With the world becoming more alternative in nature, especially when it comes to entertainment and education, Nigeria hasn’t been left out of the movement. In the last three years, thanks to the pandemic, people have begun to think of alternative methods of operating at work, schools, businesses and more. Schooling in Nigeria has always been relatively linear and problematic; the lack of any other major source of tertiary education besides its overly populated universities and the periodic strikes by the Academic Staff Union Of Universities (ASUU) has led to the rise of less linear and more specific channels of education.
The 2020 pandemic ushered in a new wave of online survival. Businesses and individuals came to the realization that in person work and lectures amongst other tasks could either be automated or done virtually. Virtual learning saw an all time high and with that all time high and video conferencing came the growth of alternative and decentralized learning mediums. In this article we take a look at some of the alternative schools that exist here in Nigeria.
Music Business Academy For Africa
The Music Business Academy for Africa is a platform dedicated to developing and training a more informed and empowered workforce for Africa’s music and entertainment industry. MBA for Africa started as an internship programme in 2017 and then became a talent management training programme. As music from the African continent continued to penetrate global markets, there was an increase in interest for music business education and the Music Business Academy for Africa was born in 2020. It has partnered with iManage Africa, Music Ally, YouTube Music and more over the course of its programmes.
Juventus Academy Nigeria
In 2020 the Nigerian camp of the Juventus Academy named Big Brother Naija reality star Ozoemena Chukwu, popularly known as Ozo, as its brand manager. Located in Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria, the camp features both a year-round training program and international programs.
The Amazing Klef Academy
Founded by Nigerian photographer Okwuchukwu Martins Dominic popularly known as Amazing Klef, The Amazing Klef Academy is nurturing raw talents and building the next generation of superstar photographers and creatives through its various presets, courses, books and workshops.
Dream Catchers Academy
Founded by Seyi Oluyole in 2014, Dream Catchers Academy was born from her experience of poverty as a child. Dream Catchers Academy for Girls is a program of The Dream Nurture Foundation. Creating a future for orphaned and indigent girls through quality education, music, arts and leadership and life skills.
Ebony Life Creative Academy
EbonyLife Creative Academy is supported by the Lagos State Government through the Lagos State Creative Industry Initiative (LACI), under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. ELCA offers free, practical short courses, designed by industry experts, across all aspects of filmmaking and media content production, for both aspiring as well as industry experts looking to expand or advance their skillset.
KAP Film And Television Academy
Founded by Kunle Afolayan, one of Nigeria’s foremost film makers, the KAP Film and Television Academy is a film production learning institution imparting prospective filmmakers with film industry knowledge through a robust curriculum as well as first-hand learning from tried and tested industry experts, ultimately inducing capacity building within the industry in Nigeria and globally. Located in Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria, the KAP Film and Television Academy offers both offline and online courses in a wide array of filmmaking courses.
Tech Studio Academy
Tech Studio Academy is a top-rated tech academy in Lagos. In the last 3 years, they’ve trained hundreds of students (both online and physical) and helped them to navigate and forge their paths in the tech industry. Through their intense 16 week boot camp they teach the important skills required to jumpstart your career as a web developer. With on-campus training you learn to think and build like software developers.
The Sarz Academy
Founded in 2015 by Osabuohien Osaretin, popularly known as Sarz, the Sarz Academy is a non-governmental and non-profit organization that acts as an incubator for African creatives by helping them thrive in the creative and business of entertainment. Through a series of practical and hands-on sessions led by industry experts, the academy educates Nigerian creatives on how to harness their talent and turn their passions into businesses. Its production masterclasses have trained over 500 creatives and the academy has a partnership with YouTube Music.
Orange Academy
Orange is a pioneering practical school in Africa with a focus on shaping local minds that will build global brands. They are the premier Brand School in Africa to put emphasis on creating memorable brand experiences through unique storytelling that reaches humankind. They have grown from a 12-student school to a 150-student school in just 5 years. They have an alumni base of over 500 professionals working in the Brand Communications industry, in Nigeria and beyond. They also serve as a major reference point for new hires in brand agencies and companies in Nigeria.
Del-York Creative Academy
The Del-York Creative Academy is Africa’s foremost capacity building institution for film, media, animation, technology, and marketing communications industry. The film and media school with headquarters located in Lagos, Nigeria is pioneering the growth of the African Creative Industry, through its intensive hands-on training programs. We bring international experts from Hollywood to provide African creatives with comprehensive training for working in the global creative industry. Certified by Nigeria’s National Board for Technical Education, Del-York Creative Academy has remained the best filmmaking and media studies institution since its founding in 2010, and has since attracted participants from across Africa and as far as Europe and the Americas.
AltSchool Africa
AltSchool Africa is the alternative school of alternative schools in Nigeria. You can, in under a year, learn and gain a certification in a myriad of disciplines to give you a great foundation as well as the start you need to go for your dream tech career. Their mission is to help you get started on the career you want. Whether you are fresh out of high school, seeking extra education, or want to transition to a career in tech, they aim to give you the skills and insight to achieve the success you desire.