By DAYO ADEDAYO
On Monday, 10 February 2025, a great man took his final bow. Chief Joop Berkhout, a legend in Nigerian publishing, a man of integrity, wisdom, and boundless energy, has left us. He had his breakfast, called for his pastor to pray for him, and then, just like that, he closed his eyes and departed. A quiet, dignified exit for a man who spent his life in service to knowledge, to people, and to Nigeria.
At 90 years old, Baba was still working, still thinking, still selling books like no one else could. He was the best marketer I have ever met, a man whose passion for the written word was unparalleled.
It hurts. It truly does. To lose a man like Chief Joop Berkhout is to lose a treasure, a library, a friend, a father figure. But I take solace in knowing that he lived fully, passionately, and with purpose.
When I released Nigeria 2.0, he embraced it like his own, selling it with such commitment that I knew he wasn’t just a publisher, he was a man who truly believed in stories, in history, in the power of documentation. That book brought us closer, and from that moment on, we were more than just business associates, we became family.
READ ALSO: Ondo NYSC boss to ‘Corpers’: Fulfil dreams of founder fathers
He was compassionate, kind, and full of wisdom. Chief Joop knew Nigeria’s history like the back of his hand. Not just the events, but the people, the decisions, the nuances that shaped the nation. If you ever needed a lesson in contemporary Nigerian history, you didn’t need to look further than him. He carried the knowledge of generations, a walking encyclopedia of Nigeria’s past and present.
And he wasn’t just about history; he was about people. No matter where you came from, he made time for you. If he came to Lagos from his Ibadan base, he would always stop by to see me, to share thoughts, to discuss books, life, and everything in between. There was nothing we didn’t talk about, from politics to culture, from Nigeria’s past to its future. Conversations with him were rich, deep, and full of laughter.
Now, he is gone. Just like that.
Oh, death, where is thy sting?
It hurts. It truly does. To lose a man like Chief Joop Berkhout is to lose a treasure, a library, a friend, a father figure. But I take solace in knowing that he lived fully, passionately, and with purpose. He left an indelible mark on the world, and his impact will never fade.
Rest well, Baba.
You were a good man, and we will miss you more than words can say.
