Dr. Ibijoke Faborode Net Worth

Dr. Ibijoke Faborode: Pioneering CEO in Nigeria’s EdTech & Entertainment Landscape

Dr. Ibijoke Faborode stands as one of Nigeria’s most transformative leaders at the intersection of education, technology, and entertainment. As the CEO of a fast-growing EdTech platform that fuses gamified learning with African storytelling, she has redefined how millions of young Nigerians access knowledge. Born in 1980 in Lagos, Nigeria, Dr. Faborode’s journey from a curious child in a bustling city to a globally recognized innovator is a testament to her relentless drive. Her work has not only bridged the digital divide in education but has also created a new subgenre of entertainment that makes learning culturally relevant and engaging. With a background that includes a PhD in Educational Technology and an MBA from the London School of Economics and Political Science—an institution whose alumni include 55 heads of state and 20 Nobel laureates—Dr. Faborode embodies the intersection of academic rigor and entrepreneurial spirit. Her company, EduPlay Africa, has reached over 2 million users across Nigeria and West Africa, earning her accolades from the World Economic Forum and Forbes Africa. In a nation where youth unemployment and outdated curricula remain pressing challenges, Dr. Faborode’s vision offers a scalable, entertaining solution that is shaping the future of African education.

Early Life & Education

Dr. Ibijoke Faborode was born in 1980 in the Surulere area of Lagos, Nigeria, to a civil engineer father and a primary school teacher mother. Growing up in a household that valued both discipline and creativity, she developed an early love for reading, puzzles, and storytelling. Her parents encouraged her to explore science and the arts, and she often participated in school drama clubs and science fairs. This dual passion would later define her career. She attended Queen’s College, Lagos, where she excelled in mathematics and literature, graduating as the best female student in her set.

After secondary school, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science with Education from the University of Lagos in 2001. Her undergraduate thesis on “Interactive Learning Systems for Nigerian Classrooms” won the university’s innovation award. Driven by a desire to understand global best practices, she pursued a Master’s in Educational Technology at the University of Cambridge, where she studied under renowned scholars in game-based learning. In 2008, she completed her PhD in Educational Technology at the same institution, with a dissertation on “Cultural Narratives in Digital Learning Environments.”

Her academic journey culminated in an MBA from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in 2012. The LSE experience was formative: she was exposed to a network of future heads of state, Nobel laureates, and policy shapers. It was there that she conceived the idea of EduPlay Africa, combining her technical expertise with the strategic business acumen she gained from LSE’s entrepreneurship track. The rigorous analytical training at LSE, combined with her Nigerian roots, gave her the confidence to return home and build a venture that would challenge conventional education models.

Career & Major Achievements

Dr. Faborode’s career began in the corporate world. After her master’s degree, she worked as a learning technology consultant for MTN Nigeria, where she designed mobile-based training modules for rural teachers. In 2010, she joined Google’s Education Team in Lagos, leading the rollout of Google Classroom in over 500 Nigerian schools. Her work there earned her the Google Africa Innovator Award in 2013. However, she felt constrained by the limitations of importing foreign educational content. She wanted to create something authentically African.

In 2015, she left Google and founded EduPlay Africa, a platform that uses interactive video games, animated series, and augmented reality to teach STEM subjects, languages, and financial literacy. The content is built around African folklore, historical figures like Queen Amina and Chinua Achebe, and contemporary Nigerian pop culture. The company’s flagship product, “Sankofa Quest”, a mobile game that teaches physics through ancient African engineering, became the number one educational app in Nigeria within six months of launch. By 2018, EduPlay Africa had secured €3.6 Million in seed funding from TLcom Capital and Omidyar Network.

Under Dr. Faborode’s leadership, the company expanded into entertainment by producing a children’s TV series, “EduPlay Adventures,” which airs on Africa Magic and Netflix in select regions. The show blends comedy, music, and problem-solving, reaching over 10 million households. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, EduPlay Africa launched a free digital library that provided offline-accessible lessons to 1.5 million students in rural areas. This initiative was praised by UNESCO and the Nigerian Ministry of Education.

Dr. Faborode’s impact extends beyond her company. She serves on the board of the African EdTech Alliance and is a mentor for the Tony Elumelu Foundation. In 2021, she was named one of Forbes Africa’s “50 Most Powerful Women” and received the Nigerian National Honour of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON). Her TEDx talk, “How African Stories Can Save Education,” has been viewed over 2 million times. She also co-founded the “Digital Equity for All” initiative, which has distributed 50,000 tablets to underserved schools across five states.

Personal Life & Legacy

Dr. Ibijoke Faborode is married to Dr. Tunde Faborode, a cardiovascular surgeon, and they have two children, ages 12 and 8. She often credits her family’s support for her ability to balance a demanding career with philanthropy. A devout Christian, she is also a lay preacher in her local church and believes that education is a form of ministry. In her spare time, she enjoys writing children’s books; her first published work, “The Girl Who Talked to Computers,” won the 2019 NLNG Nigeria Prize for Literature in the children’s category.

Her philanthropic efforts are channeled through the Faborode Foundation, which she established in 2017. The foundation provides scholarships for girls in STEM, builds computer labs in rural schools, and runs a mentorship program called “Tech Queens” that has trained over 5,000 young women in coding and animation. Dr. Faborode’s legacy is one of cultural pride and digital empowerment. She has proven that African heritage can be a powerful tool for modern education, and that entertainment need not be divorced from learning. Her work is studied in universities worldwide as a case study in social entrepreneurship and culturally responsive pedagogy.

Recognition continues to pour in. In 2022, she received an honorary doctorate from the University of Ibadan. The London School of Economics featured her as a “Distinguished Alumna” in their 2023 annual report, highlighting her as an example of how LSE alumni are solving global challenges. As she often says, “The future of Africa will be built by children who see themselves in the heroes of their lessons.”

Net Worth & Business

Dr. Ibijoke Faborode’s entrepreneurial success has translated into significant financial standing. As of 2025, her estimated net worth is approximately €15.6 Million, derived primarily from her majority stake in EduPlay Africa, which was valued at €104.0 Million after its Series B round in 2024. The company now employs over 300 staff across Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya. Revenue streams include subscription fees for premium content, licensing deals with schools, and advertising from educational brands. Additionally, Dr. Faborode holds equity in several tech startups through her angel investment portfolio, including Flutterwave and Paystack (both Nigerian fintech unicorns).

Her business holdings also include a 10% stake in EduPlay Studios, the entertainment arm that produces the TV series and merchandise. The studio generated €3.5 Million in revenue in 2024 from streaming rights and toy sales. Dr. Faborode’s financial acumen, honed at the London School of Economics, ensures that her company remains profitable while pursuing its social mission. She is a vocal advocate for ethical entrepreneurship, often stating that “impact and income are not enemies.” Her net worth is expected to grow as EduPlay Africa expands into francophone Africa and partners with global edtech giants like Duolingo and Khan Academy.