Impact — Gbadega Adedapo

African Publishing Innovation Fund

$1M+ Transforming African Publishing

The African Publishing Innovation Fund (APIF) was born from a specific critique: "many African publishing events fail to lead to tangible outcomes." Gbadega's response was to ensure the Lagos Seminar produced not just talk, but a funded action plan. The result was a first-of-its-kind partnership between the IPA and Dubai Cares.

APIF has now completed 3 grant cycles, each with a different thematic focus:

Cycle 1: Indigenous Publishing

Funding innovations that promote publishing in African languages and by African authors for African audiences.

Cycle 2: Online Learning

Supporting digital learning innovations during and after COVID-19. 5 projects across Africa received $170,000 in 2021.

Cycle 3: Accessible Books

Increasing accessible books for the visually impaired. Partnership with DAISY Consortium for technical training in accessible publishing.

Applications from 18+ Countries

Proposals received from across the continent, demonstrating the vast unmet need for publishing innovation funding.

Key Partners

Dubai Cares — Primary funder ($1M+) International Publishers Association — Administrator DAISY Consortium — Accessible publishing training partner World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) — Marrakesh Treaty implementation Kalimat Foundation (UAE) — Ara programme for accessible content

EdTech Impact

Accessible Studybase

Reshaping Teaching & Learning in Nigeria

Accessible Studybase is not just a platform — it's a complete ecosystem for Nigerian education. Designed to work with or without teacher supervision, it addresses the reality that many Nigerian schools face teacher shortages, resource gaps, and administrative burdens.

Platform Capabilities

Exam Preparation

BECE, NECO, and WAEC examination prep with or without teacher supervision. Students can study independently.

Question Bank

Robust question bank for revisions, assignments, tests, and practical exercises across all subjects.

Automated Marking

Instant assessment feedback — reducing teacher workload and giving students immediate results.

NERDC-Compliant Content

All content aligned with Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council curriculum standards.

Virtual Teaching Series

Complete video lessons for all subjects in approved textbooks. "Where there is no teacher, we have got you covered."

School Administration

Enrollment, profiling, attendance, timetabling, online payments — all in one platform.

The AI Evolution (2025)

The iBook integrates curriculum-approved Nigerian textbook content with advanced AI features, enabling students and teachers to access notes, videos, assessments, and revision tools anytime — whether in the classroom or at home. This is Nigeria's first AI-powered digital textbook.

Industry Transformation

Reshaping a $3 Billion Industry

Gbadega's impact extends beyond his own companies. As NPA President and IPA Executive Committee member, he has shaped policy, changed mindsets, and built infrastructure for the entire Nigerian and African publishing ecosystem.

Digital Transformation

Championed digital reading when most African publishers resisted. Called it "a campaign of acceptability" in 2019 — years before COVID forced the industry online.

Data Infrastructure

Partnered with Nielsen Book Research to create the first publishing data system for Africa. Before this, no reliable data existed on the industry.

Copyright Reform

Worked with Nigerian Copyright Commission (DG John Asein) on making copyright frameworks fit for the digital era. Town hall meetings, stakeholder engagement.

Pan-African Collaboration

Built formal partnerships (MOUs) between publishers across 7+ African countries through the Action Plan Committee. Before this, most operated in isolation.

International Recognition

Put Nigerian publishing on the global stage. The IPA — founded in 1896 — had never held a dedicated African seminar until Gbadega made it happen in 2018.

Next Generation

Through Accessible Publishers' blog and educational content, actively mentors on learning styles, emotional intelligence, bullying prevention, and student development.

Historical Context

Why This Matters

Before Gbadega's interventions, African publishing faced systemic challenges with no coordinated response:

Before 2018

No dedicated IPA engagement with Africa since the 29th Congress in Cape Town (2012). African publishers were largely disconnected from global industry conversations.

After 2018

Two landmark seminars, $1M+ in funding, formal partnerships across 7 countries, a continental action plan, and Africa firmly on the IPA's permanent agenda.

Before Accessible Publishers

Most Nigerian educational content existed only in print. No integrated EdTech platform combined teaching, administration, and assessment for Nigerian schools.

After Accessible Publishers

Nigeria's first AI-powered textbook. A comprehensive school management platform. Content in 7 formats including braille and audio. Inclusive education as a business model.

"Not since the 29th International Publishers Association Congress, held in 2012, has there been a more important international event that focuses on the significant progress the African publishing industry is making."

— Gbadega Adedapo, announcing the IPA Lagos Seminar (Punch Nigeria, 2018)