Startups often emerge from a powerful vision-some aim to transform the world, while others seek to transform individuals. Axia Africa embodies both ambitions.
As an education technology enterprise, Axia Africa is dedicated to empowering Africans with practical skills that enhance their employability. The company was founded to address the persistent talent shortage hindering Africa’s technology sector.
Olawale Samuel began by sharing design tutorials with his social media audience, which gradually evolved into a comprehensive edtech platform serving thousands of learners. However, this path was fraught with obstacles.
In this installment of Day 1-1000, Samuel recounts how Axia Africa grew from a modest 45-student startup to hosting the continent’s largest tech bootcamp.
Here is the Axia Africa story, as shared with TechCabal.
Day 1: Transitioning from Music Instructor to Tech Educator
My passion has always been about making a positive impact on people’s lives, not limited to technology. At one point, I taught music and instrument skills. When I launched Axia Africa, my initial goal was simply to educate a small group of individuals. I started by offering free lessons in product design.
After several months, someone offered to pay me for my teaching, which was a turning point. It became clear that many learners were interested not only in product design but also in other tech disciplines such as software development and data analysis.
My co-founder, a developer, and I connected on X (formerly Twitter). We organized a free bootcamp and invited volunteers to teach. Once the bootcamp concluded, we formalized the program and invited those volunteers to become our first paid mentors.
Day 300: Growing from 45 Students to a Cohort of 4,000
Before Axia Africa gained recognition, we endured a challenging phase. Despite our efforts, student enrollment was low-sometimes as few as 45 per session. It was disheartening. I even had to divert my rent money to pay my team’s salaries. Without external funding, those early days were tough.
The turning point came when we enrolled our first 300 students. Word of mouth on X rapidly amplified our reach. Now, if anyone requests testimonials, I simply direct them to search for Axia Africa on X, where countless students share their experiences. Our cohorts expanded from 300 to 1,000, then 2,000, and currently exceed 4,000 students in a single session.
We proudly hold two major milestones: hosting Africa’s largest bootcamp with 20,000 participants from 82 countries, and enrolling the highest number of students in one cohort at 4,000.
Looking back, the early struggles feel like a distant memory compared to our current scale.
Day 500: Understanding and Addressing Core Challenges
Building solutions for Africa taught me a vital lesson: genuine passion for Africans is essential. You must empathize with their realities, especially financial constraints. If our programs aren’t affordable, we fail our mission.
We also realized that teaching skills alone wasn’t sufficient; learners needed to be fully prepared for employment. To bridge this gap, we introduced a five-month internship following the initial five-month training. This hands-on experience teaches students workplace dynamics, teamwork, and deadline management, making them truly job-ready.
Additionally, Axia Africa became accredited by the American Council of Training and Development (ACTD), a US-based body. This accreditation validates our certifications internationally, enhancing our students’ competitiveness in the global job market.
Day 1000: Cultivating Africa’s Next Generation of Innovators
Our vision is to nurture African talent that not only seeks employment but aspires to create meaningful change. I want to see startups founded and led by our graduates, driving innovation across the continent.
One exciting goal is to establish local instructors throughout Africa. This goes beyond language-it’s about having educators who understand regional cultures and challenges, fostering deeper connections and more effective learning.
This journey has demanded sacrifices-my personal stability, sleep, and savings have all been tested. Yet, every time I receive a message from a student celebrating their first job offer, I know the effort is worthwhile. Through this approach, we aim to ignite Africa’s next tech revolution, built by Africans for the world.
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