A Father's Legacy: How Two Brothers Built Africa's First AI-Powered School System

The greatest ideas often spring from the deepest wells of personal inspiration. For brothers David and Tobechukwu Akalazu, that inspiration was their late father, a passionate teacher whose profound belief in the power of education, discipline, and hard work laid the bedrock for their future. His values didn't just shape them as men; they forged the mission for Gagner: an African company dedicated to building intelligent solutions for real-world problems.

From Campus Idea to Continental Vision

The spark for Gagner ignited with the younger brother, David. At just 13 years old in 2016, he discovered a deep love for technology, driven by the simple joy of "creating things people would use." This passion led him to pursue Software Engineering at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, where he would later graduate with First-Class Honours.

During his second year, the vision crystallized. He coined the name Gagner—French for 'to win'—seeing it not just as a brand, but as a movement. Gagner began as a student initiative, a small team building tools and resources to help his peers excel. It was David who provided the technological genius and the inspiring vision to harness tech for African challenges.

A Partnership Rooted in Purpose

While David was the creative spark, it was his elder brother, Praise Akalazu, who provided the structure to turn a campus project into a viable business. Their partnership went beyond brotherhood; it was a powerful alignment of purpose. Praise took Gagner from a student-led idea to an impact-driven startup, strategically positioning it to address Africa's most pressing issues using the power of Artificial Intelligence.

Gagner for Schools: A Living Memorial

The company's first official product is more than a groundbreaking innovation—it is a heartfelt tribute. In honor of their late father, the teacher whose influence guided them, the brothers are launching Gagner for Schools: Africa’s First AI-Powered School Management System.

This platform is engineered to radically transform how schools across Nigeria and the wider African continent operate. By empowering institutions to run smarter, faster, and more efficiently, Gagner for Schools embodies both a major technological breakthrough and a living memorial to their father’s enduring belief in education.

The story of the Akalazu brothers and Gagner underscores a powerful truth: Legacies don’t die; they live on through purposeful action. Passion is the seed, but discipline and a people-first approach to technology are the soil that enables it to transform industries and build lasting impact.

Gagner is more than a company; it’s a movement building a future for Africa, empowered by innovation, intelligence, and impact.

Are you ready to join the movement and help build the future?

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