AltSchool Africa has unveiled its Nano-Diploma programme, a flexible and affordable learning option designed to break barriers to education for Africans. Speaking at the launch in Lagos on September 24, 2025, the school’s Chief Executive Officer, Adewale Yusuf, said the initiative was born out of personal experience and the need to ensure that financial limitations do not hinder access to quality learning. He explained that while AltSchool’s one-year diploma had opened opportunities for many, its 20-hour-per-week structure often proved demanding for learners juggling jobs, families, and businesses.
The new Nano-Diploma is priced at ₦45,000 ($30), significantly lower than the full diploma’s $290, and will be offered in multiple languages including Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, French, and Swahili. According to Rachael Onaja, Head of Learning, Innovation, and New Markets, the programme allows learners to apply knowledge immediately in their daily work, making the impact visible even before completion. She stressed that the shorter structure is not just about reducing timelines but about widening inclusion and bridging gaps in accessibility.
In addition to affordability, technology plays a central role in the rollout. Emmanuel Ogunsola, Head of Product and Engineering, said learners can now sign up within five minutes using any device, with local currency and mobile money payments enabled. He also introduced “Alti,” an AI-powered assistant that summarises lessons, creates flashcards, and recommends tailored courses, describing it as a digital pocket tutor designed to make learning easier and more interactive.
AltSchool disclosed plans to partner with organisations and institutions to provide scholarships for learners, ensuring cost is not an obstacle to opportunity. Yusuf emphasised that the Nano-Diploma reflects a larger vision of transforming education in Africa by removing limitations of money, language, and geography. “Our goal is to make quality learning accessible to every African,” he said, adding that the programme marks a new chapter where education is defined by possibility and not privilege.