THE BACKGROUND

A young man and a lady who attended the same youth group in Lagos got married in 1997. The couple are avid book readers who invest a lot in acquiring books on their diverse interests. Then in 2003 the couple decided to give back and encourage the next generation by donating all their books to the same youth group to set up a library for its members. Three years after, the couple visited the youth group and inspected their library. Most of the library books were worn because of frequent use and surprisingly the books they donated constituted 80% of the library items. Though the members of the youth group were eager to read more books, they simply couldn’t afford to purchase new stock of library books. This is a common incident in Nigeria and other developing countries.

In a recent World Bank report, the university graduates in Nigeria are found to be generally lacking in Information and Technology (IT) skills, team qualities (too competitive), innovative and creative thinking, communication skills (both written and verbal) and numeracy skills. In effect, most graduates of Nigeria universities are neither employable nor qualified to compete in the global economic arena. Employers are frustrated and most are now unwilling to invest huge resources in training employees to first attain the minimum skills required. Such basic investment is considered a waste in an environment with high staff turnover. Also, most Nigeria university graduates are visceral with inadequate intellectual knowledge and practical experience of work-place realities. Their entrepreneurship and leadership skills are not enough to either attract professional mentors or investors.

Essentially, there is need for a corporate organisation to provide a customized solution for self knowledge that will augment the formal educational system and address the frustrations of most youths, the workforce, employers and the government.

THE COMPANY

Hardcover Books and Library Services Limited is the first private sector incorporated full scale library services in Nigeria. With head office in Lagos, Hardcover Books and Library Services Limited is a subscription-based, web-enabled, one-stop library and bookshop.

The company’s vision is to raise a workforce that can compete favourably in the global arena. We supply our members with a buffet of books in line with our mission, which is to provide internationally current and affordable reading materials to Nigeria's youth and workforce. With over 2000 titles and 200 authors, you have all the books you need in one place. Our web-based interactive catalogue allows you to review all the titles in the various categories and also allows you to borrow books to read.

While the 20th century was driven by Industrialization, this 21st century is Knowledge-base driven. For developing countries, Hardcover is set to demonstrate that Knowledge brings Illumination and Illumination leads to Power and improved society. In his book, Weekend Millionaire Mindset, Mike Summey said "If you will read an hour a day about something you know nothing about, within five years you will be amazed at the impact it will have on your life". Hardcover is here to enable you transcend from Knowledge to Power.

...Knowledge Illumination Power