SOCIAL learning website EduFocal is expanding its footprint to Nigeria, Africa.
Described as the ‘gamification’ of education, EduFocal’s conceptualiser and Chief Executive Officer Gordon Swaby says the company is specifically focused on offering its service to the city of Lagos which is estimated to have a population of 21 million people, in a country of about 185 million.
Lagos is the largest city in Africa and is known as Nigeria’s business capital. It’s an attraction for both investors and travellers.
“Culturally and economically, Nigeria and Jamaica have a lot in common and we think that we can apply similar solutions in that market,” he said in an e-mailed response to Jamaica Observer queries.
EduFocal, which has more than 5,000 users locally, allows students sitting the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) and Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) programme to access content from the examination curricula.
The platform enhances the learning experience through games, quizzes and other engaging activities. Students also become members of a virtual community in which they can compete, get help, and exchange ideas.
Swaby noted that he is still in the very early stages of the expansion, but is excited about the prospects.
“I was in Lagos a few weeks ago and I got an opportunity to visit a few schools and meet with potential partners,” he said.
The company is now developing content for the market and hopes to have the website operational by December 2017.
Swaby told the Business Observer that Edufocal will bring a unique approach to test preparation in Nigeria and has not yet identified any competitors.
As for the market share the company is going for, “that’s not something we want to discuss at this time”, he said.
The CEO is, however, eyeing a few other markets to expand operation.