Renowned Publisher Joop Berkhout passes on at 94
Renowned publisher and towering figure in Nigeria’s literary and educational landscape Joop Berkhout has died at the age of 94.
His family and the Safari books limited announced his death in a statement posted on Monday on the company’s Facebook page.
Though the cause of death was not disclosed, his family stated that funeral arrangements would be announced in due course.
Associates and admirers have mourned Berkhout, sharing heartfelt tributes and memories of his impactful life.
In a statement signed by the special adviser to the president on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu expressed profound sorrow over the death of Chief Joop Berkhout, eulogizing his love for Nigeria and considerable contributions to the publishing industry.
Writers under the aegis of the Society of Young Nigerian Writers have also grieved the death of Chief Joop Berkhout, describing him as a distinguished publisher and literary icon.
Born in Amsterdam on March 31, 1930, Chief Joop Berkhout relocated to Nigeria, where he became a towering figure in the country’s publishing sector. He passed away at the age of 94 in Ibadan, Oyo State, the city that became his home and the centre of his literary and publishing endeavours.
