Adewale Yusuf is a prominent Nigerian entrepreneur and the CEO of AltSchool Africa and TalentQL, focusing on education technology and recruitment.
He has significantly impacted the African tech ecosystem, previously founding Techpoint Africa, a leading media platform for startups and innovation.
With over a decade of experience, Yusuf advocates for improved education as a means to unlock opportunities across the continent.
He also serves on the board of Life Beyond Disability, promoting rights for persons with disabilities in Africa.
Humble beginnings
At just 17 years old, Yusuf left his home in Ibadan, Nigeria, with only 1,000 Naira ($2) in his pocket, no formal education in technology, and no influential connections.
Yet, against all odds, he transformed his passion for storytelling and technology into a legacy that’s reshaping Africa’s tech ecosystem.
Growing up, Yusuf faced significant challenges.
Unable to afford university, he turned to phone repairs to make ends meet.
But his turning point came when he made a bold choice—rejecting a higher-paying job at a gas station for a lower-paying role at a cyber café.
A life-changing risk
At the cyber café, Yusuf discovered the internet and began teaching himself programming through NairaLand, a popular online forum.
Inspired by a church message about the transformative power of technology, he took another major risk; using his school fees to buy a laptop.
With nothing but determination and his new laptop, Yusuf delved deeper into coding.
However, the path wasn’t easy and he realized that programming wasn’t his true strength.
What set him apart, however, was his ability to tell compelling stories about the people and innovations driving Africa’s tech revolution.
From blogging to building
Yusuf began blogging for OTech Bits, covering Nigeria’s budding tech scene.
His passion for highlighting Africa’s innovators led him to co-found Techpoint Africa in 2014.
The media platform quickly became a leader in the tech space, known for its unique approach to storytelling.
Through engaging office tours, captivating narratives, and in-depth video stories, Techpoint Africa not only informed but also inspired a new generation of Africans to see the continent’s tech ecosystem in a new light.
Despite Techpoint Africa’s success, Yusuf saw a deeper challenge facing the industry—a tech talent gap.
Believing that education was the key to solving this problem, he launched his next big initiative, AltSchool Africa.
AltSchool Africa and other companies
In 2021, Yusuf co-founded AltSchool Africa with the mission to transform education on the continent.
The platform aims to provide accessible, high-quality digital learning opportunities to millions of Africans, equipping ten million Africans with profitable skills by 2030.
AltSchool Africa focuses on teaching practical, market-relevant skills that align with the needs of employers, covering various fields such as technology, entrepreneurship, and digital marketing.
By leveraging online learning, AltSchool Africa makes education more accessible to individuals regardless of their geographical location or financial situation.
The platform also emphasizes building a supportive community where learners can connect, collaborate, and share experiences.
Before founding AltSchool Africa, Yusuf co-founded TalentQL, a recruitment platform that connects companies with top talent in Africa.
This venture addresses the challenge of talent acquisition by streamlining the hiring process and ensuring that businesses can find qualified candidates efficiently.
Awards and accolades
Yusuf is recognized as a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) in the Data Platform category, a title awarded for exceptional community leadership and technical expertise.
He has also been acknowledged as a Global Power Platform Bootcamp Hero for his impactful work in promoting the Power Platform community.
In addition to these recognitions, Yusuf has played a pivotal role in initiatives that bridge gaps in the African tech ecosystem, earning respect as a thought leader and innovator.
His ventures, particularly AltSchool Africa, have garnered attention and support, including recent funding that highlights his influence in democratizing education and technology access across the continent.
