Nolithia Sibanda

A South African educator who created Africa’s first AI-driven platform to bridge rural education gaps

Nolithia Sibanda is a South African innovator and educator who developed EduVolve, an AI-powered education platform connecting rural students to global classrooms. Born in 1996 in Soweto, Sibanda witnessed firsthand the disparities in educational resources between urban and rural areas. After earning a computer science degree from the University of Cape Town in 2019, she founded EduVolve in 2021. The platform uses chatbots and VR simulations to teach STEM subjects, with content localized in isiZulu and other African languages.

EduVolve’s breakthrough came in 2023 when it partnered with Kenya’s Ministry of Education to reach 200,000 students. By 2024, it had expanded to Ghana and Tanzania, offering free access to 80% of its users. Sibanda’s work intersects with UN SDG 4 (Quality Education) and has been praised by UNESCO for its 'community-centric design.' Critics note that internet access remains a barrier, but Sibanda counters: 'We’re not waiting for perfect infrastructure—we adapt to what exists.'

In 2024, Sibanda launched the African EdTech Accelerator, funding startups addressing educational inequity. She was featured in Forbes Africa’s 30 Under 30 list and frequently speaks at global forums like the World Education Summit.