Chidi Nwaogu

Chidi Nwaogu
Chidi Nwaogu at MEST Africa
Personal details
BornDominic Chidiebere Nwaogu
(1990-05-20) 20 May 1990
Lagos State, Nigeria
EducationUniversity of Lagos
Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology
OccupationTech Entrepreneur and Software Engineer
Known for
Co-Founder and CEO of Publiseer
Co-Founder and CTO at Efiwe
Awards
Africa's Business Heroes Prize by Jack Ma Foundation
Africa Prize For Engineering Innovation by Royal Academy of Engineering
Websitenwaogu.com

Dominic Chidiebere Nwaogu (Listenⓘ; born 20 May 1990) is a Nigerian[1] tech entrepreneur and software developer,[2] who is presently one of the founders of Efiwe, a mobile-first, AI-powered coding platform[3], and Publiseer, a Lagos-based digital publishing company.[4] Before the creation of Publiseer, he founded and sold two startup companies,[5] which includes LAGbook, a social network with more than one million registered users, which was acquired in 2013.[6]

In 2021, Chidi was recognized by the Jack Ma Foundation as one of the Top 10 Africa's Business Heroes,[7] and in the same year, was listed on the YNaija Power List as one of the 100 Most Powerful Young Nigerians.[8] In 2026, he was recognized by YNaija as one of the 100 Most Impactful People in Tech,[9] and in the same year, was one of the 2 Nigerians featured on the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation list by the Royal Academy of Engineering.[10]

Early life

Chidi grew up in a family of entrepreneurs with no university education. At the age of 7, his mother lost her job because she wasn't a computer literate. This made her buy a computer so Chidi and his twin brother, Chika, wouldn't experience the same problem. Chidi and Chika taught themselves to code, and had developed a video game at the age of 16.[11]

Chidi went on to study Physics at the University of Lagos, before proceeding to Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST Africa) in Ghana to study Software Entrepreneurship. He briefly attended Imo State University, where he studied Electrical and Electronics Engineering.[12]

Career

LAGbook

LAGbook was a social networking service from Nigeria, which targeted young individuals between the ages of 18 and 30, looking to make friends online.[13] With 4,000 daily new registrations,[14] the social network also had users from India, Germany, Canada, and Spain.[13] Founded in 2010 by Chidi and his brother, Chika, while they were still studying at the University of Lagos,[15] LAGbook reached one million registered users within three years.[16]

Publiseer

Founded in 2017 with his twin brother,[17] Publiseer works with independent African creators[18] to monetize their creative content in 100 countries.[19] The company was identified by the International Finance Corporation as one of the startups "that could speed up innovation in Africa".[20] As of September 2022, Publiseer has worked with 8,000 creators in Africa,[21] including Nigerian recording artists, Erigga and CDQ.[22] In partnership with Google, Publiseer is available in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, and Egypt.[23] Based on the number of creators on its platform, Publiseer has been referred to as, "one of the largest independent digital publishers in Africa".[24] In 2019, Publiseer launched “publiSHEr” to serve its female authors and artists.[25]

Savvy

Chidi is one of the founders of Savvy, a program that trains, supports, and funds entrepreneurs.[26] In partnership with the Kenya Private Sector Alliance, Savvy has trained 7,500 entrepreneurs.[27] Savvy was founded in 2020, and the virtually conducted program is available in about 100 languages[28] and is funded by the International Telecommunication Union and the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation.[29]

Efiwe

Founded in 2025 with Abhinav Negi,[30] Efiwe is a Nigerian startup that allows people to learn coding from a smartphone. Supporting 189 languages,[31] the platform combines interactive gamified challenges and real-time AI feedback to achieve this.[32] Launched in August 2025, Efiwe has an offline mode for people who do not have stable internet.[33] Once the platform is completely loaded, it can function with no internet, which allows those in areas with expensive or unstable internet to learn without interruption.[34] Efiwe has reached about 9,000 users from more than 120 countries.[30] As of June 2026, people can learn to code using Efiwe on WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and via SMS.[35] Funded by Mastercard Foundation,[36] Efiwe was recognized in 2026 by TechCrunch as one of "the 200 most promising early-stage startups from around the world".[37]

Awards and recognition

In 2020, Chidi received the Migration Entrepreneurship Prize by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.[38] Other awards include the African Entrepreneurship Award by Bank of Africa,[39] Roddenberry Foundation Catalyst Award, the International Telecommunication Union Award for Global Innovation,[40] and the HundrED Global Collection Award for Leading Education Innovation.[26]

In 2025, Chidi was recognized by Legit.ng as one of the "Young Nigerian Investors That Will Shape 2025",[41] and in 2022, as one of the "8 most outstanding business personalities in Nigeria".[42] In 2024, The New Africa Magazine listed Chidi as one of the "100 Young and Exceptional Africans".[43] Also, in 2019, he was recognised by Tekedia as one of the "most sought-after young Nigerian entrepreneurs"[44] and in the same year, won the first prize in the 'Entrepreneurship' category at the Africa 35.35 Awards.[20]

In 2025, Chidi was recognized by Vanguard as one of the "innovators shaping Africa’s digital future",[45] and in 2026, he was shortlisted by the Royal Academy of Engineering as one of the "16 innovators for the 2026 Africa Prize For Engineering Innovation".[31]

Other recognitions include YNaija's New Establishment,[46] Empire Magazine Africa's Top 5 African Tech Founders Under 40,[47] and Impact 100 Nigeria.[48] Chidi has been selected for fellowship programs like Acumen Fellowship,[49] University of Virginia's Contemplative Sciences Center's Dalai Lama Fellowship,[50] Mastercard Foundation Edtech Fellowship,[51] French-African Foundation Young Leaders,[52] and Westerwelle Foundation Young Leaders.[53]

Publications

  • "Dear Entrepreneur". 2021. ISBN 979-8-7396-4833-4[54]

References

  1. ↑ "Chidi Nwaogu from Nigeria is OD Young Person of the Month for June 2019! – Opportunity Desk". 2019-06-01. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  2. ↑ Foundation, French-African (2022-02-01). "Spotlight - Chidi Nwaogu". French African. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  3. ↑ Idajili, Anibe (2025-10-01). "How Infrastructure Shortfalls are Crushing Nigeria's AI Revolution". TechCity. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
  4. ↑ "Lagos-based digital publisher Publiseer wins Startup World Cup Nigeria finals". Ventureburn. 2019-02-12. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  5. ↑ "How One Platform Helps African Artists Pave Their Way to Success". Seedstars. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  6. ↑ "Young Nigerian Receives Africa's Business Heroes Prize by Chinese Billionaire Jack Ma - THISDAYLIVE". This Day. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  7. ↑ Benson, Emmanuel Abara (2021-11-21). "10 entrepreneurs from Nigeria, Kenya and 5 other countries announced as the 2021 Africa's Business Heroes winners". Business Insider Africa. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  8. ↑ Okafor, Chinedu (2021-09-01). "#YNaijaPowerList2021: Davido, Ola Brown, Tacha, Dare Adekoya, Tunde Ednut listed among most powerful young Nigerians » Page 7 of 11 » YNaija". YNaija. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  9. ↑ YNaija (2026-04-25). "YNaija's 100 People in Tech » YNaija". YNaija. Retrieved 2026-04-25.
  10. ↑ Ayodele, Aduwo (2026-04-09). "Two Nigerians, 14 others make 2026 Africa prize for engineering list". Peoples Gazette. Abuja, Nigeria. Retrieved 2026-05-10.
  11. ↑ Goerg, Sierra (2020-12-21). "Publiseer: Allowing Creatives Worldwide to Monetize Their Work". Yunus&Youth. Retrieved 2026-02-17.
  12. ↑ Kareem, Toluwalope (2020-05-02). "Failure is success when you learn from it — Nwaogu". The Punch. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
  13. 1 2 "The top African social networks you probably don't know about". htxt. 2014-02-17. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  14. ↑ Floyd, Ignacio (2019-01-08). "Top 5 African Social Networks". Good Christian Chat. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  15. ↑ Busayo (2012-10-11). "Nigerian Social Network Partners South Africa's Umuntu Media". Ventures Africa. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  16. ↑ Kojo (2019-09-16). "Nigerian entrepreneur wins first prize at the Africa 35.35 Awards". IT News Africa | Business Technology, Telecoms and Startup News. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  17. ↑ "Nigeria's Publiseer is a finalist at Harvard Business School's New Venture Competition 2018". 2018-02-22. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  18. ↑ Anderson, Porter (2019-06-12). "Nigerian Entrepreneurs Chidi and Chika Nwaogu: Publiseer". Publishing Perspectives. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  19. ↑ "Nigeria's Publiseer to distribute songs on YouTube Music". Music In Africa (in French). 2018-09-24. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  20. 1 2 Olagunju, David (2019-09-21). "Young Nigerians on winning ways". Tribune Online. Retrieved 2026-04-01.
  21. ↑ Olukotun, Oluwasegun. "African Digital Content Distribution Platform Publishers Secures Distribution Partnership with Citeste.ro". innovation-village.com. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  22. ↑ Egbedi, Hadassah (2019-01-08). "Brothers, Chidi and Chika Nwaogu, founders of Publiseer, are on a mission to take over Africa's digital publishing space". Ventures Africa. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  23. ↑ Staff Writer (2019-01-09). "Nigeria's Publiseer partners with Google Play Books, targets Egypt". ITWeb Africa. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  24. ↑ "This Nigerian Startup Is Allowing Creatives Independently Publish And Distribute Their Work". 2018-03-14. Archived from the original on 2018-03-14. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  25. ↑ Williams, Mark (2019-12-23). "Nigerian aggregator Publiseer launches "publiSHEr" offering 100% royalties to female authors and artists. Aims to serve 2 million African creatives by 2030". The New Publishing Standard. Retrieved 2026-08-02.
  26. 1 2 Ibemere, Dave (2022-10-28). "Nigerian tech entrepreneur Chidi Nwaogu beats 3,488 nominees to win global award". Legit.ng. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  27. ↑ "Savvy to train 1 000 start-up founders in Kenya". Ventureburn. 2022-09-19. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  28. ↑ "Fellowship programme for entrepreneurs expands". Ventureburn. 2021-03-24. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  29. ↑ Ibemere, Dave (2021-12-03). "After Jack Ma award, Chidi Nwaogu gets funding from UN to grow his company". Legit.ng. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  30. 1 2 "Chidi Nwaogu, Nigeria, Efiwe". africaprize.raeng.org.uk. Retrieved 2026-05-11.
  31. 1 2 "Meet the 16 innovators shortlisted for the 2026 Africa Prize". raeng.org.uk. Retrieved 2026-03-25.
  32. ↑ Jackson, Tom (2025-09-24). "Nigeria's Efiwe launches AI-powered mobile platform to make coding accessible for all". Disrupt Africa. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
  33. ↑ "Tech Today Africa - Leading African Technology News & Innovation Insights". techtodayafrica.com. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
  34. ↑ Nkosi, Mamsi (2025-08-18). "Efiwe Enters EduTech with AI-Powered Mobile Coding Platform". IT News Africa | Business Technology, Telecoms and Startup News. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
  35. ↑ "Efiwe is bridging the no laptop, poor internet barrier by teaching coding with SMS". 2026-06-04. Retrieved 2026-06-13.
  36. ↑ Kareem, Opeyemi (2026-08-04). "CcHUB, Mastercard Foundation select 12 startups for fourth EdTech Fellowship cohort". TechCabal. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
  37. ↑ Schick, Isabelle Johannessen, Michael (2026-08-20). "The 2026 Startup Battlefield 200 is here — see who made the cut". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2026-08-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  38. ↑ Staff Writer (2020-04-06). "Chidi Nwaogu Wins Migration Entrepreneurship Prize by Swiss Government". CIO Africa. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  39. ↑ "Young Nigerian shines at 2018 African Entrepreneurship Award". Daily Trust. 2018-06-27. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
  40. ↑ "Chidi Nwaogu". Meaningful Business Community. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  41. ↑ Ibemere, Dave (2025-01-05). ""We believe": Nelson Elemi and 3 other young investors that will shape 2025". Legit.ng. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
  42. ↑ Enengedi, Victor (2023-01-10). "Tunji Andrews, Tito Ovia, others make Legit Business Names of 2022 for Startups". Legit.ng. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  43. ↑ "Young and Exceptional Africans 2024". The New Africa Magazine. 2025-02-10. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  44. ↑ Pius, Ohemu Godwin (2019-08-06). "Entrepreneurial Young People Are Driving Nigeria's Development Efforts". Tekedia. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
  45. ↑ Nwafor (2025-12-23). "The innovators shaping Africa's digital future". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2026-01-11.
  46. ↑ YNaija (2026-01-27). "YNaija New Establishment 2025 » YNaija". YNaija. Retrieved 2026-02-02.
  47. ↑ "Top 5 African Tech Founders Under 40 Driving Innovation Across The Continent". 2026-01-26. Retrieved 2026-02-02.
  48. ↑ "GABI Africa Releases Impact 100 Nigeria Class Of '26: Celebrating The Visionaries Shaping The Continent's Future • GABI". gabiafrica.com. 2026-06-09. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
  49. ↑ "Acumen Academy". Acumen Academy. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
  50. ↑ "DALAI LAMA FELLOWS". DALAI LAMA FELLOWS. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
  51. ↑ "Efiwe". Future of Learning. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
  52. ↑ Release, Press (2021-07-05). "Chidi Nwaogu Announced As One Of The Laureates Of The French-African Young Leaders". Connectnigeria Articles. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
  53. ↑ Jackson, Tom (2019-04-03). "9 African entrepreneurs selected for Westerwelle Young Founders Programme". Disrupt Africa. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
  54. ↑ Erezi, Dennis (2020-08-05). "Nigerian Tech-Entrepreneur floats Savvy Fellowship for entrepreneurs". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
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