Nigeria - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

BASUDO is an e-learning platform where young Africans (between the age of 15 to 35) can learn soft, technical, and vocational skills, and get hired by companies or organizations.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

BASUDO will be a technology company that will help young Africans (between the ages of 15 and 35) learn relevant, valuable, and premium soft, technical, and vocational skills online and collaborate with companies to hire competent, skilled Africans. We are working on developing an app to help young Africans cut down on the high rate of education exclusion, reduce skyrocketing unemployment, and eradicate poverty with premium virtual courses, apprenticeships, and coaching. It offers them the platform to acquire relevant and premium knowledge, as well as prepare and give them access to decent jobs, employment, and entrepreneurship. In that way, we are building an integrated, peaceful, and prosperous Africa. 

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

The major problem we are trying to solve is the lack of "relevant" in Africa's education itself. Africa has so many graduates but very few "quality" graduates. A plethora of Africans graduate from school with degrees upon degrees, but they remain unemployed. In other words, most students graduate with certificates, diplomas, and degrees but are unable to secure a decent job.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your project intends to provide (at least 3).

BASUDO, as a service, will provide the following benefits:  Language option: Learners can learn in their preferred languages, including local languages. Improve inequality and economic growth: BASUDO has the potential to contribute to Africa's economic growth, eradicate intergenerational poverty, and address inequalities and social injustices on the African continent. Cost effectiveness: In terms of cost, it is beneficial for students and educational institutes, as traditional educational institutes need physical learning space, furniture, and other resources. The BASUDO e-learning process is entirely online, making it affordable and environmentally friendly. Facilitates all learning styles: BASUDO aims to make learning convenient for its users, including those who prefer graphical information, videos, audios, text, or all. Access to job opportunities: Through our job bank, we will give certified learners access to job opportunities.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your project is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

BASUDO will be a software-as-a-service that will be built for young Africans between the ages of 15 and 35 who are seeking to acquire a premium skill set and become financially independent through it.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2024-01-01

01.06 How many other partners are associated with your business venture?

1

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

1

01.08 Please describe the profile of each of the other partners (skills, experience, etc.)

Okwueze Soyama is a 23-year-old graduate of English and Literally Studies from the University of Abuja, Nigeria. After passing through Africa's education system and possessing the ability to drive knowledge and insight in young people, Soyama understands what it means to transform Africa's education system. As a team partner, she plays a critical role in ensuring that the company aligns with the needs of our prospective users. She believes that client relationships are the powerhouse of any successful company. Soyama is skilled in empathy, uncovering new learning opportunities, writing, communication, and caring. She is currently undergoing her national youth service in Abuja, Nigeria.

01.09 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link here:

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

h) IT (digital services, equipment and software)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

6

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

BASUDO E-learning startup has the potential to help reduce poverty in Africa by empowering the socially disadvantaged and less privileged in the continent including lower-income groups.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

4

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

02.03.01 My project contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

2

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

BASUDO will increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship by 2030. This target is important to achieve other important aspects of employment. As such, by 2030, we need to achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value according to SDG target 8.5. This is what BASUDO will properly address.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

BASUDO will provide access to education for African women or females who may not have had the opportunity to attend a physical educational institution due to social, cultural, or economic barriers. BASUDO online courses and resources can be accessed from anywhere in the world, making education more accessible and inclusive.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

BASUDO allows individuals from diverse backgrounds and geographical locations across African nations to access relevant knowledge and acquire new skills. This expanded access to education can lead to a more skilled and knowledgeable workforce, which is crucial for economic growth and development.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

3

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

By leveraging the power of digital technologies, BASUDO can create new opportunities for collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving across different domains and sectors. Some of the ways that BASUDO can contribute to actualizing industry innovation and infrastructure are through the stimulation of entrepreneurial and intrapreneur mindsets, enabling cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural learning, and facilitating experiential and project-based learning. 

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

5

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

BASUDO opens up completely new opportunities for education to bridge gaps and provide equal opportunities for development. By giving access to online educational resources, it is possible to overcome geographical, material, or social barriers.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

2

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

2

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

02.16.01 My project contributes to the Peace justice and strong institutions goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

6

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

BASUDO collaborates with companies to hire the best skilled individuals.

05.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

6

05.02 The product/service we envision creating represents an entirely new type of product/service.

6

05.03 The product/service we envision creating could be described as a new technology.

6

05.04 The product/service we envision creating is an improvement on an existing product or service.

6

05.05 The product/service we envision creating could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

5

05.06 The product/service we envision creating responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.07 The product/service we envision creating is a new version of an old product/service.

5

05.08 Justification

BASUDO will be an app that transforms the way skills are acquired, especially soft and vocational skills. Although skill acquisition has existed but they mostly physical, unless for tech skills. Consequently, the demand of the non-technical skills are not met. This is where BASUDO comes in. BASUDO give access to soft and vocational skills online.

05.09 Who are your main potential competitors and what makes you stand out from them?

The market for e-learning is currently served by major tech companies, like Utiva, Udemy, Coursera, EdX, Skillshare, etc., that create and offer tech-related courses at a fixed price and in English only. As a result, (1) They cannot educate a significant number of Africans who rarely understand English.  (2) They cannot offer soft and vocational skills. (3) Users cannot negotiate on prices, thereby failing to align with African culture.  (4) Some do not have job banks that offer job opportunities to competent, skilled Africans after the completion of courses. However, BASUDO can.

10.06 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

Yes, BASUDO will take actions through partnerships with notable organizations in training females to be self-employed and financial independent.