Simdul Shagaya, born in 1975 in Lagos, Nigeria, is a Nigerian entrepreneur and business leader best known as the founder of uLesson Education Limited, an edtech platform designed for African students. He also founded Konga and E-Motion Advertising, and today serves as chairman of Miva Open University, an online higher education institution he created in 2023.
Early life and academic journey
Shagaya’s path began in Nigeria, where he attended military school and briefly served in the Nigerian Army. He later moved to the United States for higher education, earning degrees from George Washington University, a Master’s in Engineering from Dartmouth College, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. After graduation, he initially worked in South Africa at Rand Merchant Bank before returning to Nigeria.
Back in his home country, he became Google’s director for Africa, while also venturing into entrepreneurship. He founded E-Motion Advertising, a billboard company that expanded quickly in Lagos, and launched several early startups—Alarena, Jobclan, Gbogbo, and iNollyWood. Although innovative, these platforms struggled due to Nigeria’s limited technological infrastructure at the time.
DealDey and Konga
Undeterred, Shagaya founded DealDey in 2011 and Konga in 2012, an e-commerce platform that quickly became one of Nigeria’s most visited websites. Competing directly with Jumia, Konga grew rapidly, employing 20 people at its start and reaching 80 million users by 2015. It introduced digital payments and positioned itself as a pioneer in Nigeria’s online retail space.
However, political and economic instability in Nigeria, particularly during the 2015 elections, created challenges. As investor confidence declined, Konga struggled to sustain momentum. In 2018, after years of growth and setbacks, the company was sold.
uLesson and Miva Open University
Shagaya redirected his focus to education, founding uLesson in 2019. The platform provides interactive learning content for African students, combining video lessons with technology-driven tools. By 2021, uLesson had raised over $22 million in funding to expand across the continent.
In March 2023, Shagaya launched Miva Open University, an online institution approved by Nigeria’s National Universities Commission, marking a new chapter in his mission to transform education in Africa.
Vision and legacy
Reflecting on his career, Shagaya has emphasized his passion for building systems that outlast him: “I just really like building things… watching a system I played a key role in creating function and sustain itself.” His journey—from failed startups to leading Africa’s largest edtech initiatives—illustrates both the challenges and opportunities of entrepreneurship in emerging markets.
Today, Sim Shagaya stands as a leading figure in African innovation. Through uLesson and Miva, he is shaping the future of education for thousands of young Africans, ensuring that technology becomes a tool for empowerment across the continent.