Schoola’s AI Innovation Earns Spotlight at GITEX Africa 2025

Fadekemi Ajakaiye

Since 1980, the Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) has been a cornerstone event in the global tech industry, showcasing advancements across various sectors, including Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Sustainability Tech, and edtech. In 2023, GITEX expanded its horizons to Africa, launching GITEX Africa to spotlight the continent’s growing tech ecosystem.

The 2025 edition, held from April 14 to 16 in Marrakesh, Morocco, marked the third iteration of this African expansion, drawing over 45,000 attendees from 130 countries, including 1,400 exhibitors and startups, and more than 350 investors. It featured a series of high-level thought leadership sessions, networking opportunities, and showcases of groundbreaking innovations. The exhibition aimed to catalyse Africa’s tech-driven future by presenting the latest breakthroughs in AI, Cloud, IoT, Cybersecurity, and more.​

This year’s exhibition was also marked by the return of the Supernova Challenge 2.0, described as Africa’s largest early-stage start-up pitch competition. With a total prize pool of $110,000 in equity-free funding, the challenge provided a platform for entrepreneurs to present their innovative solutions to a global audience of investors and tech leaders. The competition underscored the continent’s commitment to nurturing homegrown innovations that address local and global challenges.
Among the standout participants in the Supernova Challenge 2.0 was Schoola, a Nigerian edtech company dedicated to transforming K-12 education through artificial intelligence. Selected as one of the 12 Nigerian startups sponsored by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Dubai World Trade Centre, Schoola showcased its flagship product, Curri AI, at the Nigerian pavilion.​

Speaking about the company’s innovative solution, Abdullahi Bature, founder and CEO of Schoola, explained: “Curri AI is an innovative tool that enables teachers to generate high-quality, curriculum-aligned content in five minutes, improving teaching efficiency and student engagement. In utilising generative AI to tailor content to each teacher’s specific needs, Curri AI has taken a definite step towards bridging the educational gap in Nigeria and beyond. As of April 2025, Curri AI has been adopted by over 6,000 educators in Africa, surpassing 14,000 users.”

Schoola’s pitch impressed judges and attendees, securing a semi-finalist spot in the competition. In a post-event interview with Channels Television, Abdullahi described the experience as a pivotal opportunity to connect with stakeholders and key players in the edtech space, noting interest from organisations in at least three countries, opening doors for potential partnerships and opportunities to develop education delivery across Africa.

“Curri AI was built to help educators create richer classroom experiences. GITEX Africa gave us a platform to showcase our solution, and advancing to the semi-finals in the Supernova Challenge 2.0 affirmed that our approach, grounded in local realities, is valid.”
Just weeks earlier, Schoola also participated in a major showcase at the UNDP Nigeria Innovation Centre in Lagos, in collaboration with the Swedish government. The event was attended by high-level dignitaries, including HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, the Swedish Minister of Infrastructure and Housing, and representatives from the United Nations.

Set within the “AI For Social Impact” zone, Schoola once again demonstrated Curri AI through a live walkthrough led by Abdullahi. The presentation emphasised how AI can help expand access to quality education across the continent.

Following GITEX, Schoola is pursuing new partnerships, gearing up for a fundraising round, and developing product updates to deepen its classroom impact across Africa.

As AI reshapes the global landscape, Schoola is a clear example of how African startups are not just adapting to the future but actively shaping it with solutions that are not only built in Africa but built for Africa.