Bible Society of Nigeria Bookshop

The Bible Society of Nigeria Bookshop is the retail bookshop operation associated with The Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN), a Nigerian non-profit Bible society founded on 8 February 1966. The bookshop exists to make the Holy Bible and related Christian literature available and affordable to Nigerians in their preferred languages and formats, in line with BSN's stated mission. It is described in public data as a bookshop in Osun State, Nigeria, and it operates as part of BSN's wider distribution network, which includes 34 Areas across the country and 7 Bible depots pan-Nigeria. BSN itself was formed through the pioneering efforts of the late Dr. Francis Ezeogo Akanu Ibiam, the first indigenous Governor of the defunct Eastern Region, who in February 1965 initiated a consultation with representatives of most Nigerian churches on the need for a national Bible Society. That meeting unanimously resolved to form The Bible Society of Nigeria, which was inaugurated on 8 February 1966. Before that, the territory had been supervised by the British and Foreign Bible Society (BFBS), which had operated in Nigeria as far back as 1807, with the Bible House in Apapa serving as a distribution centre for neighbouring West African countries. Ross J. Manning, BFBS representative in West Africa, became BSN's first General Secretary. The bookshop's product range centres on Bibles — complete Bibles, New Testaments and portions — in Nigerian languages and formats, alongside Christian books and related materials. BSN reports that it distributes over one million copies of the Bible yearly, has the complete Bible in 27 Nigerian languages, the New Testament in 61 local languages, and at least one book in 101 languages. Bible translation is ongoing in 10 Nigerian languages, including Edo, Izon, Epie, Ogbia, Nigerian Sign Language, Urhobo, Okpe, Eggon, Binna and Eleme. BSN relocated its corporate headquarters to 202/204 Ikorodu Road, Palmgrove, Lagos, and plans to build a befitting Bible House with a translation centre, Bible Museum, Bible shop, international conference centre and office spaces. For decades it operated from its former Apapa headquarters, a building constructed in 1919 and handed over by BFBS at BSN's formation in 1966; in 2018 it moved to a temporary rented office in Onipanu, Lagos, before the Palmgrove relocation. The bookshop is therefore best understood as the retail and distribution face of BSN's publishing and distribution mandate, serving churches, schools, individuals and communities across Nigeria.

The Bible Society of Nigeria Bookshop is the retail bookshop arm of The Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN), a Nigerian Bible society. BSN was founded on 8 February 1966 through the pioneering efforts of the late Dr. Francis Ezeogo Akanu Ibiam, the first indigenous Governor of the defunct Eastern Region. In February 1965, Dr. Ibiam initiated a consultation with representatives of most of the churches in Nigeria on the need to form a national Bible Society in Nigeria. That meeting unanimously decided that The Bible Society of Nigeria be formed, leading to its formation and inauguration on 8 February 1966. Before 1966, the territory was under the supervision of the British and Foreign Bible Society (BFBS), which had operated in Nigeria as far back as 1807. The Bible House in Apapa served as a distribution centre to other neighbouring West African countries. Ross J. Manning, the BFBS representative in West Africa during the independent era, became the first General Secretary of BSN; he played a significant role in ensuring the unification of the East and West Blocks toward BSN's formation. BSN grew into a national distribution and translation organisation. Today it reports 34 Areas across the country and 7 Bible depots pan-Nigeria, distributing over one million copies of the Bible yearly. It has the complete Bible in 27 Nigerian languages, the New Testament in 61 local languages, and one book or another in 101 languages. Bible translation is ongoing in 10 Nigerian languages: Edo, Izon, Epie, Ogbia, Nigerian Sign Language, Urhobo, Okpe, Eggon, Binna and Eleme. A translation project costs a minimum of N150 million if completed in 8 years. For decades BSN operated from its former corporate headquarters in Apapa, Lagos, in a building constructed in 1919 and handed over to the organisation by BFBS at BSN's formation on 8 February 1966. The historic building served the Society for over a century and underwent several renovations and upgrades. With time, expansion became necessary due to increasing staff numbers and expanded operations, and access to Apapa became increasingly difficult for staff and the public. In 2018, the Society relocated from its Apapa office to a temporary rented office in Onipanu, Lagos, but the rented facility was not conducive, being choked with leaky roofs that damaged files and systems when it rained. BSN later officially relocated its corporate headquarters to 202/204 Ikorodu Road, Palmgrove, Lagos, and is making plans to commence construction of a befitting Bible House. The journey began in 2019 with sacrifice, perseverance and faith, aiming for a Bible House with a translation centre, Bible Museum, Bible shop, international conference centre and office spaces to facilitate the organisation's mandate of making God's Word available to all Nigerians in their preferred languages and formats. The bookshop itself is described in public data as a bookshop in Osun State, Nigeria. It functions within BSN's distribution network, which includes Bible depots and Area offices, and it supports BSN's five key functions: Translation, Publishing, Distribution, Programmes and Fundraising. BSN's vision is to grow a community of Nigerian Christians empowered by the Holy Bible to make positive global impact, and its mission is making the Holy Bible available and affordable to Nigerians in their preferred languages and formats. Its core values are summarised by the acronym P.R.R.I.C.E.S., beginning with professionalism and the pursuit of the highest ethical standards.

• 2019

  BSN begins the journey toward building a befitting Bible House.

• 2018

  BSN relocates from Apapa to a temporary rented office in Onipanu, Lagos.

• 1966

  The Bible Society of Nigeria is founded and inaugurated on 8 February.

• 1965

  Dr. Akanu Ibiam initiates consultation with Nigerian churches on forming a national Bible Society.

• 1919

  The Apapa Bible House building, later BSN's headquarters, is constructed.

• 1807

  British and Foreign Bible Society begins operating in Nigeria.

• BSN relocates corporate headquarters to 202/204 Ikorodu Road, Palmgrove, Lagos.

A faith-based, non-profit retail bookshop making Scripture available and affordable in Nigerian languages and formats.

• Bibles in Nigerian languages

• New Testaments

• Bible portions

• Christian books

• Audio Bibles

1. 1The Bible Society of Nigeria – …making the WORD availablebiblesociety-nigeria.org
2. 2Our History – The Bible Society of Nigeriabiblesociety-nigeria.org
3. 3BSN Relocates Corporate Headquarters, set to build Befitting Bible House – The Bible Society of Nigeriabiblesociety-nigeria.org
4. 4Beyond the Classroom: Deeper Life Students Discover the Story Behind the Bible – The Bible Society of Nigeriabiblesociety-nigeria.org
5. 5Bible Society of Nigeria Bookshopwikidata.org