Joseph Ogbu Akpa: Founder & CEO, Early Code Ltd

Joseph Ogbu Akpa is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Early Code Ltd, a computer training institute based in Abuja, Nigeria. With a background in Computer Science, he is a philanthropist, software and systems designer, and dedicated educator, with more than 16 years of experience in technical, vocational, and business development education, alongside over eight years of expertise in software development.

Joseph founded Early Code in 2018 with a clear, direct mission: to leverage technology as a tool for poverty eradication, youth empowerment, and gender inclusion. As a developer, he has led the development of multiple enterprise software applications. As an educator, he has led Early Code Institute to train more than 3,000 students, including government officials, entrepreneurs, and low-income individuals, achieving a 95% training success rate. Under his leadership, Early Code has impacted individuals across Nigeria, with at least 75% of graduates securing employment, internships, or freelance roles.

Championing Women and Underserved Communities

Recognizing the accessibility barriers and underrepresentation of women in tech, Joseph partners with NGOs, educational foundations, and government empowerment programs to extend Early Code's reach to women, displaced youth, and out-of-school individuals. This includes the Engage, Empower, and Educate Initiative (EEEI), a specialized initiative that empowers young women and girls with high-demand digital skills including UI/UX design, product design, and digital marketing. He is also the convener of the Tech Empowerment and Mentorship (TEAM) program.

Beyond his work at Early Code, Joseph personally sponsors young people in tertiary education, several of whom have graduated from university, with more currently in undergraduate studies.

“Leverage technology as a tool for poverty eradication, youth empowerment, and gender inclusion.”

Innovating With Private Virtual Classes (PVC)

Today, Joseph manages multiple physical campuses across Abuja while continuously evolving Early Code's curriculum. His latest initiative, Private Virtual Classes (PVC), tackles learner abandonment by replacing static video learning with live tutoring and a trained AI Co-Tutor providing 24/7 support. The platform also enables skilled individuals to monetize their knowledge, earning up to 80% of revenue from the learners they coach.

International Recognition and What's Ahead

Joseph's impactful work has earned international recognition, including a World Bank grant through the Federal Ministry of Education to train Nigerian youth in digital skills under the IDEAS-TVET project, targeting employability and poverty reduction.

By integrating AI into vocational education, Joseph is redefining how underserved communities access and benefit from technology, with a goal of empowering more than 20,000 individuals by 2030.