Brands We Love: Literamed Publications

Literamed is a leading publisher of children’s books in Nigeria. It produces and distributes texts, many of which are used by pupils in nursery and primary schools, and students in secondary schools. It also publishes children’s fiction and self-development books.

As one of Nigeria’s oldest and largest literary companies, Literamed has had a considerable impact on the country’s education space. Since its establishment, millions of Nigerians have purchased and used its books. These books have come under the Lantern Books imprint, which is a widely recognized brand.

Founded in 1969, Literamed has steadily built its reputation over decades, expanding its collection and deepening its role in literacy and education. Thus far, it has published over 200 titles. It has built a strong presence spanning most of Nigeria, and elsewhere in West Africa. The company is headquartered in Lagos, has ten depots across the country, and has set up a West Africa office in Accra, Ghana.

The textbooks that Literamed publishes are written and compiled in line with local school curriculum. It is partly because of this (as well as its being long established and widely trusted) that its books are used in schools all over Nigeria. Besides remaining a major source of educational texts, it also aims to inspire and sustain a reading culture among younger people.

The Lantern Books textbooks available from Literamed include texts in English, Mathematics, Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Aptitude, Basic Science and Technology, Phonetics, and Pre-Vocational Studies. Others are Creative and Cultural Arts, French, Religion and National Values, and Guided Creative Composition.

Literamed also publishes storybooks for readers of various ages—preschool, preteens, teens, and adults. These storybooks belong to a broad range of categories: adventure, folktales, drama, fairytales, and heroic literature. The company puts out comics as well. It says that it has designed these books to make reading more fun and encourage a literary culture among younger people. Its cartoons range from manga and fables, to virtue and Bible stories.

The efforts of Literamed to encourage reading extend beyond publishing books. It started the Lantern Book Club, an initiative which offers Lantern Books to its members at discounted prices. It also gives them the privilege to read its new books first. Schools that become members of this club can have their students visit Literamed’s production facilities to learn how it makes the books they read.

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