A trailblazer in Nigeria’s modern publishing industry, Joop Berkhout has passed away at the age of 94.
His family and Safari Books Limited confirmed his death in a statement shared on the company’s Facebook page on Monday.
Although the cause of death was not revealed, the family noted that funeral details would be made public in due course.
“Exit of an Icon Chief Joop Berkhout: He will be fondly remembered for a very long time by his family, staff, the multitude of lives that he touched for good, his friends, and business associates worldwide. Funeral details to be announced,” the statement read.
Social media has been flooded with tributes from admirers and colleagues, mourning the publisher’s loss.
In 1992, he was bestowed the chieftaincy title of “Okun Borode of Ile-Ife” in recognition of his contributions.
Berkhout began his publishing journey with Evans Publishers before establishing Spectrum Books in 1978.
After stepping down from Spectrum’s Board in 2008, he founded Safari Books Limited, where he served as Chairman until his passing.
Born on March 31, 1930, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Berkhout grew up during World War II, enduring hardship and disruption to his education due to the conflict.
Despite these early challenges, he built an illustrious career in publishing.
His journey to Nigeria began in 1966. By 1967, he became the first Managing Director of Evans Brothers Nigeria and later founded Spectrum Books in 1978.
Even after his official retirement in 2008, Berkhout remained engaged with the publishing world through Safari Books, which played a crucial role in advancing Nigerian education and literature.
A Dutch native, Berkhout embraced Africa as home. Three of his children were born in Tanzania, and he eventually became a Nigerian citizen.
His efforts in the country earned him the Officer of the Order of the Niger. A passionate advocate for education, he frequently voiced concerns about the decline of the sector, attributing it to systemic issues.
Known for his keen intellect and unquenchable thirst for knowledge, Berkhout read at least two books every month.
While he cherished Nigeria, he never hesitated to criticise corruption, nepotism, and the deteriorating state of the nation’s education system. Despite these criticisms, he firmly believed in Nigeria’s potential.
In a 2020 interview with The PUNCH, Berkhout disclosed that he was raised as a Catholic and once aspired to become a Pope.
However, he later abandoned religion and the belief in an afterlife, encouraging people to question traditional doctrines. He dismissed concepts of heaven and hell, believing that such views had become outdated.
Berkhout was married to a Dutch woman with whom he had four children. One of his children is an architect based in Nigeria.
His wife passed away after battling cancer. He is survived by his children, who live between Nigeria and the UK. His legacy lives on in the publishing world, the institutions he helped build, and the countless individuals he inspired.
