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In a bold move that’s shaking up
Fellowship Fallout: Dumena Questions Fairness in CcHUB’s EdTech Selections
The Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB), in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation, recently unveiled a list of 12 edtech startups chosen for its highly competitive EdTech Fellowship. Winners of this program are awarded \$100,000 in equity-free funding and access to a powerful network of investors and resources. However, what should have been a moment of celebration has turned into controversy.
Nigerian startup Dumena has accused CcHUB of overlooking community-rooted innovators in favor of startups with international affiliations and polished brand aesthetics. In an open letter titled “Championing Transparency and Grassroots Impact in African Innovation”, Dumena highlighted a report which reveals that only 4 of the 12 selected startups actively engage with local communities or are even based in Africa.
Their claims echo those of another startup, Izesan!, which previously alleged that its applications were ignored for years despite its commitment to indigenous African language preservation through education technology. According to Dumena, this suggests a deeper issue within the selection framework—one that favors global perception over local effectiveness.
The startup is demanding a transparent and measurable selection process, consistent feedback for all applicants, and an end to what it describes as “silent gatekeeping.” These calls aim to ensure that grassroots innovators aren’t systematically sidelined from opportunities that are supposedly built to support them.
Neither CcHUB nor the Mastercard Foundation has responded publicly to these allegations, even as pressure mounts from within Nigeria’s innovation community. Dumena’s letter ends with a call to action, urging all stakeholders to help rebuild a more inclusive and impactful ecosystem.
Meanwhile, unrelated to the controversy but still within the edtech sphere, Airtel has partnered with ScholarX to roll out LearnAM—a mobile learning platform designed to provide educational content and skill training across Nigeria. It’s a reminder of the ongoing efforts to enhance digital education in Africa, even as debates over fairness and inclusion persist.
What Undercode Say:
This unfolding story is more than a critique of selection procedures—it’s a mirror held up to the African tech ecosystem. Dumena’s accusations are striking because they tap into an ongoing tension: global validation versus local value.
In ecosystems like Nigeria’s, international appeal can often become a gatekeeping tool. Startups with foreign founders, flashy branding, or Silicon Valley connections frequently receive the lion’s share of funding and exposure. Meanwhile, grassroots innovators—those embedded in local communities with deep contextual understanding—are overlooked, not for lack of innovation but for lack of optics.
Dumena’s reference to “silent gatekeeping” is particularly resonant. It reflects a sentiment that many African startups share but rarely voice: that the playing field is quietly skewed. The lack of feedback mechanisms, absence of public evaluation criteria, and zero communication from selection committees only deepen the divide.
The Mastercard Foundation and CcHUB’s silence on the matter is also concerning. It suggests either indifference or a strategic delay, both of which fuel distrust. In an ecosystem as young and volatile as Africa’s, such disconnect can have long-lasting effects, pushing away exactly the kind of innovators these programs claim to support.
Moreover, the issue isn’t just fairness; it’s effectiveness. A fellowship that funds startups without deep community ties risks wasting capital on projects that may not scale or survive. On the flip side, startups embedded in local realities often have the resilience and insight needed to create lasting impact.
This is also a moment of reckoning for the concept of “innovation hubs” across Africa. If hubs like CcHUB are seen as gatekeepers for foreign interest rather than champions of African potential, they risk losing credibility and relevance. For Mastercard Foundation, whose brand centers on inclusion and empowerment, the optics of this controversy could be damaging.
The emergence of platforms like LearnAM shows that local edtech efforts are still thriving, but the controversy around the fellowship reveals a growing distrust of institutional programs. If these institutions want to maintain their standing, reforms are necessary—starting with open dialogue, transparent processes, and a renewed commitment to community-led innovation.
Fact Checker Results:
✅ Dumena’s letter is authentic and publicly documented
✅ Only 4 of 12 selected startups reportedly show active community engagement
✅ Neither CcHUB nor Mastercard Foundation has issued a public response so far 🕵️♂️
Prediction:
If Dumena’s criticism gains traction, CcHUB and Mastercard Foundation will likely be forced to review their selection process. Expect increased demand for public accountability and new policies on transparency. In the long run, this controversy might lead to a wave of reforms across innovation hubs in Africa, sparking more inclusive and community-centered funding models. Grassroots startups may also form alliances or independent platforms to assert more control over how opportunities are distributed.
References:
Reported By: www.legit.ng
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