It is always exciting to speak with entrepreneurs using technology to change Africa. We caught up with Moses Imayi, Project Director, Skool Media on how his organisation building the 21st Century School. Here are five lessons budding entrepreneurs can learn from the Skool Media journey.

Lesson One: Start Small

Start small, no matter how small. Just start. Only be sure you are walking in the path of your dreams. Imayi had his days of small beginnings as we call it. He grew up in Surulere, and early in life, started working on youth issues; ran several projects with the Lagos State Government and represented Nigeria on many high-level panels across the world. In 2005, with partner, Toyin Olatayo, he started UNITES Cisco, an IT Certification programme across secondary schools in Nigeria. Today, he is the Project Director of Skool Media, a social enterprise that specialises in integrating technology into the education sector.

Start. Volunteer. Intern. Just start.

Lesson Two: Networks Matter

If technology is your thing, then, you need to have a wide network. Literally. Internet connectivity, if you like. But this is about dependable human connections. Skool Media and UNITES are in 65 secondary schools spread across five geo-political zones of Nigeria. They recruit over 200 youths who work as ICT instructors in these schools and have trained over 8, 000 teachers across the country on how to use technology for education. By doing this, Skool Media builds a strong network of 21st Century teachers that impact quality education on students, making learning collaborative.

Reliable human networks will connect you where internet connectivity fails.

Lesson Three: Just do it

That may be a popular brand’s slogan but when it comes to the Skool Media story, it is an action phrase. When it started, there were naysayers: “But education in Nigeria is about chalk and paper?” “But the students don’t know how to use the tabs?” What if they spoil the tabs? What about power? What about this? What about that? There are always reasons why you should not do what you should do. Look within those reasons, therein also lie the reasons why you should do them. The Skool Media story says that much. Today, projector screens now complement conventional boards. Students now access classwork as MS Word documents, videos and illustrations on their Personal Educational Tablets. School Principals and Skool Media share the burden of power.

So, just do it. Then, someone may notice your good work and support.

Lesson Four: Good Partnerships Make Things Happen

A former Permanent Secretary of Education was visiting Queens College and saw the work Skool Media had done in the classrooms. Then called for a meeting. In 2015, the organisation signed an MOU with the Federal Ministry of Education on its technology in education project. In March, 2016, the partnership included Samsung who are now their technical partners. The wider the partnerships, the bigger the dream, the bigger the influence. Now, Skool Media, Samsung and the Federal Ministry of Education will be digitising 104 Unity Schools across Nigeria. In June, 2016, the organisation will take  part in ICT Expo, organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry—a gathering of IT and education enthusiasts.

Walking solo may be good but when you work with great partners, you will go far. Skool Media thrives on partnerships—with schools, with Parent Teacher Associations, and more.

Lesson Five: Tell Your Story

We stumbled on the Skool Media story through their blog. It is a simple Tumblr page but with such great photography and inside office gist, who will not be attracted? Their Twitter following is trying to catch up fast with their Facebook likes but not bad at all for a company that only got its social media acts together this year.

So, tell your story. Do it wth great media content.

Watch out next for our exclusive interview on the Skool Media journey. 

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