Sim Shagaya

**Sim Shagaya** (born Simdul Shagaya, 1975 in Lagos, Nigeria) is a Nigerian businessperson, entrepreneur, and business leader recognized for pioneering significant digital and educational platforms in Africa. His career spans finance, technology, e-commerce, and education, establishing him as one of Nigeria's most influential entrepreneurs.Early Life and Education Simdul Shagaya was born in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1975. He attended the Nigeria Military School. Shagaya completed a significant portion of his higher education in the United States. He graduated from George Washington University, holds a Master of Engineering degree from Dartmouth College, and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School in 2003.Career Progression and Notable Works Shagaya's early career included working as a banker with Rand Merchant Bank in South Africa. He later relocated to Nigeria, where he served as Google's Head for Africa. In November 2005, Shagaya founded **E-Motion Advertising**, a Lagos-based billboard advertising business. E-Motion grew to become a leading out-of-home media company before being acquired by Loatsad Promomedia in 2019. He further expanded his ventures into the e-commerce space, launching the daily deals website **DealDey** and later founding **Konga.com** on July 3, 2012, with capital from the Swedish investment firm Kinnevik. Konga rapidly became one of West Africa’s largest electronic commerce platforms, with the stated aim of aggregating the dispersed, underserved, and fast-growing African market that traditional retailers were failing to reach. Following his success in e-commerce, Shagaya turned his focus to educational technology. He founded **uLesson Education Limited** in 2020. This ed-tech company created a revolutionary learning app designed to make quality education accessible to students across the continent by delivering curriculum-aligned content through engaging digital lessons for primary through secondary education levels. In May 2023, Shagaya co-founded and launched **Miva Open University**, a private open university designed to provide accessible and flexible degree programs, receiving its operating license from Nigeria's National Universities Commission. Shagaya currently serves as the Chancellor of Miva Open University.Major Achievements and Current Status Sim Shagaya has received several accolades for his contributions to African business. In 2013, he won the CNBC/All Africa Business Leaders Award in West Africa for Entrepreneur of the Year. In 2014, he was recognized with the Leadership CEO of the Year Award and was named in *Forbes*' list of "10 Most Powerful Men in Africa." In August 2019, he was invited to serve as a member of the Economic Advisory Council for Plateau State, Nigeria. Shagaya remains active as a businessman and entrepreneur, currently focusing his efforts on expanding the reach and impact of uLesson Education Limited and Miva Open University.