Sim Shagaya, the founder of the Nigerian edtech company uLesson Group, will step down as CEO after eight years to become the company’s Executive Chairman. The uLesson Group runs the popular uLesson learning app and Miva Open University.
Group Chief Academic Officer and Registrar Iheanyi Akwitti will assume the role of CEO-Designate in June 2026. He will officially take over as Group CEO on January 1, 2027, according to a company statement released on Monday.
This leadership transition follows Shagaya’s recent launch of Myka, his new insurance startup. Shagaya will retain the Group CEO title throughout the transition period, collaborating closely with Akwitti on operations, board governance, investor relations, and partner engagements.
“It feels right that this chapter ends here, and that Iheanyi Akwitti is the person carrying us forward,” Shagaya shared in a LinkedIn post announcing the changes.
Akwitti’s Proven Track Record in African Edtech
Akwitti joined the uLesson Group in 2022 as Senior Vice President of Academics and Curriculum. In that role, he shaped the company’s academic framework as it expanded beyond K-12 education, which covers kindergarten through twelfth grade.
He later advanced to Group Chief Academic Officer and Registrar. In this position, he directed the academic, regulatory, accreditation, and institutional strategies that enabled the successful launch of Miva Open University in 2023. Before his time at uLesson, Akwitti managed curriculum development and academic operations as the Principal of Supreme Education Foundation Schools.
“Iheanyi has been at the centre of some of the most consequential work we have done as a Group,” Shagaya noted. “He has helped build the academic and institutional foundations that will carry us into our next phase. I am confident that under his leadership, the uLesson Group will continue to expand its impact and build even stronger institutions for African learners.”
Driving the Next Phase of Growth
As the incoming CEO, Akwitti will steer the group’s academic, operational, and institutional growth. He takes the reins just as uLesson accelerates its expansion into higher education and broadens its learning products across Africa.
“It is a great honour to be entrusted with this responsibility,” Akwitti stated. “I am grateful to Sim for his trust and leadership, and I look forward to working with our teams to build on the strong foundation already laid.”
Shagaya, who previously founded the e-commerce giant Konga, launched uLesson in 2019. Under his guidance, uLesson transformed from a simple K-12 learning application into a comprehensive educational ecosystem for diverse learners. As Executive Chairman, Shagaya will continue to champion the Group’s long-term strategy and educational vision for the African continent.
