A 300-level Physics student at Lagos State University is building Rize, a platform that aims to help African job seekers find suitable opportunities and tackle the growing problem of employers ignoring applications.
Every year, millions of African professionals apply for jobs, internships and fellowships but receive no response.
They often get neither a rejection nor feedback, leaving applicants in prolonged uncertainty.
Samuel Matemilola, founder of Rize, says his platform will match young professionals with opportunities they qualify for. It will also track how quickly organisations respond to applicants.
Matemilola says the platform targets a major access problem facing young Africans, pointing out to youth unemployment across Sub-Saharan Africa.
He argued that the continent has talent but needs better access to opportunities.
Rize Targets Wider Talent Market
Furthermore, Matemilola says Africa’s $6.5 billion recruitment market lacks a clear accountability layer for organisations that ignore applicants.
Existing platforms such as LinkedIn, Andela and Betternship largely focus on technology talent.
However, researchers, advocates, creatives and policy professionals may have fewer dedicated platforms to find suitable opportunities.
Rize aims to serve this wider group of professionals. The platform is being built by Matemilola, who says he experienced the problem himself.
Startup Plans West Africa Launch
In addition, Matemilola serves as West Africa Director at SDG Youth Connect, an organisation operating across more than 50 countries.
Rize has opened its founding member waitlist and plans to launch across West Africa in 2026.
The founder says the platform will combine opportunity matching with greater accountability in the recruitment process.
Meanwhile, Matemilola is offering an exclusive first look at the platform.
The opportunity includes a founder interview, a behind-the-scenes look at building a startup from Lagos and data on what he describes as Africa’s job application ghosting problem.
Samuel Matemilola is the founder of Rize Africa and West Africa Director at SDG Youth Connect.
He can be reached at hello.rizeafrica@gmail.com.
External Links
Rize Africa: rizeafrica.netlify.app
Samuel Matemilola: linktr.ee/MatemilolaSamuel
