Adewale Yusuf has stepped down as CEO of Nigerian edtech company AltSchool Africa after five years leading the business he co-founded in 2021. Fellow co-founder Sultan Akintunde has taken over with immediate effect, keeping the company's leadership within its founding team. The transition comes as AltSchool looks beyond professional skills training toward university-linked degree opportunities.
Leadership Transition
Yusuf established AltSchool Africa alongside Akintunde and Opeyemi Awoyemi to address gaps in practical, employment-focused education. Although leaving daily executive management, he will remain involved in a leadership capacity while spending more time with his family in the United States. His departure represents a change in operational responsibilities rather than a complete exit from the company.
Akintunde has helped shape AltSchool since its inception and now assumes responsibility for the business's next development phase. His appointment provides continuity as the company pursues new academic partnerships and expands the range of qualifications available to learners. The handover also coincides with a shift toward improving the experience and outcomes of people already using the platform.
Five Years of Growth
Launched in 2021, AltSchool initially focused on equipping students with technical skills relevant to the digital economy. Its curriculum later expanded beyond software engineering into data, business, product development and creative disciplines, reflecting demand for a wider range of professional capabilities. Online delivery has enabled the company to reach learners across multiple African markets and beyond.
AltSchool Africa has attracted more than 200,000 users, according to reports published alongside the leadership announcement. The company has also raised growth capital, including a $1 million pre-seed round in 2022 and a further $3 million funding round in 2023. Its geographic development has included expansion in Kenya alongside its Nigerian operations.
University Degree Pathways
One of the main initiatives under Akintunde's leadership is Degree, a program linking AltSchool's alternative learning model with formal university qualifications. The initiative works through academic partnerships intended to provide routes from skills-based education into recognized degree programs. It reflects the company's ambition to combine career-relevant instruction with credentials that can support further study and professional advancement.
Reported academic partners include the American Open University in Nigeria and Tomorrow University in Germany, with subjects including cybersecurity and information technology. These arrangements are designed to make university qualifications more accessible to students who may prefer flexible study options. Admission requirements, fees and recognition of prior learning will depend on the specific university and program.
Focus on Learner Outcomes
Akintunde has indicated that AltSchool's next phase will emphasize greater value for existing users instead of primarily pursuing higher enrollment numbers. This direction puts more attention on the relevance of courses, educational progression and the practical benefits students receive. Degree pathways could be central to that approach by connecting vocational skills with academic qualifications.
The expansion also introduces operational challenges involving affordability, student support and the transition between AltSchool courses and university programs. Successful delivery will require clear academic requirements and close coordination with partner institutions, particularly where credit transfers are involved. How effectively these pathways function will influence the company's ability to deliver its broader educational ambitions.
Yusuf's departure as CEO marks a leadership change at AltSchool Africa as it enters a new stage of development. Akintunde inherits an established edtech platform with a growing emphasis on academic partnerships alongside skills training. The company's next challenge is translating its expanded offering into accessible educational opportunities and demonstrable value for learners.