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Empowering Nigeria: How Data Entry Academy is Changing Lives

Victor Ifegwu Mbonu
Data Entry Academy

Accounting Hub

  The need for digital skills in the world we live in today is highly essential. There are many training programs and academies that provide individuals with various skills. One such is the Data Entry Academy by Accounting Hub.
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The Data Entry Academy is an innovative academy that equips Nigerians with vital data entry and business skills, creating pathways to new careers, enhancing job performance, and fostering entrepreneurial success. With over 9,000 participants across eleven batches, the Data Entry Academy founded by Chioma Ifeanyi-Eze has proven to impact lives. Recently, it was selected as one of the recipients of the prestigious MasterCard Foundation EdTech Fellowship.

About The Data Entry Academy

The Data Entry Academy is a 30-day online school that provides individuals with training in data entry software and skills needed for the office or the workplace. The Academy which is an arm of the Accounting Hub, a bookkeeping firm founded in 2016 by Chioma Ifeanyi-Eze, equips participants with a range of tools and skills, from Microsoft tools to spreadsheets, to Google tools, to making presentations, to writing proposals, to using invoicing and inventory tools, and much more. The Data Entry Academy could be said to be one of the many innovative initiatives born during the COVID-19 period as the Academy welcomed its first batch of students, 955 in total, on June 1st, 2021. As of June 2024, the Academy has successfully run eleven (11) different batches of the Academy with over 9,500 Participants. In 2023 alone, they had over 4000 participants the whole year. The interesting thing about the academy is that it does not require participants to have prior knowledge of accounting, data entry, or Excel. The only prerequisite is basic computer literacy. This approach has made the academy accessible to a wide audience, including those who may have previously felt intimidated by the prospect of learning new technical skills. So, by breaking down these barriers, Chioma Ifeanyi-Eze has created an inclusive learning environment that encourages participation from all walks of life.

A Flexible Learning Platform for All

One major challenge learners in a country like Nigeria have with learning on various popular platforms is the ease of accessibility. And this is one of the most compelling aspects of the Data Entry Academy. The academy operates through a user-friendly platform on Telegram and Teachable, ensuring that participants can easily access training materials and sessions. Also, the academy focuses only on cloud-based software, this ensures that participants do not need to purchase any expensive tools or install software that they may have difficulty installing. They simply learn to sign up and use these online tools, reducing costs and ensuring training on the latest workplace technologies. The academy’s schedule is also highly flexible, making it appealing to participants from various professional backgrounds. Participants are presented with the option to choose an hour of the day convenient for them to learn every weekday and then participate in the weekly live group learning sessions on Saturdays and Sundays. A schedule like this is particularly beneficial for stay-at-home moms and retirees looking for productive ways to spend their time and potentially earn extra income.

Comprehensive Learning Through Integration of Business Skills

The Data Entry Academy goes beyond providing participants with technical skills in data entry to providing them with other career/business-relevant skills. It is a well-known fact that employees with entrepreneurial skills often excel in their careers. This is why the academy integrates business skills into its curriculum, ensuring that participants are not only proficient in data entry but also equipped with the knowledge to thrive in the business world. These skills are essential for success in today’s competitive market, and the academy’s holistic approach ensures that participants are well-rounded professionals.
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One of the past participants, Oluwatosin, seem to confirm this. According to her, she resigned from the bank in 2012 and had been engaged in a few businesses. She enrolled for the Data Entry Academy and with the knowledge and skills gained from the Academy, she believes she was equipped to head back into the corporate world and do better than she had ever done.

Other Interesting Features of the Data Entry Academy

Participants at the academy are taken through over 40 course topics including basics of Microsoft Tools and Google Docs, tracking sales, invoice management, inventory management, and payroll management. These course topics and the other sessions in the academy are designed to equip participants with 6 business-specific skills overcoming fear and launching out, moving from a novice to profit, finding clients, writing proposals, billing and winning negotiations with clients, and making money consistently. OBAD refers to One Business App a Day. It is a short session in the Data Entry Academy that provides participants with five-minute lessons on new software tools commonly used in the workplace. Each day, participants learn how to solve specific problems or automate processes for small businesses. This practical approach ensures that participants can immediately apply what they learn, making them valuable assets in any professional setting. Participants at the Academy are provided with weekly training sessions with a freelancing coach who introduces them to some of the various freelancing sites available and how to successfully search for and secure clients on these sites. The last 5 days of the Academy provide participants the opportunity to have an immersive coaching and mentoring session with the founder of the Academy, Chioma Ifeanyi-Eze.

Certificate of Achievement and Alumni Community Support

At the end of the training program, participants at the academy are recognised with certificates of achievement and also absolved into the larger Alumni community, where they have the opportunity to receive ongoing support and updates on opportunities.

MasterCard Foundation EdTech Fellowship

The success of the Data Entry Academy is evident from the number of participants and the community it has built. Recently, the academy received further validation by being selected for the MasterCard Foundation EdTech Fellowship. Out of over 1,000 applications, Data Entry Academy was chosen for this prestigious fellowship. Being selected for the fellowship means the Academy will be provided with over 100 Million naira ($100,000) in equity-free funding. Also, they will be provided with post-program advisory support for up to 12 months, to help them further scale the academy. This recognition is not only a testament to the academy’s impact and innovative approach but also a significant milestone in its journey. It will undoubtedly enhance their capacity to impact even more lives, empowering individuals with the skills needed to succeed in today’s digital economy.
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Looking Ahead

The future looks bright for the Data Entry Academy, especially with the recent Mastercard EdTech fellowship selection. Chioma Ifeanyi-Eze’s vision for the Data Entry Academy is clear: to provide flexible, accessible, and practical data entry training for anyone. The academy’s ability to cater to such a broad audience—business owners, full-time employees, students, side hustlers, fresh graduates, stay-at-home moms, and even grandmas over 50—speaks to its adaptability and relevance in today’s world. With a curriculum that is constantly evolving to include the latest cloud-based tools and business skills, the Data Entry Academy ensures that its participants are always ahead of the curve.
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