The Group News Editor of LEADERSHIP Newspaper, Sunday Isuwa, PhD, has authored a book on the digital shift in Nigeria’s Newspaper industry, which is set for launch on October 29, 2026.
The book, “Digital Shift in Nigeria’s Newspaper Industry examines the transformation of Nigeria’s newspaper industry in the digital age.
Isuwa said the book examines how technological advancement is reshaping newsroom operations, journalism practice, business models and audience engagement in Nigeria.
The launch is scheduled for 10am at the Conference Hall of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) headquarters, behind the EFCC Headquarters, Jabi, Abuja.
The President of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN), Prof Rotimi Olatunji of Lagos State University (LASU), wrote the foreword, while the Vice Chancellor of NOUN, Prof Uduma Oji Uduma, is to review the book.
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara and chairman of the National Credit Guarantee Company Limited (NCGC) will chair the event.
In his assessment of the publication, Professor Umaru Pate of the Faculty of Communication, Bayero University, Kano, described it as a timely examination of the changes taking place in Nigeria’s newspaper industry.
Pate said the book examines newsroom adaptation, multimedia reporting, audience analytics, emerging revenue strategies, misinformation and changing audience behaviour.
“This book delves into newsroom adaptation, multimedia reporting, audience analytics, innovative revenue strategies, and the challenges presented by misinformation and shifting audience habits,” he said.
He noted that the publication draws on contemporary evidence and practical examples to examine both the opportunities and challenges created by digital transformation.
Pate described the book as essential reading for journalists, media scholars, policymakers and students seeking to understand the changing landscape of journalism in Nigeria.
Also commenting on the publication, Professor Farooq Kperogi of Kennesaw State University, United States, said the book provides an account of how Nigerian newspapers are responding to the demands of the digital era.
Kperogi said Isuwa draws on empirical research and professional experience to examine how legacy newsrooms are changing their editorial routines, business models and audience strategies as they transition from print to digital platforms.
He said the book connects Nigeria’s media transformation with global developments while examining the country’s political environment, infrastructural challenges and media culture.
According to Kperogi, the publication fills an important gap in African media scholarship by examining how technological change is reshaping the ethical, economic and professional foundations of journalism.
“It is essential reading for journalists, media managers, policymakers and students who want a concise but substantive guide to the forces that are transforming Nigerian news ecology,” he added.
On his part, the managing director/chief executive officer of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ali M Ali, also described the book as a comprehensive account of the transformation of the Nigerian press.
Ali said the publication traces the history of Nigerian newspapers from their colonial origins to the changes brought about by the digital revolution.
According to him, the book examines how newsrooms have adapted to technological advancement, restructured their business models and diversified revenue streams as audiences increasingly consume news through mobile devices.
“It considers the ethical and professional challenges faced by journalists today, highlighting the delicate balance between immediacy and accuracy, as well as the complexities of freedom of expression under regulatory pressures,” Ali said.
According to him, the book also places Nigeria’s media transformation within a global context through comparative analysis and case studies highlighting the resilience and innovation of selected newspapers.
Ali stated that the publication looks ahead to the future of newspaper publishing in a digital Nigeria and offers recommendations for editors, journalists, policymakers and other stakeholders.
He described it as a resource for professionals, academics and others interested in the evolution of journalism and the search for a sustainable and ethically grounded future for the industry.
Ali urged media professionals, policymakers, academics and other stakeholders to attend the launch, describing the event as an opportunity to celebrate the publication while providing a platform for discussions on the future of journalism in Nigeria.
The launch is expected to attract leading figures from the media and academic communities, with Prof Uduma Oji Uduma of NOUN scheduled to review the book.
