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Teachers are burdened with challenges too. Most are underpaid and do not have an opportunity to earn a decent living from the profession they love. These problems are significant and pressing. They are also obviously related. That’s why SabiTeach tackles both of them with a single solution—an online platform that connects students with qualified and skilled teachers. It’s making quality education accessible to learners in Nigeria through lessons handled by tutors from across the country. The company takes its name from two words: Sabi, a pidgin English word which means ‘to know,’ and the English word ‘teach’. “The amalgamation of both words and their meanings led to our choosing this name,” says Wale Ogunjobi, who founded SabiTeach in 2019. “We wanted a name that simply informed people about what we do: teach and impart knowledge.”
The Journey To Creating A Solution
Ogunjobi has prior experience with tech-driven ventures; he’s managed the digital presence of multiple businesses. He leverages the knowledge he’s gained from those roles in running SabiTeach. But his entrepreneurial drive predates his latest venture. “I always knew I was going to be an entrepreneur,” he says. “In my third year as an undergraduate, I decided I was going to run my own business. I started with selling drum sticks, anchoring events as Master of Ceremony, and partnering with organizations to send out bulk SMS.” Ogunjobi also set up an education consulting firm while he served with the NYSC. He would ultimately go on to found a company in that same space. “I choose the educational sector because I wanted to solve a deep-rooted problem,” he explains. ”The question I asked myself was, ‘how do I empower children with affordable education without diminishing the quality of learning?’ The answer led me to establish SabiTeach.” But he admits to facing several challenges as he began to build the company, including finding the right team, financing, and the uncertainties of Nigeria’s business environment. “Despite the challenges, I have learned to focus on the things that go right every day and to adopt a positive mindset when things don’t go as planned. I have faced and conquered challenges because I choose to see them as opportunities.”Sign up to the Connect Nigeria daily newsletter
How SabiTeach Works
SabiTeach has separate entry tracks for students and tutors. After signing up on the platform, students can browse hundreds of teachers, book a lesson for a preferred subject, and start learning from wherever they are. Lessons may be received in person too. They can also reschedule or cancel lessons, rate their tutors, and leave feedback. Teachers are vetted before being confirmed as tutors on SabiTeach. The company prefers candidates who have educational qualifications related to the subject they intend to teach, and possess some teaching experience. Would-be tutors should also have a working computer, a stable internet connection, and a headset with decent audio quality. If they are accepted onto the platform, tutors can manage their profiles, fix hourly rates for their lessons, and earn from teaching students. SabiTeach has scheduled group classes as well. Some of these classes are preparatory sessions for major examinations such as the SSCE and UTME, and certification tests like IELTS. Students pay a fixed fee to attend these sessions.Advancing, Despite The Obstacles
As an entrepreneur in Nigeria, Ogunjobi knows what he’s up against. But he insists that there are ways around the obstacles haunting many businesses in the country. “Many SMEs need to partner with other businesses, and have strategic plans for things like goal setting and managing finances, tax obligations, customers, and employees,” he counsels. “Ultimately, entrepreneurs and business owners must realize that the success of their enterprise doesn’t depend on funding alone.” He also says the government needs to implement SME-friendly policies, provide more grants and funding opportunities for entrepreneurs, and revise small business taxes downwards. SabiTeach is steadily building its presence in Nigeria. It currently has over 500 tutors teaching hundreds of lessons every week. The plan, Ogubjobi reveals, is to take the company’s services beyond the country’s borders. “In the next five years, SabiTeach would have helped 100,000 underemployed educators in Africa grow as edupreneurs so that they can access the economic opportunities they deserve. We would also have market presence in Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, and South Africa.” The signs, even in these early days, suggest that Ogunjobi’s dream is within reach. Featured Image Source: CrunchbaseGot something you want to read about on our platform? Contact us: editor@connectnigeria.com
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