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By Damiete Braide
For more than two decades, award-winning author and literary advocate, Dr. Awele Ilusanmi, has championed reading, writing, and literary excellence in Nigeria, earning widespread recognition as the “Queen of Books.” An author, mentor, book promoter, and founder of the Literary Authors Cooperative Multipurpose Society of Nigeria (LiTACO), she has helped countless writers transform their manuscripts into successful publishing projects. Through her unwavering commitment to promoting reading culture and supporting authors, she has become a respected voice in the Nigerian literary community. Dr. Awele Ilusanmi has been honoured as one of the 100 Reputable Women of African Descent 2026 for her remarkable contributions to literature, publishing education, and creative industry development. An accomplished author and literary strategist, she empowers emerging writers through mentorship and training. As President of the Literary Authors Cooperative Multipurpose Society of Nigeria and Founder of Book Marketing Class Africa, she promotes literary excellence and sustainable careers for African authors. In this interview with Damiete Braide, Awele Ilusanmi shares the inspiring story behind her title, her passion for books, and her vision for empowering readers and writers.
You are widely known as the “Queen of Books.” How did that title come about, and what does it mean to you personally?
An author needed help with her manuscript. She wants a suitable title, a subtitle, ideas to promote and market the book. Also, she needed support to bring the book to life. I had a very title schedule that week. I just dropped everything I was doing and said “okay, let us do this” We went back and forth, brainstorming ideas and viola, we had success stories till date. Few days later, an author who I have never met before came to me on Facebook and then WhatsApp. She wanted ideas on raising funds to print her books. After having a book marketing and promotion consultation with me, we raised up money to print the book. Today, she has printed more than one thousand copies. The same thing with a male author, too. After six months on his book project, he was able to raise funds to print his book and now, printing more.
By the Grace of God Almighty, I have helped authors to create success stories. So, one day, I was invited to talk about my book, but I did more than talking about my book. It turned to a workshop. At the end of the programme, a woman whom I have mentored in the past was in that programme. She said out loud, “You have done so much in helping authors achieve their dreams and goals. From today, you are the ‘Queen of Books’ and everyone agreed. From that day, everyone calls me the ‘Queen of Books’.
What inspired you to begin promoting reading culture in Nigeria in 2004?
I found out that knowledge put into positive action is power. There is always this light that one gets from reading books. I just felt that I need to encourage people to read books and see more light. That was the same year that I published my first book Comforting Arms.
Looking back on your literary journey, what would you describe as your most significant achievement?
The Literary Authors Cooperative Multipurpose Society of Nigeria (LiTACO) is about authors supporting authors to succeed. Back in 2016, I needed money to print my second book. It was very challenging for me to receive money from the bank to support my writing project. I was very sad but I am a person that always thinks of solutions. So, I came up with the idea of a cooperative for authors. I and some authors came together and legally registered the first Literary Authors Cooperative in Nigeria. From that day, we have supported more than 100 authors to print their books. From book ideas, editing, proof reading, printing, promotion, official launch of the book, author branding and the business side of writing. We do everything through the Literary Authors Cooperative Multipurpose Society of Nigeria LiTACO.
In your view, why are books still relevant in an era dominated by social media and short-form digital content?
Books are still relevant because there are hidden treasures in books. Social media and short-form digital content are just ways to create promotion for books. We just have to create a balance. We need social media to create awareness that books are available to read. But they cannot replace printed books. Printed books are here to stay.
You often say that books build a person’s “mental operating system.” Can you elaborate on this philosophy?
Think of your brain like an operating system. It’s running code that determines how you see the world, make decisions, handle emotions, and learn new stuff. Books are software updates for that Operating System.
For example, books install new mental models; your default operating system comes with basic apps: instincts, habits, what you picked up from family. Books let you install frameworks from people who’ve spent decades thinking about specific problems. Do you want better decision making? Install “mental models” from Poor Charlie’s Almanack. Do you want to understand power and human behavior? Install The 48 Laws of Power. Do you want to update how you think about work? Install So Good They Can’t Ignore You. Suddenly, your operating system can process situations it couldn’t before. Books patch bugs in your thinking.
Everyone has cognitive bugs: confirmation bias, short-term thinking, over-confidence. Good books expose those bugs. Thinking, Fast and Slow” shows you the glitches in System thinking. “The Almanack of Naval Ravikant” patches your default assumptions about wealth and happiness. Books expand your memory and processing power.
Your operating system has limited RAM. You can’t hold everything in your head. Books act like external storage. You offload complex ideas to the page, then you can reference them later. Over time you build a library of concepts you can call up instantly. That’s why well-read people seem “wise” they’ve got more cached data.
Books change your default settings. Read enough philosophy and your operating system starts defaulting to first-principles thinking. Read enough history and your operating system stops overreacting to current events. Read enough fiction and your empathy drivers get upgraded.
The difference between someone who reads a lot and someone who doesn’t isn’t just is knowing more facts. It’s that they’re running a different, more capable operating system. You will begin to see possibilities with your inner mind and experience, possibilities in your life. It is a very serious work. But if you truly want to be happy and experience success in life, you need to motivate yourself to read books.
What role do books play in shaping leadership, entrepreneurship, and personal development?
Books are like teachers. They teach you how to lead, how to start things, and how to be better. Reading helps your brain grow big and smart. For individuals that want to lead, books expose them to ideas they wouldn’t encounter otherwise, letting them learn from centuries of successes and mistakes.
Books sharpen decision making by showing readers how others handled complex trade offs under pressure. For entrepreneurs, books compress learning time by mapping patterns in markets, risk, and team building. People who read books also build vocabulary and mental models that help founders explain their vision and persuade others.
On a personal level, books create self awareness by reflecting back habits, biases, and values you didn’t notice.. Regular reading trains focus and curiosity, two habits that drive long term growth. Over time, the mix of knowledge, perspective, and discipline from books shapes how you lead, build, and evolve.
Many young people say they do not enjoy reading. How can parents and educators make books more appealing to them?
Parents and educators should show young people how to enjoy reading books. Don’t just say, you must read rather you say when you read this book, it will help you to expand your horizon. We must encourage young people.
Your work has inspired countless authors. What motivates your commitment to helping other writers succeed?
I just love to support authors to see and experience possibilities. I hate to see authors struggle to get noticed. There are better ways to do things. To be seen, read and heard. Authors’ voices need to be heard. I feel it is my duty as a leader in the Nigerian literary community to teach, mentor and support authors to be heard because authors deserves the best.
What advice would you give to writers who have completed a manuscript but are unsure how to get it published?
A writer should have a unique voice, unique message, well edited manuscript and should build supportive relationships to make their dreams come true. They are free to find out how the Literary Authors Cooperative Multipurpose Society of Nigeria LiTACO can help them make their dreams come true. The real currency is teamwork.
Which book has had the greatest influence on your life, and why?
Books that have positive energies inspire me. Before I go to a bookstore or library to get a book, I know what my goal is for that day or that month. My choice of books depends on my goals. Honestly, I cannot just mention a particular book. Books that have positive energies inspire me. I can just mention a particular book.
What message would you like to leave for young Nigerians who dream of becoming authors, publishers, or literary entrepreneurs?
You want to be an author, publisher or literary entrepreneurs (authorpreneurs), Please have a unique voice, well edited manuscript, wow book covers, promote your message, believe in yourself, serve humanity, support authors to succeed and see only possibilities.
