Paul Eze, the co-founder and CEO at Afribary, is at the forefront of a transformative movement in education. Afribary, known as Africa’s fastest-growing online library, is pioneering the digitisation of education and academic resources across the continent. In this exclusive interview with Vanguard, Paul discussed how Afribary is revolutionising learning in Africa by addressing the critical gap in educational resources and the transformative roles of similar digital products.

What role does technology play in shaping the future of education in Africa?

Technology will play a significant role in shaping the future of education in Africa. It will democratise access to learning, making it easier and more personalised for young Africans. With digitisation and online learning, technology will empower students to access more relevant knowledge and take advantage of opportunities for personalised learning.

What motivated you to co-found Afribary, and how has it grown to become the fastest-growing online library in Africa?

As a student at a Nigerian university, I experienced firsthand the frustration of the low availability of valuable academic resources for study and research. Much of the academic work and output from African universities remains offline, with studies indicating a mere 5 percent digitisation rate in Africa’s higher education system. This motivated me to co-found Afribary, aiming to combat this issue by providing a platform for digitising and sharing academic resources.

To facilitate its rapid growth, we collaborated with numerous individuals and organisations, leveraging various digital channels to reach people and encourage them to contribute their work to the library.

Can you share some insights into the digital repository platform that Afribary provides for higher education institutions in Africa?

Afribary offers a digital repository platform tailored for higher education institutions in Africa. Many African universities rely on free, open-source repositories that come with various challenges: they can be user-unfriendly, technologically cumbersome, lack SEO optimisation, and fail to meet the elegant standards required by university libraries.

To address these issues, Afribary developed an online repository platform specifically designed for universities. This platform is not only easy to use but also highly user-friendly. It’s designed to be flexible enough to host millions of research and study materials for each university. 

Also, with Afribary’s repository platform, all academic content essential for students and staff can be digitised, uploaded, and easily accessed through clear categories, ensuring seamless accessibility for all users.

How do you see Afribary contributing to the advancement of digital education in Africa in the coming years?

Our focus is to enhance discovery and access. Without access, education remains hampered in Africa. Our major focus is to build and strengthen online platforms that drive access to educational resources across Africa.

As a co-founder of Boolean, how do you approach the development of consumer internet and digital products for African markets?

Our core approach is to look for areas of market opportunity and demand. We don’t build and hope they come. We actively research and look at different market needs, identify sectors with significant market potential and decide which digital products to build for that market.

Can you share an experience of how a digital product you’ve worked on has positively impacted people’s lives in Africa?

One project close to my heart is Ngcareers, an online job site tailored to the Nigerian market. It’s been incredibly rewarding to witness how it facilitated job seekers in Nigeria to connect with employment opportunities. Another impactful venture was CVHack, a CV builder tool. We’ve had thousands of users leverage it to enhance their CVs, aiding them in their job search journey. Lastly, Remote4Africa was a project aimed at providing Africans with access to remote work opportunities, thereby broadening their career horizons. These initiatives have collectively touched the lives of millions across Africa, helping them navigate the job market more effectively.

Can you share the story behind Ngcareers and how it grew to become one of Nigeria’s largest job platforms?

Ngcareers began in 2013 when the internet was just gaining traction in Nigeria’s major cities. At the time, job seekers relied heavily on print newspapers, which featured job ads with email or physical submission options. 

Ngcareers emerged as an online platform to aggregate and list these jobs, simplifying the application process. We achieved this without external funding, concentrating on job aggregation and strong SEO strategies. This approach led Ngcareers to become one of Nigeria’s most popular job sites.

What is unique about Biometary and how is it revolutionising student identification in higher education institutions in Nigeria?

Biometary is unique because it is the first biometric system for student identification in Nigeria. The use case is very clear as most Universities barely have accurate data on their student population. Biometary aims to take student identification from offline to digital. 

This innovative system ensures that critical student information, such as personal data, course details, exam records, and fee payments, is easily verifiable online. By addressing challenges like impersonation and fee payment evasion, Biometary also promises to eliminate racketeering and establish a dependable student database for universities to verify students’ status effortlessly.

How does the partnership between Boolean and Michael Okpara University to implement the first student biometric system for universities in Nigeria work?

Our partnership with Michael Okpara University aims to implement and manage a biometric system for a specified period. We will also provide training to staff on how to effectively utilise the system.

How do you think the tech industry in Africa can continue to grow and innovate in the coming years?

To foster continued growth and innovation in Africa’s tech industry, several key actions must be taken. First, there should be a continued focus on infrastructure development to support digital initiatives. Second, investing in education at all levels is crucial to developing a skilled workforce.

Finally, policymakers need to implement policies that attract capital and create a conducive environment for tech companies to thrive. These steps will help sustain the momentum of growth and innovation in Africa’s tech sector.

In your opinion, what role does technology play in bridging local and international opportunities for Africans?

Technology serves as a leveller, especially for Africans seeking to tap into both local and global opportunities. It’s a game-changer that can empower any young African with boundless potential. That’s why I advocate for a concerted effort from African governments to prioritise education and digital literacy, alongside infrastructure development. 

When these fundamentals are in place, it opens doors for young Africans to explore a myriad of opportunities. Africa is undoubtedly the next frontier, and with the right investments in technology, we can seamlessly bridge the gap between local talent and international opportunities.

What advice would you give to aspiring tech entrepreneurs looking to make a difference in Africa?

To aspiring tech entrepreneurs eyeing Africa, I would suggest two key strategies. Firstly, focus on generating revenue and ideally turning a profit from the outset. In the African market, you might not receive the same benefits of doubt as entrepreneurs in more developed regions. Secondly, pinpoint a substantial market or problem, then tailor your business to address it directly. Rather than creating a product and scrambling to find customers afterwards, identify a pressing need and craft your solution around it. Don’t build something and then start looking for customers.