verlagsbuchhandlung (Germany)
- Rovingheights (Nigeria) – Special Commendation
The Sustainability Initiative Award
- Bloomsbury Publishing (UK)
- New Society Publishers (Canada)
- Penguin Random House UK
Eligible for entries from the UK only:
Inclusivity in Publishing Award
- Bloomsbury Publishing
- Bonnier Books
- Springer Nature
The winners of the International Excellence Awards, alongside the recipient of the London Book Fair Lifetime Achievement Award, will be celebrated at Olympia London on April 19.
With four outlets in Lagos and Abuja, Rovingheights has sold hundreds of thousands of books across its online channels.
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