ASABA/Nigeria: Harde Business School, a fast-rising EdTech platform, is positioning itself at the forefront of efforts to democratise access to quality education in Nigeria, leveraging technology to deliver flexible, skill-based training tailored to underserved populations.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, the Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Dami Oguntunde, said the initiative was conceived in response to a widening gap in access to structured learning, which he noted continues to drive unemployment and social instability.
According to him, more than 70 per cent of Nigerians remain outside formal learning systems, a reality that has far-reaching economic and security implications.
Oguntunde explained that the platform deploys a robust Learning Management System to deliver practical, job-ready skills in a flexible and accessible format.
“We asked ourselves how technology can be used to make education more flexible and immediately useful. That led us to build a system that delivers practical, job-ready skills,” he said.
He noted that Harde Business School offers courses in high-demand fields such as product management, UI/UX design, customer experience management and copywriting, alongside critical soft skills including emotional intelligence, leadership, communication and critical thinking.
The CEO added that the institution’s long-term ambition is to secure accreditation from the National Universities Commission and evolve into a fully licensed online university, comparable to global Massive Open Online Course platforms.
“In the immediate term, we are positioning ourselves as the go-to platform for professional development across Africa,” he said.
Providing insight into its impact, Oguntunde revealed that the platform has trained over 45,000 learners within four years, issuing thousands of certificates and maintaining completion rates above industry benchmarks, driven by its interactive and gamified learning approach.
He disclosed that a significant number of graduates have secured employment shortly after completing their programmes.
The institution also recently launched a free Entry-Level Professional Course aimed at equipping young professionals with foundational workplace competencies.
“The programme, which covers personal effectiveness, effective communication, critical thinking and AI workflows, has already attracted nearly 500 applicants ahead of its commencement.
“We intend to admit between 200 and 250 participants for the four-week programme. Top-performing candidates will be connected to internship and entry-level job opportunities within our partner network,” he said.
Oguntunde explained that although the programme costs about N100,000 per participant, it is currently offered at no cost, with the institution seeking sponsorship support from individuals and corporate organisations.
Beyond its core training mandate, the school is also engaged in community development initiatives, including a recent collaboration with participants to renovate and repaint a public school in Ogudu, Lagos.
He further disclosed that the organisation received a $100,000 equity-free grant in 2024 from the Mastercard Foundation, in partnership with Co-Creation Hub, after emerging among top EdTech startups selected from thousands of applicants.
Tracing the organisation’s roots, Oguntunde said it was co-founded with a former colleague from Obafemi Awolowo University, noting that the venture was built from the ground up through bootstrapping and strategic system development.
“We started from scratch, focusing on building strong systems before scaling marketing and partnerships,” he said.
He added that the platform has continued to collaborate with industry professionals and creatives to expand its course offerings across multiple sectors.
According to the institution, its mission transcends profit-making, with a strong emphasis on driving social impact through education and human capital development in Nigeria and across Africa.
