In this era of digital economy, data isn’t just a buzzword, it’s the foundation of smarter business decisions, career growth, and personal financial management.
Yet, many individuals and businesses in Nigeria and across Africa struggle to harness data effectively.
In this edition of Techparley’s Drive100, where we spotlight Africa’s most innovative startups, our attention is on Data Tech Academy, founded by Maryam Olanike Gbemisola,
Data Tech Academy aims to bridge this gap by offering practical, hands-on data training and consulting that equips learners and companies with the skills to make real, measurable impact.
What the Academy is Doing: Solving the Data Skills Gap
Across Africa, students, professionals, and companies face a common challenge, limited access to practical, high-quality data training. Many learners waste months or years navigating confusing tutorials or generic online courses that do not translate into real-world skills.
Professionals often cannot make informed business decisions due to messy, unstructured data, leading to inefficiency and lost revenue. Students and job seekers also struggle to enter data roles, as traditional programs take too long or are inaccessible financially.
Data Tech Academy addresses these challenges through short, project-based courses (4–8 weeks) that combine live classes, one-on-one mentoring, and hands-on projects.
Learners gain proficiency in tools like Excel, Power BI, Tableau, and SQL, building tangible, job-ready portfolios. Businesses also benefit from consulting services that clean data, implement dashboards, and train staff to make actionable insights from their datasets.
“We make data easy, fast, and useful. Instead of drowning in theory, our learners see real results in weeks,” Maryam explains, emphasizing the focus on practical skill acquisition over theoretical knowledge.
Unique Approach: Blending Learning and Consulting
Data Tech Academy differentiates itself in a crowded edtech market through a combination of speed, interactivity, and dual focus, such as:
Short, focused courses: Learners complete practical projects in 4–8 weeks, avoiding the burnout and overwhelm of lengthy bootcamps.
Live engagement: Small groups, interactive sessions, and real-time Q&A provide immediate feedback, preventing learners from getting stuck.
Business consulting: Beyond teaching individuals, the academy helps companies optimize data practices, analyze real datasets, and upskill teams for actionable results, a rare combination in education-only platforms.
Job-ready outcomes: Graduates leave with portfolios, dashboards, and actionable insights that they can immediately showcase to employers or leverage for entrepreneurial projects.
“We don’t just teach the tools, we teach how to use data to make smarter decisions, boost careers, and grow businesses,” the founder notes, highlighting the practical, real-world application of the training.
Progress and Traction of Data Tech Academy
Since its launch in March 2024, Data Tech Academy has achieved measurable growth and impact.
500+ learners trained across seven cohorts, with consistent enrollment growth.
Career outcomes: Alumni surveys indicate most graduates secured promotions or new jobs within three months, demonstrating direct skill-to-employment linkage.
Business consulting: The academy’s consulting services have improved data quality, reporting efficiency, and decision-making for companies, adding a revenue stream beyond tuition.
Community ecosystem: Learners participate in an active, supportive WhatsApp and social media community, fostering peer accountability and long-term engagement.
Maryam emphasizes, “The traction proves our model works, short, practical learning with mentorship produces results fast,” showing the scalability and effectiveness of the academy’s approach.
Meet with the Team Behind the Vision
The academy’s strength lies in its small but highly skilled team, which comprises:
Maryam Olanike Gbemisola, Founder: BI expert with consulting experience, skilled at translating complex data into actionable insights.
Roshidah, Co-founder: Financial analyst who ensures learners understand both technical tools and business impact.
Jacqueline, Community Lead: Builds a thriving learner ecosystem that increases retention, engagement, and peer-to-peer learning.
Prior to launching the academy, the team had extensive experience in analysis, consulting, and education, providing credibility and practical expertise.
Maryam’s background in BI consulting allowed her to see firsthand the gap between data knowledge and actionable insight, which became the foundation of the academy.
Challenges and How They’re Overcome
Despite its progress, the academy has faced significant hurdles typical of bootstrapped startups.
Financial limitations: Operating without investors, the academy relies on revenue from consulting and installment-based student payments, enabling growth while maintaining affordability.
Student engagement: Learners juggling jobs, studies, or family commitments were at risk of dropping out. Solutions included weekly sprints, accountability buddies, flexible schedules, and recorded sessions to maintain completion rates.
Building presence: Starting from zero followers, the team leveraged student success stories, practical tips, and consistent community engagement to grow visibility and credibility online.
“Each challenge has forced us to innovate on both learning and delivery, making our model stronger,” Maryam reflects in her interview with Techparley Africa, illustrating adaptability and resilience.
Vision for the Future: Data Literacy for All
Data Tech Academy envisions a world where data literacy is as fundamental as reading alphabet. The Academy hope to:
Next 6–12 months: Launch AI + Data Basics course, grow to 1,000 students and 50 business clients, build a mobile app, and run free weekly live YouTube sessions.
2–3 years: Reach 5,000+ alumni, expand across Africa, offer corporate training packages, and raise $1M in seed funding.
3–5 years: Open a physical hub for hybrid classes, provide certification with job guarantees, and reach $2M in revenue, 50% from consulting.
“Our mission is simple, anyone, anywhere should be able to use data to make smarter decisions in weeks, not years,” Maryam asserts, highlighting the academy’s long-term ambition to democratize data skills.
Talking Points
Data Tech Academy’s mission to make data literacy accessible and actionable is ambitious and highly relevant in today’s rapidly digitizing African economy.
Its focus on short, practical, project-based courses combined with consulting services addresses real gaps in skills and workplace applicability.
The emphasis on live mentoring and community support is commendable, as it counters the isolation often seen in online learning.
However, the mission may face scalability challenges, particularly in reaching underserved regions where internet access, electricity, and digital devices are limited.
Additionally, while the academy targets rapid skill acquisition, ensuring consistent quality and depth of learning across larger cohorts could become a strain without significant expansion of trained instructors and infrastructure.
Notwithstanding, the academy’s mission is well-aligned with the continent’s urgent need for practical, employable data skills and shows strong potential for meaningful impact.
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