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What I Learned Taking a Nigerian EdTech Idea to the Global Stage by 'Damola Anjorin

Years ago circa 2015, I found myself standing among hundreds of brilliant young innovators in Philadelphia at the Forbes Under 30 Summit. It was surreal, not just because I was one of only two Africans selected for sponsored participation, but because the path that got me there had been anything but predictable. It began with a problem I saw every day in Nigeria: the gap between students who needed help and those who could offer it.

The Birth of NearTutors

After graduation and constantly inundated with requests for special tutoring, I cofounded NearTutors, an online platform that connected students with verified tutors for personalized learning and exam preparation. We built it from scratch; with no funding, no high-profile mentors, just an audacious belief that education access could be more efficient, more personal, and more empowering.

Over time, we grew the platform to serve over 6,000 users and maintained a 4.8/5 star average review rating, with an exceptionally lean team. But what mattered most wasn’t the numbers, it was seeing student's academic confidence restored, valuable skills mastered, hearing parents say their children were improving, and watching tutors earn a steady income by sharing their knowledge.

The Hustle Before the Highlight

Getting to the Forbes Summit wasn’t the original goal; it was a byproduct of building something that mattered, putting it out into the world, and learning constantly. I submitted NearTutors to a global "Change the World" contest on HeroX.com. We advanced through multiple judging rounds, not because we had the flashiest tech but because we had a clear mission, real impact, and relentless execution.

When the Forbes Summit invitation came, it wasn’t just a personal milestone - it was a validation that innovative solutions from Africa could compete on the world stage.


With Kia William of Sirum.org; eventual winner of the Herox/Forbes $500,000 Prize

Lessons That Still Guide Me

  1. Solve real problems
    Startups often chase trends. We chose to chase impact. The student-tutor gap wasn’t sexy, but it was real. And that’s what gave our idea staying power.

  2. Build before you broadcast
    We didn’t wait for press or perfect code. We built, iterated, served users, and let the traction speak. Substance attracts support faster than hype.

  3. Representation matters
    Being one of two Africans at Forbes Under 30 made me more committed to making space for others. Representation shouldn’t be rare, it should be the norm.

  4. Don’t underestimate your start
    What began as a scrappy idea from Ibadan led me to rooms I once only read about. The lesson? Start where you are. Use what you have. Just start.


With Jeremy Johnson and Ian Carnevale; Cofounders of Andela 

Looking Ahead

NearTutors laid the foundation for everything I’ve built since: from consultancy for global-facing startups, to serial investing, to Cofounding SkillHer; helping women transition into tech, to advising on product and venture development across sectors.

That journey from online tutor platform to global recognition taught me that impact scales when you combine deep empathy, clear value, and passionate execution. And sometimes, it starts with just trying to help one student learn better.


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