A Nigerian student, Samuel Johnson, has launched a virtual learning platform called Etude, aimed at boosting digital education. The platform was developed with the support of a N50 million grant from the federal government's Students Venture Capital Grant (S-VCG). Johnson, a postgraduate student at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), was among the selected winners of the grant after pitching his idea. The S-VCG initiative provides equity-free funding to student-led ventures.
Johnson's company, WalterSam Technologies, developed the Etude platform with 28 staff. The platform provides structured learning, offering users access to tutorial videos and Computer-Based Examinations (CBT). According to Johnson, the platform is designed to support students, not replace the existing education system. The Minister of Education, Dr. Moruf Alausa, commended Johnson, describing the innovation as part of the federal government's drive to boost entrepreneurial spirit among students.
The Minister of Education was represented by Senior Special Assistant, Adebayo Onigbanjo, at the launch event. Onigbanjo stated that the federal government has established a pipeline to identify student innovators who will build Nigeria's future. The Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, emphasized the importance of embracing entrepreneurship. He urged emerging innovators to believe in their ideas and transform them into solutions for citizens.
Professor Ogundipe noted that entrepreneurship education serves as a pipeline to wealth creation and reducing unemployment. The Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, stated that the launch of Etude represents an opportunity. She highlighted that the world is changing rapidly, with technology transforming industries, redefining workplaces, and changing how people communicate and access information.
Professor Ogunsola emphasized the need for young people to be prepared for the future, considering the impact of artificial intelligence. The Executive Director of the University of Lagos Business School, Prof. Sunday Adebisi, narrated Johnson's journey as a student. Adebisi said Johnson began working on the project when he was in his 200-level.
Adebisi described Etude as an educational platform that provides virtual learning, aiming to improve learning outcomes and boost academic excellence. The platform is expected to support students in achieving academic success. Johnson's achievement is seen as a success story for the S-VCG initiative.
The launch of Etude has been hailed as a significant development in Nigeria's education sector. The platform is expected to contribute to the country's efforts to improve digital education and entrepreneurial spirit among students. Key stakeholders have commended Johnson and the federal government for supporting innovative initiatives.
Key points
- The federal government's N50 million grant enabled a Nigerian student to launch a virtual learning platform called Etude.
- The platform aims to improve learning outcomes and boost academic excellence through structured learning and Computer-Based Examinations.
- The initiative supports the government's drive to boost entrepreneurial spirit among students and promote digital education.
