A Nigerian education technology startup, Lena, is reimagining how children learn by transforming traditional school curricula into immersive digital games designed to keep students engaged while mastering foundational subjects.
Founded by Danny Ombeh and Faruk Bilesanmi, the startup is betting that the future of education in Africa lies not in longer video lessons or static quizzes, but in interactive gaming experiences that make learning feel like play.
The platform integrates subjects such as mathematics, literacy, and science directly into gameplay, allowing children to absorb lessons while navigating story driven educational games.
From Freelance Collaboration to EdTech Innovation
The partnership between Ombeh and Bilesanmi began in 2020, when the two met while working on freelance projects for international clients through online platforms.
What started as a professional collaboration soon evolved into a shared ambition to build technology products that solve real world problems.
The idea behind Lena emerged during a conversation about their families. Both founders realised their mothers were teachers, which gave them firsthand insight into the challenges educators face in keeping students engaged in traditional classrooms.
For Ombeh, the mission is personal. As a student with a strong imagination, he struggled to stay focused in conventional classroom settings and often preferred reading comic books to textbooks. That experience later inspired the idea of using storytelling and gameplay to make education more engaging.
Turning School Curriculum Into Interactive Games
At the core of Lena’s product is a gamified learning system designed to convert academic content into interactive digital experiences.
Rather than simply attaching points or rewards to quiz based learning platforms, Lena builds full game environments where students learn while progressing through missions and challenges.
The system is powered by an AI engine that tracks student progress and identifies knowledge gaps in real time.
When a student struggles with a particular concept, the game pauses to deliver a simplified explanation before allowing the learner to continue.
This approach ensures students build strong foundational understanding while remaining engaged in the learning process.
Tools for Teachers and Schools
Beyond the gaming experience for students, Lena also provides a school management dashboard for teachers and administrators.
The platform includes tools such as:
- built in learning games aligned with school curricula
- student performance analytics
- computer based testing systems that automatically mark exams
These tools allow schools to track learning outcomes and monitor student progress more efficiently.
Importantly, the platform is designed to function both online and offline, addressing connectivity challenges faced by many schools across Nigeria.
The founders are currently developing offline AI infrastructure to ensure that schools without consistent internet access can still use the platform.
A Flexible Subscription Model
Lena operates a tiered subscription model targeting both schools and individual households.
For educational institutions, the platform costs ₦20,000 per student per term, while parents who want to support learning at home can subscribe for ₦7,000 per month.
Recognising economic differences across Nigerian communities, the company also offers flexible pricing options for schools in lower income areas.
The founders are also exploring a WhatsApp based AI tutor designed to reach families who may not have access to gaming devices or stable internet connections.
Early Traction and Growth Plans
Since launching in September 2025, Lena has begun gaining early traction in Nigeria’s education sector.
The startup has already onboarded two schools with about 380 students, while an additional seven schools are currently in its sales pipeline.
On the consumer side, the platform has attracted more than 200 parent users who subscribe directly to support their children’s learning at home.
To support further growth, the company has secured $15,000 in grants and is currently raising additional funding from angel investors.
The founders believe the school focused business model may scale faster because onboarding a single institution can bring hundreds of students onto the platform at once.
The Future of Gamified Learning in Africa
As education systems across Africa increasingly adopt digital learning tools, startups like Lena are exploring new ways to improve student engagement and learning outcomes.
By combining artificial intelligence with interactive gaming, Lena hopes to create an educational experience that resonates with modern learners.
While the company is currently focused on schools in Lagos, its founders believe the concept of game based learning is globally scalable, as gaming itself is a universal language that transcends geography.
If successful, Lena could become part of a new wave of African edtech startups reshaping how children interact with knowledge in the digital age.
