Harde Business School expands skill-based education, targets 70% underserved population
Harde Business School, an emerging EdTech platform, says it is bridging a critical gap in access to quality education by offering flexible, technology-driven, skill-based training targeted at underserved populations.
The Co- founder and Chief Executive Officer of the institution, Mr Dami Oguntunde, disclosed this during a courtesy visit by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to the institute in Lagos.
Oguntunde said over 70 per cent of Nigerians remain excluded from structured learning opportunities, a gap that continues to fuel unemployment, insecurity and social instability.
He said HBS was leveraging digital transformation to deliver portable and accessible education through its Learning Management System.
“We asked ourselves how technology can be used to make education more flexible and immediately useful. That led us to build a system that delivers practical, job-ready skills,” he said.
According to him, the platform offers courses in high-demand areas such as product management, UI/UX design, customer experience management and copywriting, alongside soft skills like emotional intelligence, critical thinking, leadership and effective communication.
He added that the long-term goal of the institution is to secure accreditation from the National Universities Commission and transition into a fully licensed online university, similar to global Massive Open Online Course platforms.
“In the immediate term, we are positioning ourselves as the go-to platform for professional development across Africa,” he said.
The school disclosed that it had trained over 45,000 learners within four years, issuing thousands of certificates, with completion rates exceeding industry averages due to its use of interactive and gamified learning methods.
He noted that many participants had secured employment shortly after completing courses on the platform.
He also highlighted the launch of a free Entry-Level Professional Course aimed at equipping young professionals with essential workplace skills.
“The programme, which covers personal effectiveness, effective communication, critical thinking and AI workflows, has already attracted nearly 500 applicants ahead of its commencement.
“We intend to admit between 200 and 250 participants for the four-week programme. Top-performing candidates will be connected to internship and entry-level job opportunities within our partner network,” he said.
He explained that although the programme costs approximately N100,000 per participant, it is currently offered free of charge, with the institution seeking sponsorship support from individuals and organisations.
Beyond training, the organisation said it is also involved in community impact initiatives, including a recent project where it partnered with participants to renovate and repaint a public school in Ogudu, Lagos.
He also revealed that it received a $100,000 equity-free grant in 2024 from the Mastercard Foundation, in partnership with Co-Creation Hub, after being selected among top EdTech startups from thousands of applicants.
Speaking on the origin of the organisation, Oguntunde said it was co-founded with a former colleague, with whom he shares a background from Obafemi Awolowo University.
“We started from scratch, bootstrapping our operations and focusing on building strong systems before scaling marketing and partnerships,” he said.
According to him, the school has collaborated with industry experts and creatives to expand its course offerings across diverse sectors.
The institution emphasised that its mission goes beyond profit-making to driving social impact through education and human capital development in Nigeria and across Africa.
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