How to Write and Publish a Book as a Nigerian Founder (Step by Step)

You’ve built a business, learned hard lessons, and people keep saying, “You should write a book.” They’re right. A good book builds authority, opens doors to speaking and media, and gives clients a reason to trust you before they meet you.

But most founders get stuck at the same places: Where do I start? Do I need an ISBN? Where do I print? How do I sell it?

This guide answers those questions. We’ll walk you through how to write and publish a book in Nigeria, step by step, from the first idea to launch day.

1 Decide Why You’re Writing the Book

Your goal shapes everything else: length, tone, price, and how you publish. Most founder books serve one of these purposes:

• Authority: positioning you as the go-to expert in your field
• Lead generation: a book that leads readers to your consulting, coaching, or services
• Legacy: documenting your story and values for your team, family, or community
• Teaching: turning a framework, programme, or ministry message into something people can keep

Then define your reader. “Everyone” is not a reader; “first-time founders in Lagos raising their first round” is.

2 Shape Your Idea Into an Outline

A clear outline is what gets a book finished. Start with the big promise: what will the reader know, feel, or be able to do after reading? Then break it into chapters, and each chapter into a few key points, stories, or examples.

• Mine what you already have: talks, sermons, LinkedIn posts, newsletters, training slides, and podcast interviews.
• Use real stories: your failures, turning points, and hard decisions are what make a business book worth reading.
• Keep it focused: one book, one big idea.

3 Write It Yourself or Hire a Ghostwriter

This is the biggest decision you’ll make.

Writing it yourself works if you enjoy writing and can protect regular time for it. Set a weekly word target and don’t edit while drafting.

Hiring a ghostwriter makes sense if your time is better spent running the business. A ghostwriter interviews you, captures your voice, and writes the book under your name, while you keep full credit and ownership.

If you’re weighing this option, our guide on how much ghostwriting costs in Nigeria breaks down what drives the price and what a good package should include.

4 Edit, Edit, Then Proofread

A finished draft is not a finished book. Professional editing protects your reputation. There are three levels:

1. Developmental (structural) editing: Does the book flow? Are chapters in the right order? Is anything missing or repeated?
2. Copyediting: Sentence-level clarity, grammar, consistency, and tone.
3. Proofreading: A final check for typos and formatting errors before printing.

Don’t skip any of them. You are too close to your own words to catch everything.

5 Design the Cover and Interior

People judge books by their covers, especially online.

Brief your designer early on trim size (the physical size of the book) and page count, because the spine width depends on them.

6 Get Your ISBN From the National Library of Nigeria

An ISBN is the unique 13-digit number that identifies your book in bookshops, libraries, and distribution systems.

How to apply:

A few things worth knowing:

• Each format needs its own ISBN. According to the NLN, your paperback, hardcover, and ebook editions should each have a different number.
• Ask for CIP data. Cataloguing-in-Publication (CIP) data is the library record printed on your copyright page. The NLN says there is no charge for CIP processing. You will need your ISBN and your book’s preliminary pages.
• Print the ISBN correctly. It goes on the copyright page (back of the title page) and on the back cover.

What about copyright? Under Nigerian law, copyright protection is automatic once your work is created and written down. Registration is not required. The Nigerian Copyright Commission does run a voluntary notification scheme that gives you an official record of your work, which some authors choose for extra peace of mind.

7 Choose How to Print: Lagos Printers or Print-on-Demand

You have two main options, and many founders use both.

Option A: Print locally in Lagos (or anywhere in Nigeria)

Best if you’ll sell or gift physical copies in Nigeria: at launches, conferences, church events, or to clients.

• Offset printing is usually better value for larger runs; digital printing suits short runs, so you don’t tie up cash in stock.
• Always approve a proof copy first, checking paper, colour, binding, and spine.
• Get written quotes from more than one printer, with delivery dates in writing.

Option B: Print-on-demand with Amazon KDP

Key points for Nigerian authors start with the ISBN:

• Check how you’ll be paid. For bank accounts in Nigeria, Amazon’s KDP payment options page currently lists wire transfer in naira, not direct deposit, for most marketplaces, and minimum payout thresholds apply to wire payments. Confirm the current terms before you publish.
• Print-on-demand copies are printed outside Nigeria, so it’s usually more practical to print copies for local sales here.

8 Publish Your Ebook

• Amazon Kindle (via KDP): Ebooks don’t require an ISBN on KDP. If you enrol the ebook in KDP Select, it must be exclusive to Amazon while enrolled, so you can’t sell it on other platforms at the same time.
• Selar: A popular platform for selling digital products, including ebooks, to Nigerian and African audiences, with payouts to local bank accounts. It’s well suited to selling directly to your own followers in naira.
• Your own website: If you already have traffic, selling directly keeps the customer relationship with you.

9 Meet Your Legal Deposit Obligation

Many first-time authors don’t know about this. Under Section 4 of the National Library Act, the publisher of every book published in Nigeria must deliver three copies to the National Library within one month of publication, at their own expense. If you self-publish, that publisher is you.

The NLN says the obligation also covers electronic publications, so ask the Library how to deposit your ebook edition. It’s a small step that keeps you compliant and puts your book in Nigeria’s national record.

10 Launch and Market the Book

A book only works for your business if people read it.

• Build anticipation early: share the cover reveal and excerpts in the weeks before launch.
• Host a launch event: bring together your network, clients, partners, and the press.
• Use your platforms: LinkedIn, your newsletter, website, speaking slots, and church or community networks.
• Get the book into the right hands: signed copies for clients, partners, journalists, and event organisers.
• Pitch media and podcasts: a new book gives hosts a reason to feature you.
• Make it part of your business: gift it to new clients, use it in staff training, or bundle it with your programmes.

Want Help Turning Your Idea Into a Finished Book?

At WritersCo, our book writing and publishing service takes you from concept to finished book. We’ve written more than 100 books for founders and professionals since 2021. We can handle the interviews, writing, editing, and publishing support, so you can focus on running your business.

Ready to write your book? Tell us about your project and we’ll send you a clear proposal. Book ghostwriting starts from ₦350,000.

You can also explore our full range of writing and publishing services.

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