Daniel Idiare From Nigeria is OD Young Person of The Month – December 2024. Daniel Idiare is a data-driven entrepreneur, impact advocate, and visionary leader dedicated to transforming Africa’s future. From reshaping education with innovative technology to advocating for systemic change on global stages, he is building scalable, sustainable solutions to tackle Africa’s pressing challenges. With a focus on STEM, talent development, infrastructure, scale, and sustainability (STEMTIS), Daniel works across ed-tech, fintech, media, and e-commerce to empower Africa’s youth and unlock the continent’s potential.
Read his amazing story below and be inspired.
DANIEL IDIARE
Daniel’s entrepreneurial mission is to create systems that bridge gaps in education, infrastructure, and talent development across Africa. His work, from empowering millions of young Africans through academies to fostering job creation, stems from a belief that Africa’s youth are its greatest resource. As a medical doctor fluent in Russian and a self-taught entrepreneur, Daniel brings diverse skills to his work. Studying under Nigeria’s Bilateral Education Agreement Scholarship, he gained a global perspective on Africa’s challenges. The STEMTIS framework (STEM, Talent, Infrastructure, Scale, Sustainability) guides Daniel’s work. STEM Education: Prioritizing fields that drive economic growth. Talent Development: Creating opportunities for Africa’s youth. Infrastructure: Advocating for digital and physical development. Scale: Building systems for exponential growth. Sustainability: Ensuring long-term relevance and impact.
On How He Started
Daniel’s journey began with a drive to address the systemic gaps he observed growing up in Nigeria. Witnessing the challenges faced by young Africans—limited access to quality education, scarce job opportunities, and infrastructure deficits—inspired him to create scalable solutions. His personal experiences navigating these issues fueled his passion to empower others.
While studying medicine through Nigeria’s Bilateral Education Agreement Scholarship, Daniel gained a global perspective on Africa’s challenges. Combining his training as a doctor with his entrepreneurial instincts, he began exploring ways to bridge education and employment gaps, starting with grassroots projects before scaling his initiatives continent-wide.
On His Successes
Daniel founded VarsityScape, a SaaS platform revolutionizing education in Africa. It helps organizations launch academies addressing skills gaps in industries like healthcare, renewable energy, and digital media. Africa faces staggering education challenges, with over 20 million high school graduates competing for fewer than 2 million university spots annually. VarsityScape provides alternative pathways to education and employment. Their key goals include: launching 5,000 academies across Africa by 2027, equipping 10 million learners annually with industry-relevant skills, impacting 50 million young Africans by 2034.
With AI-powered tools and live-learning features, VarsityScape fosters personalized learning, collaboration, and lifelong skill development. Daniel also leads Kwiberry, which equips businesses with operational tools, and Sidarr, an outsourcing platform connecting businesses to talent across various fields. These initiatives help businesses scale while focusing on innovation and growth. As a student in Russia, Daniel held key leadership roles, including Secretary General, Senator, and President of the Association of Nigerian Scholarship Students in Russia (ANSSIR). He developed a data-driven management system that reduced embassy response times by over 60%. In 2023, he represented Nigerian students during a meeting with the Nigerian Vice President at the Russia-Africa Summit, advocating for diaspora challenges.
On His Challenges and Future Plans
Building scalable solutions in Africa is challenging. During VarsityScape’s early days, sanctions disrupted fundraising, but Daniel adapted and persevered. “Challenges are inevitable, but they’re also opportunities to innovate,” he says. By 2035, Daniel aims to empower 100 million young Africans through education, skills training, and careers in emerging sectors like renewable energy, AI, and digital health. His goal is to create systems that transform lives and unlock Africa’s potential.
His Words of Advice For The Youth
To create real change, we must build systems that outlast us. Africa’s youth are ready—they just need the tools, opportunities, and infrastructure to succeed. I’m here to make sure those systems exist.
You can connect with Daniel on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and check out VarsityScape on their website here, and on Instagram, X, LinkedIn.
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