University Press plc

Corporate brand

Nigeria's foremost educational publisher, founded in 1949 as Oxford University Press Nigeria and listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange since 1978.

Last updated September 26, 2026

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Overview

University Press plc (UPPLC) is one of Nigeria's oldest and most experienced publishing houses, describing itself as "the Nation's Foremost Publishers of materials for educational and for general reading." The company was founded in 1949 under the name Oxford University Press Nigeria, giving it deep roots in the Nigerian book trade that predate independence. In 1978 it was incorporated as a public liability company and renamed University Press Limited, with an authorised share capital of 8,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each. On 14 August 1978 the company was quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, making it one of the earliest Nigerian publishers to be publicly listed. UPPLC's core business is the development, publication and distribution of educational materials across the full Nigerian school ladder. Its catalogue spans pre-primary, primary, junior secondary, senior secondary and tertiary levels, covering subjects such as mathematics, basic science and technology, English and handwriting, French, history, civic education, home economics, pre-vocational studies, verbal and quantitative reasoning, and examination preparation for WASSCE, SSCE and UTME. The company also publishes general-interest and professional titles, including works on cybersecurity, business membership organisations, law, and Nigerian fiction and memoir. Alongside print books it offers e-books through its online shop, reflecting its stated mission to be a leading knowledge-based company leveraging technology. The company's stated vision is "to create access to knowledge for all," and its mission frames it as a knowledge-based company delivering value-driven services and educational products while generating superior returns for stakeholders. Its long history has been recognised with two Nigerian Stock Exchange Merit Awards in the service sector of quoted companies, and with the Concord Prize for Excellence in Academic Publishing for two consecutive years, 1984 and 1985. UPPLC remains an active, publicly traded Nigerian publisher, selling directly to schools, institutions and the general public through its website and distribution channels.

History

University Press plc traces its origins to 1949, when it was founded under the name Oxford University Press Nigeria. Operating within the British colonial and then independent Nigerian education system, the house built a catalogue of school and academic titles that made it one of the country's oldest and most experienced publishers. Its self-description as "the Nation's Foremost Publishers of materials for educational and for general reading" reflects that long institutional presence. A decisive turning point came in 1978, when the business was incorporated as a public liability company and its name changed to University Press Limited. The authorised share capital at incorporation was 8,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each. Later that year, on 14 August 1978, the company was quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, giving it access to public capital and making it one of the earliest Nigerian publishing houses to be listed. The listing also brought external scrutiny and recognition: UPPLC has twice won the Nigerian Stock Exchange Merit Award in the service sector of quoted companies. During the 1980s the company's academic publishing programme earned further distinction. It won the Concord Prize for Excellence in Academic Publishing for two consecutive years, 1984 and 1985. Over the following decades UPPLC continued to serve Nigerian schools with textbooks aligned to national curricula and standards set by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC). A notable example is the three-book series History for Nigerian Junior Secondary Schools, written by notable authors in conformity with NERDC standards after the Federal Government of Nigeria directed that History be reinstated in the secondary school curriculum. The series covers topics from the sources of Nigerian history and pre-colonial states to the Trans-Saharan trade, early European contacts and the evolution and amalgamation of the Nigerian state up to independence. In the twenty-first century the company has extended its range beyond traditional school textbooks into general-interest, professional and digital publishing. Its online shop sells print and e-books across pre-primary, primary, junior secondary, senior secondary and tertiary categories, and its catalogue includes titles on cybersecurity, managing business membership organisations, law and Nigerian fiction. The company's vision, "to create access to knowledge for all," and its mission to be a leading knowledge-based company leveraging technology, value-driven services and educational products, summarise its present strategic direction. UPPLC remains an active, publicly quoted Nigerian publisher.

1985
Won the Concord Prize for Excellence in Academic Publishing for the second consecutive year.
1984
Won the Concord Prize for Excellence in Academic Publishing (first of two consecutive years).
1978
Incorporated as a public liability company and renamed University Press Limited, with an authorised share capital of 8,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each.
1978
Quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange on 14 August 1978.
1949
Founded under the name Oxford University Press Nigeria.

Products and positioning

The nation's foremost publisher of educational and general reading materials, with a heritage dating to 1949 and a public listing since 1978.

History for Nigerian Junior Secondary Schools Books 1-3
A three-book series written in conformity with NERDC standards after the Federal Government of Nigeria directed that History be reinstated in the secondary school curriculum; covers Nigerian history from sources and pre-colonial states to independence, with workbooks.
Active Basic Science and Technology for Primary Schools Books 1-5
Primary-school science and technology textbook series.
Civic Education for Senior Secondary Schools
Senior secondary civic education textbooks.
Exam Focus Mathematics for WASSCE, SSCE and UTME
Examination preparation guide for major Nigerian secondary and tertiary entrance examinations.
Transformation Mathematics for Senior Secondary Schools
Senior secondary mathematics textbook.
French for Primary Schools Books 1-3
Primary-school French language series.
E-books
Digital editions sold through the company's online shop across all educational levels.

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