Sub-Saharan Africa stands out with the highest rates of education exclusion among the six developing world regions, as noted by the World Bank.
This concerning trend has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting a rapid uptake of new educational technologies across the continent.
Amidst this backdrop, the EdTech industry has witnessed significant growth, with its value soaring to $106.46 billion in 2021. Projections indicate a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.1% by 2026, culminating in an estimated value of $457.8 billion.
Within Nigeria, the burgeoning e-learning sector is poised to reach $107.90 million by the close of 2024, presenting a lucrative opportunity for private investors to explore.
However, Nigeria’s education landscape is marked by stark disparities in quality, particularly between urban and rural areas. Urban schools enjoy superior infrastructure, well-trained educators, and ample resources, leaving their rural counterparts at a disadvantage.
Compounding these challenges is the issue of insufficient funding and resource mismanagement, hampering the education system’s ability to cater to the needs of its burgeoning population.
Despite financial constraints, several EdTech startups have persevered in their mission to bridge the education gap, expanding their reach to underserved areas. Some have successfully secured substantial investments exceeding $100,000, showing investor confidence in the sector’s potential.
Behind the success of these ventures are chief executives who guide their companies towards the mission of democratizing education. These leaders play a pivotal role in driving innovation and addressing the pressing needs within Nigeria’s educational sector.
Ojiugo Uche, co-founder and CEO of Genti Media, has a versatile professional background across diverse sectors, encompassing consulting, research, education, and human rights advocacy. Her tenure in organizations such as BudgIT Nigeria and McKinsey & Company, where she held significant roles including Head of Research and Business Analyst respectively, bestowed upon her invaluable expertise in data analysis, project management, and research methodology.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Uche champions education and cultural preservation, exemplified by her authorship of “Koyon Turanci da C’lela.”
Genti Media, launched in 2021, and headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, operates as an audio media platform specializing in African audio content, offering a diverse array of stories, dramas, and educational materials in various African languages.
Bolstered by seed capital of $230,000 Genti Media thrives in the incubator/accelerator stage, poised for further growth and innovation in its mission to amplify African voices. Investors of Genti Media include the CcHub Mastercard Foundation Ed-Tech Fellowship Program.
Ugochukwu is the CEO and founder of 9jacodekids. A graduate of Electrical/Electronic Engineering with a master’s degree in Computer Network Administration and Management from the University of Portsmouth, Ugochukwu founded the company in 2016.
9jacodekids Academy is Nigeria’s leading STEM education institute providing coding and robotics programs for kids aged 4 to 16 years. 9jacodekids Academy offers STEM education, specializing in coding and robotics programs tailored for children aged 4 to 16.
Since its establishment in 2016, it has instructed over 5000 students, both locally and internationally, in fundamental coding competencies encompassing web design, mobile app design, game design, robotics, and artificial intelligence
In April 2022, it secured a significant seed investment totalling $350,000, marking a pivotal moment in its journey. The seed round was funded by Bolaji Balogun, as part of the Ultima Lions’ Den Season 2 reality TV show.
Eyitayo Ogunmola is the CEO and founder of Utiva, a tech-driven virtual environment that enables people to learn advanced tech skills and move into new jobs in tech founded in 2018.
He has served as a Lead Partner at FliT Inc. Additionally, Eyitayo has contributed his expertise as an Advisory Board Member at Zummit Africa and as a Community Fellow at Facebook, where he received funding to scale Utiva’s operations across new cities. Before his current roles, Eyitayo held positions at prestigious organizations such as Creative Associates International and Acceltage Consulting.
It has served over 110,000 Alumni from 30 cities, 300 coaches and mentors, and over 500 hiring partners.
Utiva raised $500,000 in funding to scale up and develop FLiT into a Pan-African digital apprenticeship programme for young Africans- from the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Challenge Fund for Youth Employment (CFYE).
Dimeji Falana is the co-founder and CEO of EDVES, an Education tech startup founded in 2016.
Falana is a tech entrepreneur with a background in Computer Science and Business Administration from the University of Chester. With over a decade of experience in software and digital innovation development, he has served as a trainer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) AITI Summer program, where he imparted his knowledge to aspiring tech enthusiasts.
In 2018, the startup bagged the Best Edtech Prize in Switzerland, awarded by Seedstars, with a grant totalling $50,000 generously funded by the Jacobs Foundation.
It raised an additional investment of $120,000 from Chinook Capital and GC Fund CChub. In 2021, EDVES received a substantial seed investment of $575,000.
As a full-featured school management software that automates all K-12 school processes to enhance education, EDVES has raised a total of$766,500 in seed funding.
Sam Emmanuel is the CEO of Semicolon Africa, a tech-enabled educational startup founded in 2018 and based in Lagos, Nigeria.
Before his role at Semicolon Africa, Emmanuel was a Client Partner at Teradata in the Greater Detroit Area from August 2016 to September 2018. From January 2014 to December 2015, he worked as a Sales Manager at SAP in the EMEA region.
As a Middleware Territory Sales Manager at Oracle from 2012 to 2014, Emmanuel managed and optimized the sale of Fusion Middleware to clientele within the financial services, telecom, oil & gas, and public sectors.
Semicolon is a Nigerian EdTech startup which offers Professional Training and Coaching services. It raised a seed round of $1.2 million in funding from Angel and VC such as Launch Africa’s Zachariah and Janade Du Plessis, as well as Cosonance Investment Manager.
