Nigerian education technology company Izesan Limited has voiced strong concerns about what it describes as persistent opacity and a lack of accountability in the administration of the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship by the leadership of Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB).

The startup, which focuses on preserving and promoting African indigenous languages through digital learning tools, claims it has faced repeated, unexplained rejections from the program over the past three years.

The letter, titled “What Innovation Are We Really Enabling?”, questions CcHUB’s commitment to supporting grassroots innovation in Africa, following what Izesan says have been three consecutive years of unacknowledged or unexplained rejections from the prestigious fellowship program.

“We write this with a deep sense of purpose and concern,” the letter begins, outlining the startup’s frustration with what it perceives as a pattern of dismissive engagement from CcHUB. According to Izesan, despite submitting detailed applications that showcase its work in delivering culturally relevant, multilingual education technology, the company has been met repeatedly with “radio silence, vague platitudes, or rejections without explanation.”

The most recent application, the company notes, was ignored entirely—even as a new cohort of fellows was announced on social media.

Izesan Limited is a 100% bootstrapped startup focused on revitalizing African indigenous languages through technology. The company has established partnerships with the American International School of Abuja, secured government contracts across several Nigerian states, and worked with organizations such as the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Culture, and UNESCO.

“We are not just building an app. We are restoring dignity to African languages. We are empowering students and teachers alike,” the company stated.

The open letter calls on CcHUB to reflect on its role as an innovation enabler in Africa. It questions whether the fellowship truly supports locally driven, African-led solutions or simply prioritizes well-connected startups with access to international funding.

“We still believe in the vision of the Mastercard Foundation and CcHUB,” the letter concludes, “but we can no longer stay silent about a process that, from our experience, has shown a concerning lack of transparency. We ask not for charity, but for fairness. Not for preference, but for clarity.”

As of the time of this publication, CcHUB had not responded to the concerns raised. Calls made to the number on their platform didn’t connect.