He is redefining the current landscape by creating a clear structure for accessing African languages. This effort opens up a structured educational space that profoundly changes how these languages are studied.

Frank Akinwande Williams is a Nigerian entrepreneur working in edtech and digital culture in Lagos. He is the co-founder and chief executive of Lingawa, an online platform dedicated to learning African languages.

Founded in 2022 by Frank Akinwande Williams, Yvonne Williams, and Uche Azinge, Lingawa offers courses adapted to the pace and availability of each user through flexible schedules and the support of specialized tutors. The platform focuses on individualized progression, allowing everyone to advance at their own speed.

Learners are matched with a native tutor, selected according to their goals, level, and learning style. The tutors take the time to explain concepts, verify understanding, and encourage repetition, a method particularly useful for beginners or those wishing to reconnect with their heritage language. Lingawa currently offers Yoruba and Igbo courses.

The platform also integrates cultural content into the learning path. Films, songs, games, and interactive media are used to create a learning environment rooted in familiar contexts. The objective is to facilitate the acquisition of linguistic reflexes over the course of the sessions.

Lingawa also provides users with a mobile application that allows for revision between lessons using flashcards, games, and progress tracking tools. This complementary support helps maintain a regular pace and reinforces learning. The platform also offers virtual immersion sessions, designed to practice listening and speaking in near-real-life situations.

Frank Akinwande Williams holds a bachelor's degree in medicine, obtained in 2008 from the University of Birmingham in England. He is also a graduate of the University of York, where he obtained a bachelor's degree in economics and finance in 2012. He also holds a master's degree in financial administration, obtained in 2018 from Harvard Business School in the United States.

He began his professional career in 2012 as an investment banking services analyst at Morgan Stanley in the United Kingdom. In 2014, he joined Helios Investment Partners in London as an associate for portfolio operations and investments. In 2018, he joined Actis, a British investor, as a partner, before becoming a director in 2020, a position he held until 2022.

Melchior Koba