The Group News Editor of LEADERSHIP Newspaper, Sunday Isuwa, PhD, has authored a new book examining the impact of digital transformation on Nigeria’s newspaper industry.
Titled Digital Shift in Nigeria’s Newspaper Industry, the book explored how technological advancement is reshaping newsroom operations, journalism practice, business models and audience engagement in the country.
The book will be formally launched at 10am on October 29, 2026, 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 scheduled to review the publication.
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, and the Chairman of the National Credit Guarantee Company Limited (NCGC) are expected to chair the event.
In his assessment of the book, Professor Umaru Pate of the Faculty of Communication, Bayero University, Kano, described it as a timely examination of the rapid changes taking place in Nigeria’s newspaper industry.
Pate said the publication addressed 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 book draws on contemporary evidence and practical examples to examine both the opportunities and challenges created by digital transformation, describing it 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 provided an account of how Nigerian newspapers are responding to the demands of the digital era.
Kperogi said Isuwa combined empirical research with 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.
According to him, the book connected Nigeria’s media transformation with global developments while examining the country’s political environment, infrastructural challenges and media culture.
He said the publication filled 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,” Kperogi added.
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 traced the history of Nigerian newspapers from their colonial origins to the changes brought about by the digital revolution.
According to him, the book examined 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.
He added that the book placed Nigeria’s media transformation within a global context through comparative analysis and case studies highlighting the resilience and innovation of selected newspapers.
Ali said the publication also look ahead to the future of newspaper publishing in a digital Nigeria and offered recommendations for editors, journalists, policymakers and other stakeholders.
He described the book as a valuable 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 it as an opportunity to celebrate the publication and provide a platform for meaningful discussions on the future of journalism in Nigeria.
The event is expected to attract leading figures from the media and academic communities, with Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma of NOUN scheduled to review the book.
