Nigerian edtech company Edves has expanded its artificial intelligence (AI) platform to more than 2,300 schools across 12 countries, reaching over 625,000 students, 57,000 teachers and 387,000 parents, according to a statement issued by the company’s communications executive, Mary Ayo-Aina, on Monday.
The announcement coincides with Edves’ 10th anniversary, marking a decade since its establishment in October 2016.
Founded in Lagos, Edves initially focused on digitising school administration before expanding into online learning, student assessments, curriculum management and AI-supported teaching.
The latest development reflects a shift from administrative software towards tools that directly support classroom instruction.
The platform’s AI capabilities include lesson planning, curriculum-linked assessments and teaching observation. These tools are designed to help teachers prepare lessons and give school administrators greater visibility into classroom activities and teaching practices.
The expansion comes as African education systems face pressure to improve learning outcomes amid limited resources and uneven access to digital infrastructure.
Technology providers are increasingly positioning AI as a way to reduce workloads and tailor instruction, although its effectiveness will depend on connectivity, teacher training, affordability and the responsible use of student data.
Edves has also participated in public-sector education initiatives in Nigeria, including Enugu State’s Smart Green Schools programme, covering 260 schools, and Anambra State’s Smart Schools initiative, implemented across 22 pilot local government areas.
These projects offer opportunities to deploy digital tools beyond private schools and test their use in state education systems.
The company’s growth has been supported by investment and industry recognition. It was selected for Co-Creation Hub’s Intel-powered Growth Accelerator in 2017 and won the Best EdTech Prize at the 2018 Seedstars Global Summit in Switzerland.
In 2023, it secured seed funding from Beta Ventures, Fondation Botnar and Future Africa to support product development and expansion. The funding amount was not disclosed.
As it enters its second decade, Edves plans to deepen its use of AI and expand internationally.
Co-founder and chief operating officer Dare Adebayo said the next phase would focus on translating adoption into measurable improvements in teaching effectiveness, administrative efficiency and student learning.
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