uLesson is set for a major leadership transition as founder Sim Shagaya prepares to step down as Chief Executive Officer after eight years and move into the role of Executive Chairman.
The company announced on Monday that Iheanyi Akwitti, currently Group Chief Academic Officer and Registrar, will take on the role of CEO-Designate from June 2026 before officially becoming Group CEO on January 1, 2027.
The transition marks a planned leadership handover rather than an abrupt exit. Shagaya will remain CEO throughout the transition period, working closely with Akwitti on operations, governance, investor relations, partnerships, and broader stakeholder engagement.
The move comes shortly after Shagaya unveiled Myka, a new insurance startup, signaling his growing focus on ventures beyond edtech. Despite stepping back from day-to-day leadership at uLesson, he will continue in a strategic capacity as Executive Chairman, guiding the company’s long-term direction.
In a post announcing the change, Shagaya said the timing felt right for a leadership handover, adding that Akwitti was the right person to lead the company into its next phase.
Akwitti joined uLesson in 2022 as Senior Vice President for Academics and Curriculum, where he helped shape its academic strategy as the company expanded beyond K–12 education. He later became Group Chief Academic Officer and Registrar, overseeing academic systems, regulatory compliance, accreditation, and the rollout of Miva Open University in 2023.
Before joining uLesson, he served as Principal of Supreme Education Foundation Schools, where he led curriculum development and academic operations.
Shagaya described Akwitti as central to some of the group’s most important milestones, saying he helped build the academic and institutional foundation that will support the company’s next stage of growth.
As CEO, Akwitti will oversee uLesson’s academic and operational strategy as the group expands its higher education footprint and strengthens its digital learning offerings across Africa.
Akwitti said he was honoured by the appointment and thanked Shagaya for his trust, adding that he looks forward to building on the foundation already in place as the company enters a new phase of growth.