Nigerian ed-tech startup, ScholarX partners Airtel to launch learning platform
A week after winning the GSMA grant, Nigerian ed-tech startup, Scholar X has announced its partnership with Nigerian telecom operator, Airtel to launch LearnAM, a mobile learning platform that offers skills training content to improve learning outcomes for young Africans.
Founded by Bola Lawal, Damilola Emuze, and Maxwell Ogunfuyi in 2016, the ScholarX app allows users to select parameters and scroll through lists of available scholarships that match their requirements.
Last week, the GSMA selected ScholarX as one of the Grantees of the GSMA Innovation Fund for Mobile Internet Adoption and Digital Inclusion, and it will use the capital to fund key aspects of its project with Airtel, including platform development, content development, and sourcing, and early user adoption.
An earlier version of the LearnAM app has been developed on KaiOS and will be available on affordable “smart feature phones” with content in local dialects such as Pidgin English, Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba.
LearnAM provides audio and visual content to improve the digital and vocational skills of Africans so they can access decent work. it provides learning opportunities by utilizing a 360-degree approach, assessment to measure competency, and a marketplace that connects users to jobs, customers, and apprenticeship.
ScholarX plans to leverage the expansive retail and digital footprints of Airtel Nigeria to deliver its skills acquisition content.
Commenting on the partnership, CEO ScholarX, Bola Lawal explained that this partnership has put them on track to provide valuable skills to Africans.
“We are now able to embark on our quest to connect millions of unconnected people in Africa to the internet and help them get trained invaluable skills for the new digital economy”
He also added that they were committed to upskilling young Africans and improve their standard of living through tech skills acquisition.
Aside from winning the GSMA Grant, Scholar X has secured pre-seed funding and has participated in a host of accelerators over the last few years, including the Cape Town-based ed-tech incubator, Injini, and the Google Launchpad Africa Accelerator.