Edukoya's shutdown raises questions about K-12 Edtech's challenges in Nigeria
Not even significant pre-seed funding in 2021 could help the company to transform K-12 online learning.
Nigeria’s edtech sector has taken another hit with the shutdown of Edukoya, a startup that once aimed to transform K-12 online learning.
Despite raising an impressive $3.5 million in pre-seed funding, the company claims to have struggled with adoption due to limited device access, economic constraints, and a market that just wasn’t fully ready.
Edukoya entered the market with a freemium model, offering online tutoring and educational content. But, converting free users into paying customers proved challenging. Unlike competitors like uLesson, which fine-tuned its pricing and content, or Tuteria, which connected parents with tutors for one-on-one sessions, Edukoya’s broad approach failed to gain traction.
Wisdom Okogho
A major challenge for Edukoya was balancing tutor salaries with pricing that parents could afford. The company paid tutors around ₦200,000 ($133) per month—significantly higher than the ₦60,000 ($40) earned by many peri-urban teachers, as noted by TechCabal. While this ensured top-quality instruction, it made scaling difficult. In contrast, platforms like AltSchool Africa and Utiva, which focus on career-oriented learning, have thrived by targeting learners who see direct economic benefits from their investment.
Edukoya’s decision to shut down rather than deplete resources raises a lot of questions like: Can large-scale K-12 edtech succeed in Nigeria? Or will in-person tutoring and skills-based learning remain dominant?
African edtech startups may need to rethink their models, possibly shifting toward career-driven education or hybrid approaches that blend online and offline learning. While K-12 edtech holds promise, infrastructure, market readiness, and sustainable pricing remain significant challenges.
