Adewale Yusuf Steps Down as AltSchool Africa CEO After Five Years

By Adedapo Adesanya

Mr Adewale Yusuf has stepped down as chief executive of African edtech startup AltSchool Africa after five years in the role, with co-founder Akintunde Sultan taking over with immediate effect.

Mr Yusuf co-founded the company in 2021 alongside Mr Sultan and Mr Opeyemi Awoyemi.

Following his departure from the top executive position, he will remain involved in a leadership capacity while spending more time with his family in the United States.

“It’s time for me to move away and actually support the team from maybe the director and leadership point,” Mr Yusuf said, explaining his decision to hand over the role to his co-founder.

Under Mr Yusuf’s leadership, AltSchool Africa grew its user base to more than 200,000.

Mr Sultan said the company’s next phase would focus less on increasing user numbers and more on delivering greater value to existing learners.

One of the initiatives expected to drive this shift is Degree, a programme through which AltSchool Africa partners with universities to provide pathways to formal degree qualifications.

The platform currently offers degree programmes through partnerships with the American Open University of Nigeria and Germany’s Tomorrow University, enabling students to pursue qualifications in fields including cybersecurity and information technology.

The initiative builds on the company’s ambition to bridge the gap between alternative education and formal university qualifications.

In 2022, AltSchool Africa explored a partnership with Michael and Cecilia Ibru University.

With Mr Sultan assuming leadership, the company is expected to strengthen its education offerings and expand beyond skills training towards programmes that combine practical learning with recognised academic qualifications.