A growing chorus of Nigerian education technology entrepreneurs is calling for greater transparency in the Mastercard Foundation’s EdTech Fellowship program, which is administered by Lagos-based innovation hub Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB). The protest follows repeated allegations of systemic exclusion and a lack of clarity in the fellowship’s selection process.

The controversy came to a head after Izesan Limited—an EdTech company focused on promoting indigenous language learning—published an open letter accusing CcHUB of excluding locally impactful ventures from the fellowship without providing adequate feedback or justification.

“We have applied three times with no acknowledgement or response,” the letter read. “Our work aligns perfectly with the stated mission of the fellowship—expanding educational access and preserving cultural identity through digital tools. Yet, we remain sidelined.”

Other Nigerian-led startups, including Dumena, echoed the sentiment.

“We believe in the power of EdTech to transform communities, but when high-performing local companies are repeatedly ignored with no explanation, it’s hard not to question the fairness of the process.”

CcHUB has responded with a public blog post asserting that all applicants receive consistent updates and that finalists in the most recent cohort were offered detailed feedback. However, critics argue that the communication has been selective and insufficient.

In response to the mounting criticism, the excluded startups are demanding the publication of selection criteria and performance reports of previously funded ventures. They are also calling for an independent review of the fellowship’s administration.

The issue has sparked broader debate across Nigeria’s tech ecosystem, with stakeholders warning that a lack of transparency could undermine the credibility and impact of donor-funded programs.

As pressure mounts, all eyes are now on CcHUB and the Mastercard Foundation to address the concerns and reaffirm their commitment to inclusive innovation.