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}} University Press plc (UPPLC) stands out as Nigeria's largest, most experienced and first indigenous book publishers of materials for educational and general reading. It was founded as the Nigerian branch of the world famous British Oxford University Press in 1949 with the name Oxford University Press (OUP), Nigeria. At incorporation as a public liability company in 1978, the company's name was changed to University Press Limited.

The company has an effective coverage of the country and the West African sub-regions through the strategic location of its Area Offices, Depots, Showrooms and a number of Representatives in major cities and towns nationwide and also in Accra, Ghana.

The company is engaged in the business of printing, publishing and selling of books in areas of educational and general titles. Sound and successful lines have also been developed for Pre-primary, Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, General, Creative Writing series and Teaching/Learning Aids.

A competent Board of Directors comprising both Executive and Non-Executive Directors, who are well experienced in various walks of life, take strategic decisions that drive the growth of the company and determine the general policies of the company. The implementation of such policies is effected through a team of vibrant Managers assisted by staff who are skilled in different fields and disciplines.

In recognition of the quality of her products and services in the publishing industry, the Company has won several awards such as the Nigerian Book Fair Trust Award of Recognition for sharing the vision of Nigerian Book Fair Trust and supporting the growth of the annual Nigerian Book Fair.

Three Crowns Building

The Head Office of the company is at Three Crowns Building, Jericho, Ibadan. The main warehouse, which is reputed to be one of the largest in tropical Africa, is also located at Ibadan.

Other Depot Locations

The company has an effective coverage of the country and the West African sub-region through the strategic location of its Area Offices, Depots, Showrooms and a number of Representatives in major cities and towns nationwide and also in Accra, Ghana. The depot in Zaria stands out as UPPLC’s second largest while the highly commercialized Lagos State has four depots: Ikeja, Ikorodu, Yaba and Ajegunle.

Conception/History

Conceptualized in 1949 as the Nigerian branch of Oxford University Press (OUP), its main function was to sell Oxford books in Nigeria. Later, the company began to produce books locally and, before long, a Nigerian unit was established in Oxford where editing and publishing of titles for the Nigerian local markets were done. The titles published were literary and curriculum-based books targeted at educational institutions and the general public. At incorporation as a public liability company in 1978, the Company's name was changed to University Press Limited.

Indigenization

University Press plc started indigenizing its titles since 1963, when it came out with the first ever local educational publication in the country, Ijala Are Ode by Oladipo Yemitan.

File:Ijala Are Ode.jpeg

First ever local educational publication in Nigeria

The Foremost Publishers

Over the years, UPPLC has grown to become one of the oldest, most experienced and the nation's foremost publishers of materials for both educational and general reading. The acronym, “the foremost publishers” was chosen to indicate the company’s dominance in Nigeria’s publishing sector, producing books to meet the educational needs of the populace for the Pre-primary, Primary, Secondary, Teacher Training, Tertiary and General Readership categories.

Revolutionizing Nigeria’s Publishing Industry

Over the years, UPPLC has been involved in the publication of high-profile authors thereby producing benchmark titles. In the last ten years in Nigeria, UPPLC single-handedly revolutionized the publishing industry in Nigeria by setting quality book standards that reflected in the quality of books produced. This revolution is credited to the Managing Director, Mr. Samuel Kolawole, a leader par excellence.

On assumption of office as Managing Director in 2005, he concentrated on improving the quality of the company’s books, spending qualitative time in the Publishing Division to create, recreate and implement innovative ideas that will change on revised and new titles. He created effective changes on each book from illustrations to its cover designs. The end product of each book was a standard competitive book which other publishers were obliged to imitate.

Awards and Ratings

In recognition of the quality of the company’s products and services in the publishing industry, UPPLC has the undermentioned awards to its credit:

Pearl Sectoral Leadership Award

In 2008, 2007 and 2006, the company won the aforementioned award in the printing and publishing sector of the Nigerian Stock Market.

West Africa Institute of Direct Marketing Award

The company was given this award as the West African Best Books and Educational Materials Producers of the year.

The World Bank Best Overall Performance Award (African Region)

The company won this in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 for being outstanding as a publishing firm.

Nigerian Publishers' Association Fellowship Award

In 1991, the Company won the award for its great contribution to the publishing industry in Nigeria.

Concord Press Award

The Company won the Concord Press Award for two consecutive years in 1984 and 1985 in Academic Publishing before the organizers discontinued the competition.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange Merit Award

The company won the merit award twice in 1986/87 and 1999 for High quality and best Annual Account Presentations.

Most Valuable Employer Award

The company was given the award in 1996 by the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund in recognition of its prompt and total compliance with the rules and regulations of the Fund.

Famous Authors & Titles

Being one of the oldest publishers in Nigeria, UPPLC has outstandingly published books for various famous authors in Nigeria both old/renowned;Wole Soyinka, Chukwuemeka Ike,J.P. Clark, Wande Abimbola, Akinwunmi Isola, Ola Rotimi, Adebayo Faleti;, and new/upcoming: Abimbola Alao, Yetunde Lawal, just to mention a few. UPPLC also encourages upcoming authors and maintains a solid relationship with authors. With over 60 years of experience, UPPLC delivers an outstanding author-publisher relationship. Educational titles/books are written by seasoned and renowned authors, who are first-rate in their respective fields of specialization.

Old Publications

Publications dating back to 1963 are kept in archives and preserved in memory of the giant strides of outstanding authors in the Nigerian book industry. Early publications that shaped the Company and the Nigerian publishing industry include:

Wole Soyinka

The Lion and the Jewel (1962)

Chukwuemeka Ike

Sunset at Dawn (1976)
The Potter’s Wheel (1973)

Ola Rotimi

The Gods Are Not to Blame (1975)
Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again (1977)

J. P. Clark

The Example of Shakespeare (1968)

Wande Abimbola

Àwon Ojú Odù Mẹ́rẹ̀ẹ̀rìndínlógún (1977)

Akinwunmi Isola

Efunsetan Aniwura – Iyalode Ibadan (1970)
Ó Lekú

Adebayo Faleti

Ogun Àwítélè (1969)

New and Core Publications

UPPLC has a growing archive of sound and successful lines developed for the Pre-primary, Primary, Secondary, Teacher Training, Tertiary and General Readership categories. UPPLC remains one of the major distributors of World Bank Publications in Africa. An inclusion to their general readership category is the new encyclopaedia series with topics in sciences, health, technology, architecture and more. Core and famous curriculum-based titles such as New Oxford English Course and New Oxford Secondary English Course for primary and secondary schools respectively, as well as English for Primary Schools; MAN Mathematics, which is written by teachers, who are also members of the Mathematical Association of Nigeria (MAN); Exam Focus series, specially compiled for junior and senior secondary school students to aid them in their final exams; the New Young Achievers series for pre-primary and primary schools. These are just a few of our exceptional titles which have given the company an edge over other publishing firms. All curriculum-based titles adhere strictly to the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) Curriculum for the 9-year Universal Basic Education Programme, which covers the student’s educational needs from their basic to secondary levels. This will in turn help to meet the demands of their final exams, i.e. JAMB, NECO, WAEC for JSCE and SSCE. Workbooks and teaching aids with answers for teachers and parents have been created for each corresponding title.

Events

Authors’ Forum, an idea conceived by the Management of University Press Plc as a forum for finding solutions to the numerous problems facing the book industry in Nigeria, is one of our yearly events which is graced by authors, distinguished personalities and others from different parts of the country, showcasing lectures and theme discussions. UPPLC also hosts different events at the Annual Nigeria International Book Fair (NIBF) by organizing fun activities for both primary and secondary school children from different parts of Nigeria.

Nigerian Stock Exchange

At incorporation as a public limited liability company in 1978, the company's name was changed to University Press Limited with an authorized share capital of 8,000,000 ordinary shares of 50k each, which since has grew to 500,000,000 in 2001. The paid-up share capital of the company is ₦215, 704,750 made up of 431,409,500 ordinary shares of 50k each as at 31st March, 2013. The Company was quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange on 14th August, 1978. UPPLC, has on two occasions, won the prestigious Stock Exchange Merit Award in the service sector of quoted companies. The company maintains a cordial relationship with OUP, which still has 5% of its shareholding.

SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS	2013 (NGN ‘000)	2012 (NGN ‘000)	2011 (NGN ‘000)	2010 (NGN ‘000)	2009 (NGN ‘000)
Share capital	215,705	215,705	179,753	149,759	149,759
Share premium	175,507	175,507	211,458	241,416	241,416
Capital reserve	1,442	1,422	1,422	1,422	1,422
Fixed assets revaluation surplus	879,300	685,115	209,725	209,725	209,725

External links

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 '''University Press plc (UPPLC)''' stands out as Nigeria's largest, most experienced and first indigenous book publishers of materials for educational and general reading. It was founded as the Nigerian branch of the world famous [[Oxford University Press|British Oxford University Press]] in 1949 with the name [[Oxford University Press|Oxford University Press (OUP)]], [[Nigeria]]. At incorporation as a public liability company in 1978, the company's name was changed to University Press Limited.