Letitia Ndong

A Cameroonian tech entrepreneur who revolutionized access to education through digital innovation

Letitia Ndong is a visionary entrepreneur from Cameroon whose work has transformed educational access across sub-Saharan Africa. In 2015, she co-founded Edunext, a platform that delivers high-quality educational content via SMS and USSD protocols - technologies accessible even on basic feature phones. This innovation has enabled over 2 million students in 15 African countries to access learning materials when traditional schooling was disrupted by conflict or economic challenges. Ndong's approach uses localized content in multiple African languages, addressing both literacy gaps and the digital divide. Her work was pivotal during the 2020 pandemic when UNESCO reported 80% of African students lacked internet access. Through partnerships with governments and NGOs, Edunext now offers vocational training modules that have created employment pathways for 50,000 youth. Ndong's TED Talk "How SMS is saving education in Africa" has over 2M views, highlighting her global impact. She was named one of Africa's 100 Most Influential Women in 2022 by Forbes Africa.