A 26-year-old Nigerian social entrepreneur and Mastercard Foundation scholar at the University of Edinburgh, Mirabelle Morah, has disclosed her intentions to improve the design industry and empower communities through her innovative startup, Grohwie.
This visionary venture, born from her passion for blending creativity with technology, has already earned significant recognition and support from prestigious institutions including the Edinburgh Award in Global Employability having accumulated over 126 impact hours and 74 skills training hours. She also secured a £1,000 grant from Edinburgh Innovations and the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme to refine her research and business plan further.
Grohwie, Morah’s brainchild, is focused on developing cutting-edge learning tools for designers. Its primary emphasis is on a gamified learning app for visual designers and is designed to enhance skill development, foster community building, and provide access to high-level opportunities within the design industry.
“I’m thrilled to use creativity and technology to improve lives in Nigeria and beyond,” says Mirabelle. “By offering accessible and engaging learning resources, we can empower a new generation of designers to drive positive change.”
Beyond education, according to a press release, Grohwie will offer specialised design services to social enterprises and third-sector organisations, amplifying their impact and helping them effectively communicate their missions.
It added that Morah conducted extensive market research across the UK and several Nigerian states, including Kano, Calabar, Lagos, and Ogun to validate her concept and collaborated with various organisations, design agencies, and programmers to gain deep insights into the design landscape and the potential for innovative tools.
“This is not Morah’s first impactful venture. At just 17, she founded BlankPaperz Media, an online platform that has grown to include over 200 contributing writers and reached over 100,000 users.
“Her role as the former Communications Manager for the Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) further underscores her expertise at the intersection of creativity and social impact, inspiring others with her journey of growth and impact,” the release added.
It added that Morah’s involvement in the University of Edinburgh’s Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme and recognition from Edinburgh Innovations have equipped her with the skills and network necessary to bring her vision to life.
Morah’s excitement about the possibilities of making a global impact is palpable. “This idea has taken me on an incredible journey,” says Morah. “Experts from leading design firms like IDEO and DixonBaxi have helped shape my thoughts around impact, technology and design in general. I’m incredibly grateful and excited about the possibilities for making a global impact.”
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