In a small part of Nigeria’s education and technology world, one woman is doing something special. Her name is Ogechi Esimai. She is a social entrepreneur and the founder of TAW Academy.
Ogechi is helping to make learning more fun and valuable for children. She does this by bringing board games into the classroom. These games help children learn important skills excitingly and enjoyably. Because of her work, more children are starting to enjoy school and learn better. Her journey started humbly, with summer programmes and just N250,000 to create a prototype. Nevertheless, a grant from the Tony Elumelu Foundation became the springboard she needed. By 2018, her educational tools were already gaining ground in schools across Nigeria.
“Most African schools focus on theory and examinations, but not on developing the child’s ability to think or solve problems,” Ogechi said. Her experience as a volunteer life-skills teacher in over 80 public schools helped shape that understanding. “We were raising children who went to school but were not truly educated.” TAW Academy now produces eight board games and four project-based games that teach subjects like English, Maths, STEM, and Innovation, while building soft skills like teamwork, creativity, planning, and leadership. “Every child who plays our games must think, create, and work towards a goal,” she added. Even though prices are going up and it is expensive to bring in materials from other countries, Ogechi and her team found an innovative solution. They started using local materials instead. This helped them save money while still making good-quality learning tools.
Today, more than 300,000 children in 450 schools are using the games and tools made by her team. Their big plan is to double that number in the next two years, so that even more children can learn in a fun and exciting way. With international awards and growing recognition, Ogechi’s message remains simple: African education can be innovative, impactful, and fun, if done right.
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