With a proven career in sales leadership and business growth, Oluwatobi Godonu Akapo has built a reputation for delivering exponential results. Today, he is channeling that expertise into Edswot Consulting Limited, the EdTech platform he founded to democratise access to quality education across Africa and beyond.
In just one year, Edswot has expanded across three continents, connecting learners to world-class tutors and boosting exam outcomes. For Akapo, this is more than business, it is a mission to nurture brilliance, ignite futures, and ensure no child is left behind. In this interview with Chisom Michael he speaks on the lessons that shaped him, the challenges of building trust, and why he believes education is Africa’s greatest untapped economic force.
In your career before Edswot, which decision most shaped the way you now run a company?
I once worked for a startup that focused almost exclusively on foreign talent and glossy PR while ignoring the abundance of local talent and the need for sustainable revenue. The company eventually collapsed. That experience taught me two vital lessons: great PR without substance is a house of cards, and Africa is overflowing with talent worth nurturing. Today at Edswot, I balance storytelling with substance – celebrating global connections while building real impact from the wealth of talent right here.
When you think about education as part of Africa’s economy, where do you see its greatest untapped value?
Africa’s greatest untapped value lies in transforming education into a skills-to-impact pipeline. Too often, education ends in certificates, not competencies. But when education is aligned with digital literacy, innovation, indigenous languages, entrepreneurship, and problem-solving, it becomes an economic engine. The potential is massive, not just to create employable graduates, but job creators who can reimagine industries for Africa’s future.
Some argue that affordable education and profitable business cannot coexist. How have you proven otherwise?
We’ve proven otherwise by showing that affordability is not the enemy of profitability, inefficiency is. At Edswot, we use technology to reduce overheads, scale tutoring across borders, and match the right tutors to the right learners. Parents pay fair prices, tutors earn sustainably, and the business grows. Profitability and access can coexist when innovation drives the model.
Looking back at your first year with Edswot, which challenge gave you the toughest lesson?
Convincing parents to trust an unknown brand was a mountain to climb. But trial classes, outstanding tutors, and measurable improvements in learners changed everything. Their feedback and referrals became stronger than any marketing campaign. It taught us that reputation is built lesson by lesson, not billboard by billboard.
If Edswot could only be measured by one form of impact, which would matter most to you?
For me, it’s a transformation at the individual level. If a learner gains confidence, passes an exam they once feared, learns a new skill, or finds their passion through their tutors, that ripple extends into families, communities, and economies. That human transformation is the heartbeat of Edswot.
In building Edswot, which moment felt like a breakthrough in gaining trust from parents?
The breakthrough came when parents began to refer us to their friends and family without prompting. Referrals are the truest sign of trust, no parent risks their child’s education lightly. That moment confirmed that we weren’t just meeting expectations; we were exceeding them.
Why do you believe education can be a driver for job creation in Africa?
Look at every developed nation, education is their first investment because today’s students are tomorrow’s innovators. In Africa, education is not just about jobs; it’s about unlocking industries that don’t yet exist. Our mission at Edswot, Nurturing Brilliance, Igniting Futures, is built on the belief that the best job-creation strategy is empowering young people to think, create, and solve.
In expanding globally, what did you learn about balancing Africa’s realities with international expectations?
I learned that credibility comes from embracing who we are while adapting to where we go. Parents abroad admire the resilience and adaptability of African tutors but expect global standards of professionalism, punctuality, and pedagogy. The balance lies in merging Africa’s creativity and grit with the discipline and structure that global markets demand.
When you hire tutors, what do you look for beyond their qualifications?
Beyond paper qualifications, I look for tutors who can translate knowledge into life. The best tutors don’t just explain equations; they connect them to things children see every day. They make learning relatable, exciting, and unforgettable. At Edswot, we believe that education must be experienced, not endured.
How has being a founder changed the way you view success in your personal life?
Being a founder has reframed success for me. It’s no longer just about personal milestones; it’s about collective impact. Success now means creating opportunities for others — parents who want the best for their children, tutors who deserve rewarding careers, and learners whose futures depend on us. Personally, it has made me value time, relationships, and legacy over accolades.
