Lagos, Nigeria — Harde Business School (HBS), an emerging EdTech platform, has intensified efforts to close Nigeria’s widening education gap by delivering flexible, technology-driven, skill-based training aimed at underserved populations.
The Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dami Oguntunde, disclosed this during a courtesy visit by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to the institution in Lagos.
Oguntunde revealed that more than 70 per cent of Nigerians lack access to structured learning opportunities, a deficit he said continues to drive unemployment, insecurity and social instability across the country.
He explained that HBS leverages digital transformation through its Learning Management System to provide accessible and practical education tailored to current labour market demands.
“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.
The platform offers courses in high-demand fields such as product management, UI/UX design, customer experience management and copywriting, alongside essential soft skills including emotional intelligence, critical thinking, leadership and communication.
Oguntunde said the institution aims to secure accreditation from the National Universities Commission as part of its long-term vision to 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 added.
According to the school, it has trained over 45,000 learners in four years, issuing thousands of certificates and maintaining completion rates above industry averages through interactive and gamified learning approaches. Many graduates, he noted, have secured employment shortly after completing their courses.
As part of its expansion strategy, HBS recently introduced a free Entry-Level Professional Course designed to equip young professionals with workplace skills. The programme, which has already attracted nearly 500 applicants, will admit between 200 and 250 participants for a four-week training cycle.
Top-performing participants will be linked to internship and entry-level job opportunities through the institution’s partner network.
Although the programme costs approximately N100,000 per participant, it is currently offered free, with the school seeking sponsorship support from individuals and organisations.
Beyond education, HBS is also driving community impact. The institution recently partnered with participants to renovate and repaint a public school in Ogudu, Lagos.
Oguntunde 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 as one of the top EdTech startups from thousands of applicants.
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He noted that the company was co-founded with a former colleague from Obafemi Awolowo University, adding that the founders bootstrapped operations while focusing on building sustainable systems before scaling.
The institution emphasised that its mission extends beyond profitability, focusing on driving social impact through education and human capital development in Nigeria and across Africa.
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