E-library launches in Africa to connect students

© Adam Radosavljevic – 123RF.com

The project, Panacea e-library, became one of the 1,000 business ideas picked by Accenture for the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme (TEEP) 2016 from over 45,000 entries from all over Africa.

“The product, which has been in the works for more than 15 months, is like Uber for books with the added benefits of knowledge sharing/real life collaboration with other scholars, book lovers and life-long learners without the limitations of time and space,” explains Philip Amiola, co-founder and chief operating officer of e86 Limited, a Nigerian software development firm. “Earlier this month, we opened our platform to the first set of users and we are now set to go full scale.

“By sharing, instead of owning, we can enjoy lower costs, instant access and flexibility while maximising under-utilised assets and reducing the burden on our planet. Everyone can use what they need without having to own it.”

“Apart from dearth of facilities, outdated curriculums and lack of instructional materials have made it very challenging for learners in developing nations to exhibit creativity and innovation like their counterparts in other climes.

“As much as privileged students have leveraged the internet to bridge that gap, we still have the issues of relevance, accessibility and affordability to grapple with. Learners often have to sieve through a huge pile of materials or cough up a small fortune to get what they need and, even when they eventually do, adapting it to the local context presents another challenge. Panacea e-library aims to solve this dilemma.”

Through a web app and mobile app that provides access to a wide range of books, journals and other materials, e86 Limited seeks to democratise access to quality learning resources. Panacea e-library combines the flexibility of e-learning with the immersive experience of book clubs and connecting with study mates based on location and interests.

Readers and content providers can create free accounts at www.panaceahub.ng. The top-priced membership is under R200 per month.