Evans Brothers (Nigeria Publishers) Limited

Evans Brothers (Nigeria Publishers) Limited is a Nigerian educational publishing company based in Ibadan. Its publishing program is centered on textbooks and learning materials for different stages of the Nigerian education system, including nursery, primary and secondary education. The company has also published fiction and general-interest works, but its identity and historical importance are principally associated with educational books. The Nigerian company developed from the activities of the British publishing firm Evans Brothers Limited. In 1945, Evans Brothers commissioned L. C. Larcombe to investigate the book requirements of colonial Nigeria. Larcombe’s work led to Larcombe’s Progressive Arithmetic, a graded textbook series covering lower, middle and upper standards. The series became particularly influential in Nigerian primary arithmetic during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Another early title associated with the company’s Nigerian publishing activity was Civics for Self Government by J. R. Bunting. As demand for education expanded, Evans Brothers moved from using visiting or resident representatives to establishing a dedicated Nigerian publishing operation. Ove Stentort was the first representative based in Ibadan, a university city that later became the company’s home. In December 1966, Evans Brothers incorporated a full Nigerian company under the name Evans Brothers (Nigeria Publishers) Limited. Joop Berkhout served as its pioneer managing director. The company’s development coincided with the expansion and localization of Nigeria’s education and publishing sectors. A significant restructuring followed the Nigerian Enterprises Promotion Decree of 1972, commonly called the indigenization decree. The legislation required at least 40 percent of the equity of affected companies to be Nigerian-owned, prompting changes in the ownership and organizational structure of businesses operating in the country. Evans Brothers’ publishing role has been described in reference material as that of a leading Nigerian educational publisher. Its catalogue has included materials for early childhood and primary education, secondary-school textbooks, and books in subject areas such as basic technology. The company’s textbooks have been distributed through the Nigerian education market, where curriculum relevance, school adoption, teacher use and physical distribution are central to a publisher’s reach. Publicly available reference material provides limited detail about the company’s current ownership, leadership, financial performance, website, corporate structure and present operating status. It does, however, establish a clear historical profile: Evans Brothers (Nigeria Publishers) Limited was created as a locally incorporated Nigerian publishing business, built on an earlier British research and publishing connection, and became associated with textbook production for Nigeria’s expanding education system.

Evans Brothers (Nigeria Publishers) Limited emerged from the Nigerian publishing interests of the British firm Evans Brothers Limited. In 1945, the British company sent consultant L. C. Larcombe to study the book requirements of Nigeria, then a British colony. His research resulted in Larcombe’s Progressive Arithmetic, a sequence of textbooks organized for lower, middle and upper standards. The series achieved broad influence in Nigerian primary arithmetic during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s and provided an early foundation for the company’s educational publishing reputation in the country. The company’s early Nigerian catalogue also included Civics for Self Government by J. R. Bunting. As the Nigerian education system grew in importance, Evans Brothers sought a more permanent and market-focused presence. It appointed resident representatives to promote its books and develop local distribution. Ove Stentort became the first representative and established a base in Ibadan, a major university and publishing center. In December 1966, Evans Brothers created a full Nigerian corporate operation, incorporated as Evans Brothers (Nigeria Publishers) Limited. Joop Berkhout became the new company’s pioneer managing director. The incorporation marked a shift from representation of a foreign publisher toward a dedicated Nigerian publishing business intended to handle local marketing, distribution and educational publishing requirements more directly. The company’s organizational development was affected by Nigeria’s indigenization policy. After the Nigerian Enterprises Promotion Decree of 1972, companies operating in Nigeria faced requirements concerning Nigerian participation in equity ownership. The decree made a minimum 40 percent Nigerian equity holding mandatory for covered companies, and Evans Brothers (Nigeria Publishers) Limited underwent a major restructuring in response. Over time, the company developed a broad educational list covering nursery, primary and secondary levels. Its publications included textbooks and learning materials, with basic technology identified as one area in which its books achieved a strong market position. Alongside school publishing, the company also issued some fiction and general publications. Its historical significance lies primarily in its contribution to the supply of formal educational materials in Nigeria and in the way its business evolved alongside the country’s changing education system, publishing market and ownership regulations. Available reference material does not provide sufficient verified information about later corporate ownership, current management, financial results, recent publishing programs or whether the company remains active under the same structure. Those aspects therefore remain unreported in this dossier.

• 1972

  Restructuring following indigenization legislation

  [1]Evans Brothers (Nigeria Publishers) Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  The company undertook major restructuring after the Nigerian Enterprises Promotion Decree required a minimum Nigerian equity participation of 40 percent in covered businesses.

• 1966

  Nigerian company incorporated

  [1]Evans Brothers (Nigeria Publishers) Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  In December 1966, Evans Brothers incorporated Evans Brothers (Nigeria Publishers) Limited as a dedicated Nigerian publishing company.

• 1945

  Larcombe investigates Nigeria’s book needs

  [1]Evans Brothers (Nigeria Publishers) Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  Evans Brothers Limited commissioned L. C. Larcombe to study the educational book requirements of colonial Nigeria.

• 1945

  Progressive arithmetic series developed

  [1]Evans Brothers (Nigeria Publishers) Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  Larcombe’s Progressive Arithmetic was produced as a graded series for lower, middle and upper standards and later became highly influential in Nigerian primary arithmetic.

Educational publishing focused on curriculum-oriented textbooks and learning materials for the Nigerian market.

• Primary mathematics textbooks · 1945

  Larcombe’s Progressive Arithmetic

  A graded arithmetic textbook series prepared after L. C. Larcombe’s investigation of Nigerian educational book needs. It covered lower, middle and upper standards and became a dominant presence in Nigerian primary arithmetic during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.

• Civics textbook

  Civics for Self Government

  A civics title by J. R. Bunting associated with Evans Brothers’ early Nigerian publishing activity. The book reflected the company’s interest in educational subjects connected with civic knowledge and self-government.

• School publishing

  Educational textbooks and learning materials

  The company’s broader educational list has covered nursery, primary and secondary education. Its materials have been intended for classroom teaching and learning across the Nigerian school system, including subject areas such as basic technology.

• General publishing

  Fiction and general publications

  In addition to its core educational list, Evans Brothers (Nigeria Publishers) Limited has published some fiction and general-interest works. Available references do not identify a complete catalogue or current status for these lines.

• 1972

  Restructuring in response to indigenization requirementsStrategy

  Background

  The Nigerian Enterprises Promotion Decree introduced a requirement that at least 40 percent of the equity of covered companies be owned by Nigerians.

  Action taken

  Evans Brothers (Nigeria Publishers) Limited carried out a major restructuring to respond to the new ownership framework.

  Aftermath

  The restructuring formed part of the company’s adaptation to Nigeria’s post-indigenization business environment.

  Source

• 1966

  Establishment of a dedicated Nigerian publishing operationStrategy

  Background

  Growing demand for education in Nigeria created a need for more targeted publishing, marketing and distribution rather than reliance solely on overseas activity or representatives.

  Action taken

  Evans Brothers incorporated Evans Brothers (Nigeria Publishers) Limited in December 1966 and appointed Joop Berkhout as its pioneer managing director.

  Aftermath

  The incorporation established a locally focused business that developed a substantial educational publishing program for Nigeria.

  Source

1. 1Evans Brothers (Nigeria Publishers) Limiteden.wikipedia.org