In a bold and heartfelt open letter addressed to the leadership team at Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB), Nigerian edtech startup Izesan Limited has raised concerns over what it described as a lack of transparency and accountability in the administration of the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship.

In a letter titled: ‘What Innovation Are We Really Enabling?’, it questioned CcHUB’s commitment to supporting grassroots innovation in Africa, following what Izesan said 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 per cent bootstrapped startup focused on revitalising 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 organisations 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.

“We still believe in the vision of the Mastercard Foundation and CcHUB, 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,” the letter concluded.