Isaac Oladipupo, the CEO of Afrilearn, co-founded the edtech startup with Gabriel Olatunji-Legend in 2019 with a bold vision: to provide affordable, world-class education for Africans anywhere.



For millions of children and young people in Africa, access to quality education is often limited by factors such as poverty, conflict, distance, and lack of infrastructure. To address this challenge, Afrilearn CEO, Isaac Oladipupo and co-founder Gabriel Olatunji-Legend drew inspiration from their own experiences to create something innovative.



According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), 98 million children in sub-Saharan Africa are out of school, and many more are enrolled in schools that fail to provide them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in life.



Revolutionizing education in Africa with a gamified learn-and-earn feature, Afrilearn provides curriculum-relevant class notes, exam practice, animated video lessons, and a personalized learning dashboard that enable elementary and high school students (ages 6-18) to study easily and “achieve exam success in a single sitting”.



The inspiration behind Afrilearn came from the founders’ personal experiences of the educational challenges faced by students in Nigeria and across Africa.



“Imagine a world where every child, no matter their background or location, has full access to quality education and the tools to prepare them for lifelong success. That vision is what inspired the birth of Afrilearn,” Oladipupo tells FORBES AFRICA.



“When my exceptional co-founder Gabriel Olatunji-Legend and I struck out to build Afrilearn in 2019, we observed that for most young Africans, quality education is largely unaffordable, inaccessible and boring. Having personally witnessed the severe educational challenges faced by students in Nigeria and across Africa, resulting in high level of illiteracy, poor school grades, and failed dreams – we recognized the need for an urgent solution. We realized that technology offered the best opportunity to solve this challenge for generations to come, and Afrilearn was created to bridge this gap,&#8221; says Oladipupo.



One of the unique features of Afrilearn is that it offers both free and subscription-based accounts for its users. This means that students can access most of the platform’s content without paying anything.



However, if they want to enjoy exclusive benefits such as downloadable class notes, instant homework help with detailed explanations, coding lessons, live classes, personalized learning plans and much more, they can opt for a paid subscription.



“Our commitment to inclusivity led us to introduce free accounts, ensuring that no child is left behind due to financial constraints. Today, Afrilearn is widely renowned as the free, fun and effective app for the best school grades, uniting learners from top private schools, public schools, underserved communities, and even homeschoolers. We have evolved into a driving force for educational equity, turning learning into a joyful journey and transforming lives one lesson at a time.



“Revenue generated from subscriptions helps us continuously improve and expand our offerings, ensuring that Afrilearn remains a sustainable and impactful platform,” says Oladipupo.



Support from notable organizations, including United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the African Union (AU) and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, has enabled Afrilearn to further develop its content library, ensuring that it aligns with the national curricula and meets the highest educational standards globally.



“It has facilitated partnerships with schools and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), enabling us to reach even more students in need,” says Oladipupo.



He adds: “Beyond financial assistance, the backing of these organizations has also bolstered our credibility and reputation, attracting more educators and experts to collaborate with us. This network effect has elevated Afrilearn’s influence in the education sector, amplifying our mission to provide free, world-class education for Africans, anywhere.”



However, more support is needed to introduce more advanced courses and specialized subjects to cater to the diverse interests and career aspirations of students globally.



Oladipupo envisions the platform’s role in shaping the future of learning: “Every child deserves the opportunity to experience Afrilearn and our ultimate goal is to serve the world. We will continue to expand our content library, covering a broader range of subjects and topics.



“To this end, we are actively seeking collaborations and partnerships with educational institutions, governments, and organizations. Through strategic alliances, we aim to reach more students and expand our impact on the education sector. We envision a future where access to quality education is no longer a privilege but a fundamental right for every child.”



Oladipupo recalls with fond memories, some success stories of users, including students, teachers and parents: “I remember Adeola, who cleared her West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in one sitting and is now pursuing her dream of becoming a software developer. A teacher, Abdullahi, shared with us how he experienced improved classroom engagement and student performance after using Afrilearn’s resources. The Osagie family, homeschooling their children, consider our platform a valuable educational partner tailored to each child’s learning needs,” he says.



“The joy and transformation we witness in the lives of students, teachers, and parents motivate us to push the boundaries of educational innovation further. Afrilearn’s impact extends beyond the classroom, empowering individuals to realize their full potential and become agents of positive change in their communities.”

Isaac Oladipupo; image credit Afrilearn 1

Beyond The Classroom: Nigerian Edtech Entrepreneur’s Aim ‘To Serve The World’

The best way to get corporate heavyweights in the same room is to host an event based on something close to their hearts—making money.
This is why investors from across South Africa flocked to the Michelangelo Hotel on September 14, for the Nigeria Business Opportunities Roadshow. The speakers, all dressed to the nines, wooed the crowd with words like ‘high returns’ and ‘economic growth’.
The roadshow was hosted by two Nigerian-based companies, AiQ Capital Management Limited and Detail. AiQ Capital offers financial and management advisory services as well as a hospitality and retail fund. Detail is a legal consulting firm specializing in cooperate and commercial law. It aids businesses in areas such as structuring partnerships, due diligence, as well as regulatory and corporate compliance.
According to Uzoma Nwankwo, CEO and MD of AiQ capital, Nigeria’s progressive economic climate is ripe for investors.
In 2011, Nigeria’s GDP was $247 billion with a growth of 7% driven by non-oil production. Industries including agriculture, manufacturing and services contributed to this growth. The Nigerian informal sector is the greatest employer of Nigeria’s workforce but is not reflected in GDP data.
“That is why you’ll find a street vendor with three children, two houses and a car, and wonder how he’s able to sustain his lifestyle when the country’s GDP per capita is $1,600,” says Nwankwo.
Almost all of Nigeria’s sectors need investment. The power sector may be one of the most needy, as production is dependent on it. Nigeria needs 10,000MW yet produces a mere 6,000MW.
The country loses $500 million annually to medical tourism as medical care is poor. Last year, 250,000 Nigerians traveled to India for medical care and each paid at least $30,000 on transportation, accommodation and hospital bills.
Then there’s the hotel industry. According to a biannual study by Hogg Robinson Group (HRG), hotels in Lagos are ranked as the second most expensive in the world; they charge an average of $341 per night, behind Moscow, Russia, where they charge $407. Debbie Peters, who heads the AiQ Capital Hospitality and Real Estate Fund, says that there is a desperate need for quality branded hotels in the middle market.
“The 20-year-old four star hotels are below international standards and charge very high rates,” she says.
“The middle class, roughly 40 million people, is the fastest growing market in Nigeria forming the biggest market for hotels,” says Peters.
According to the website howwemadeitinafrica.com, the risks involved in investing in Nigeria include: choice of partners, corruption, poor legal systems, difficult logistics, poor infrastructure and insufficient power to name a few. A common mistake investors make is partnering with corrupt people. Although it is vital to have a local partner for logistical reasons, local knowledge and market penetration, many potential partners claim to have connections in government, false credentials or undisclosed interests, which could affect one’s reputation.
On the upside there’s a population of 160 million people which has potential for a consumer boom. This year the country’s estimated GDP growth is 8%—placing it in the same league as India, China and Indonesia.
Investors at the Michelangelo Hotel appeared enthused by Nigeria. Patrick Katabua, from AfRES (African Real Estate Society), said that he had been to Nigeria and knows the need for affordable accommodation.
“There are so many overseas companies coming to invest in Africa. The potential in our countries is booming and if we do not invest we will lose out,” says Katabua.
Sandile Mabuza, CEO of Mbuza Capital &amp; Maika Holdings, was attracted to the possibility of high returns and is looking to invest in infrastructure and property. Mabuza’s main concern is the lack of strong institutions to protect investors.
The Nigerian minister of trade and investment, Olusegun Aganga, recently reported that 18 of the 20 countries he visited in the last year had shown interest in investing in the country. Among those countries were the United States and Japan. This gives testament to Vision 20:2020 made by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to make Nigeria one of the 20 largest economies in the world by 2020.
Whether one should invest or not isn’t the most significant question at this time. Rather ask how to go about investing, who to partner with and understand the risks involved. The ball is ultimately in your court.

Tag: Nigeria Business

FORBES AFRICA SOCIAL MEDIA

Beyond The Classroom: Nigerian Edtech Entrepreneur’s Aim ‘To Serve The World’

Nigeria: To Invest Or Not To Invest? That Is The Question