While e-learning programmes in African Universities may be faced with challenges, it is important to point out that even universities in other parts of the world are faced with difficulties when implementing the same programmes. For example, in Digital Hemlock: Internet Education and the Poisoning of Teaching, the author observed that in 2000, $483 million was spent on companies building courses for the educational market. By 2002, the amount spent on building online material for commercial purposes reduced to US$17 million. This means that African universities must conduct needs assessment before designing and launching e-learning programmes.