Origin8Lab, a Nigerian EdTech startup, is aiming to bridge the gap between skills training and employment across Africa, using artificial intelligence (AI).
The platform provides affordable online courses, personalised mentorship, and smart job-matching tools that connect learners directly to real job opportunities.
In this edition of Techparley’s DRIVE100, where we celebrate startups shaping Africa’s digital future, we spotlight Origin8Lab, an ambitious EdTech venture co-founded by Oluwafunsho Anthony, Eniola Anthony, Silvanus Silvanus, and Tola Adeoye.
“There is a disconnect between skills acquisition and job placement across Africa,” Eniola Anthony, Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer, told Techparley. “Origin8lab uses AI to deliver affordable learning, personalized career support, and smart job matching, bridging the gap between training and employment.”
What You Should Know
According to Origin8Lab, it is using AI-driven learning and smart job matching to close Africa’s long-standing gap between skills acquisition and employment, empowering a new generation of Africans to turn their training into tangible career opportunities.
Many young Africans gain technical skills but remain unemployed, while businesses continue to face difficulties in finding qualified talent. Eniola says this is the gap Origin8Lab is trying to solve.
Origin8Lab’s solution focuses on accessibility and outcomes. Using AI, the platform recommends learning paths tailored to individual goals and industry demands. Learners receive continuous mentorship and are connected to job openings that match their new skills.
This approach sets the company apart from competitors like ALT School and ALX. While those focus largely on technical education, Origin8Lab says it integrates career guidance, and local market relevance, designed for African realities.
Through its “learn-to-earn” model, learners also gain both knowledge and access to real opportunities. The system analyses skill sets, matches them to relevant job openings, and supports users with career guidance along the way.
Early Growth and Market Traction
Since launch, Origin8Lab revealed it has recorded over 1,000 active users and generates around $3,500 in monthly recurring revenue.
The startup has onboarded certified instructors, introduced accredited courses, and secured partnerships with institutions to enhance content quality and recognition.
The next phase of growth, according to the company, includes scaling across Africa, expanding its job placement network, and deepening collaborations with employers to create more tailored career pathways.
In the next 6 to 12 months, Origin8Lab plans to expand its reach across multiple African countries, onboard more accredited courses, and strengthen its job placement network.
Long-term, the team envisions a global footprint, impacting over 100,000 learners and becoming Africa’s leading platform connecting skills training to employment through AI-driven innovation.
Knowing the Team
Origin8Lab’s founding team brings together a blend of experience across education, technology, and business growth, including:
- Oluwafunsho Anthony, Co-Founder & CEO, a seasoned tech professional leading the company’s strategy and vision.
- Eniola Anthony, Co-Founder & Chief Growth Officer, an educationist with expertise in curriculum design and strategic partnerships.
- Silvanus Silvanus, Co-Founder & COO, who oversees operations and programme delivery.
- Tola Adeoye, Co-Founder & Chief Innovation Officer, responsible for technology strategy and innovation.
Together, Eniola says they are united by one mission, to make skill development a true gateway to employment in Africa.
Challenges, AI and the Future of Work in Africa
Like most early-stage startups, Origin8Lab has faced its fair share of hurdles, particularly funding constraints, marketing scalability, and institutional partnerships. But Eniola remains optimistic.
“Our biggest challenges have been funding, scaling marketing efforts, and securing institutional partnerships. We’re overcoming these by pursuing grants and investors, building strategic collaborations, and leveraging cost-effective digital campaigns to grow our user base,” Eniola said.
When asked about what the government can do to support innovation, Eniola said the government needs to play a vital role in fostering innovation. According to her, policies that make funding accessible, improve digital infrastructure, and promote youth skills development are needed.
Despite global debates about the risks of AI, Eniola believes the technology is a force for empowerment, not replacement.
“AI is not negatively impacting the tech ecosystem; rather, it’s transforming it. It is creating new opportunities for innovation, efficiency, and problem solving. The key is ensuring people are equipped with the right skills to work alongside AI, making it a tool for empowerment rather than replacement,” Eniola said.
According to her, this belief sits at the heart of Origin8Lab’s mission, to empower Africans with the skills needed for an AI-driven world.
Understanding Africa’s Digital Market
The African online-education and e-learning market is showing rapid growth and presents a significant opportunity. The market size in 2024 reached about $3.4 billion, and it is projected to expand to roughly $7.7 billion by 2033.
Analysts say these figures underline the urgency of solutions that tie skills-acquisition directly to job-placement, precisely the space in which Origin8Lab is competing.
According to industry leaders, Origin8Lab represents more than just another EdTech company, it’s a movement to align Africa’s vast talent with the opportunities of the digital age.
By merging AI technology, local insight, and career-focused learning, experts say the startup is proving that the journey from “learning” to “earning” doesn’t have to be broken, it can be intelligently designed.
Talking Points
It is great to see Origin8Lab directly tackling one of Africa’s most pressing challenges, the disconnect between skill acquisition and employability. By using AI to link learning with job placement, the startup is redefining how education translates into real economic opportunity.
This approach addresses a genuine pain point in Africa’s workforce: millions of skilled individuals remain unemployed while businesses continue to struggle to find qualified talent. Origin8Lab’s “learn-to-earn” model bridges that gap by aligning training outcomes with labour market needs.
At Techparley, we see how this model can significantly shape Africa’s digital economy by equipping youth with market-relevant skills, while helping employers access qualified, job-ready candidates.
This balance between affordability, mentorship, and employment support is what gives Origin8Lab its unique edge.
With the right support and continued innovation, Origin8Lab has the potential to become a leading force in bridging Africa’s skills-to-employment gap, empowering a generation to move from learning to meaningful work.
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