Toyin Saraki pays tribute to iconic publisher Joop Berkout, whose legacy shaped Nigerian education for decades
By Toyin Saraki
I received the announcement of the passing of renowned publisher Joop Berkout, OON, at the age of 94, with solemn gratitude for a life well-lived and fulfilled.
A truly respected figure in publishing, known for his sharp intellect and deep love of learning, Dutch-born Mr Berkout began his publishing career in Nigeria in 1967 as the first Managing Director of Evans Brothers.
Under his leadership, Evans published Larcombe’s Progressive Arithmetic (Lower, Middle, and Upper Standard)—a textbook series that became a household name in primary education, dominating the Nigerian arithmetic market in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. The Larcombe series remains a strong brand today, albeit in a significantly adapted form.
“Mr Joop Berkout, a visionary whose contributions to educational publishing remain iconic and enduring, will forever be remembered.”
Upon the promulgation of the Nigerian Enterprises Promotion Decree of 1972 (commonly known as the Indigenisation Decree), in 1973 Mr Berkout transitioned to Marketing Director of Evans UK, before founding Spectrum Books in 1978. Even after retiring in 2008, his passion for publishing endured, leading him to establish Safari Books, which continued to shape Nigerian education and literature.
I extend my deepest condolences to the family of Joop Berkout and to the Board of Directors of Evans Publishers Nigeria Ltd—an entity associated with the Evans Publishing Group UK, the parent company of Evans Brothers Publishers and its global affiliates.
Evans Publishers Nigeria, chaired since the 1980s by Oloye, my dear father, The Otunba Adekunle Ojora, CON, OFR, JP, has remained a cornerstone of educational publishing, producing textbooks from pre-primary to university level across virtually every subject in the school curriculum, including titles under the Nelson Africa-List.
May the soul of Mr Joop Berkout, a visionary whose contributions to educational publishing remain iconic and enduring—and who was honoured with the title Okun Borode of Ile-Ife—rest in perfect peace. Amen.
