uLesson Names Iheanyi Akwitti Ceo, Shagaya Becomes Chair

In Short

• uLesson is changing top leadership after eight years under founder Sim Shagaya.
• Iheanyi Akwitti becomes CEO-designate in June 2026 and takes over as Group CEO on January 1, 2027.
• Shagaya will move into an Executive Chairman role.

What Happened

Nigerian edtech company uLesson is preparing for a CEO transition. The company said founder Sim Shagaya will step down as Group CEO and become Executive Chairman.

Iheanyi Akwitti, the Group Chief Academic Officer and Registrar, will take on the role of CEO-designate from June 2026. He is expected to become Group CEO on January 1, 2027.

uLesson said Shagaya will remain Group CEO throughout the transition period. The company said he will work closely with Akwitti on operations, board and governance work, and relationships with investors, partners, and other external stakeholders.

The change comes about a month after Shagaya announced the launch of Myka, an insurance startup.

Why It Matters

For uLesson, the move signals a shift from founder-led execution to a more structured governance setup. An Executive Chairman typically focuses on strategy and oversight, while the CEO runs day-to-day operations.

Putting the Group Chief Academic Officer into the CEO seat is also a signal about priorities. In edtech, “academic” leadership means the person responsible for learning content, curriculum alignment, and assessment quality, which are key to user trust and retention.

The long transition timeline, from June 2026 to January 2027, suggests uLesson wants continuity. That can help with staff alignment, partner confidence, and fundraising conversations, especially as the company operates across products including its learning app and Miva Open University.

In Nigeria’s competitive digital learning market, leadership stability and clear accountability can matter as much as content and distribution.