The West African Elibrary Collaborative (WAELC) project tackles African scholars’
limited access to academic electronic libraries. Limited access to international research databases is a persistent problem for scholars at West African universities. West African lecturers, professors, doctors, scientists, and administrators struggle with sporadic internet access and limited eLibrary databases, which hinder their research. Daily, West African researchers navigate restricted content in international open-access digital databases and journals. Researchers are often denied access to academic online journals because they cannot afford an electronic journal subscription or because their IP addresses are blocked. These researchers are blocked from eLibraries with substantial information that, in theory, should be accessible to all researchers, not just those in the West. The research contributions of West Africans in higher education are viewed as central to the goal of infrastructure development in West Africa. Thus, university faculty and staff require comprehensive, up-to-date online databases to further their work and contribute to the development of their respective nations. Improved access to eLibraries will enhance their knowledge and reinforce the development of African countries and global information exchange. For example, since health epidemics like the Ebola outbreak, SARS-CoV-2 (COVID), and other deadly viruses, there has been an increased emphasis on improving health care systems in African countries. The eLibrary will allow medical personnel to get the latest updates from the WHO, CDC, and other medical centers, improve access to information, and promote global knowledge exchange.