Hack Nigerian Languages Product Strategy

Hack Nigerian Languages was a self-initiated venture I launched to address a problem I personally experienced: the challenge of connecting with family through language without access to effective, accessible learning tools. I focused on English-speaking adults who wanted to independently learn Yoruba or Igbo. Drawing on both my own experience and the shared frustrations of others, I set out to develop a scalable, learner-centered solution designed to meet this specific audience’s needs.

My Process

Market Research and User Insights

My journey with Hack Nigerian Languages (HNL) began with in-depth market research and user insights. I designed and distributed surveys and polls to uncover users’ biggest challenges and motivations. This included questions like, “What’s your #1 question about how to successfully learn Yoruba or Igbo?” I received a variety of responses.

I also analyzed discussions in social media comments, Facebook groups, Reddit, and YouTube on the topic of learning the Yoruba or Igbo languages. These efforts helped me validate the core problem: many users—including American women like myself who are married to Nigerian men—felt disconnected from their partners and families due to language barriers. I captured my reflections and brainstorms in early audience research notes, which helped shape the vision for my solution. 

Product Development and Marketing

With that foundation, I moved into product development and marketing. I created a tiered sales funnel offering various access points: a free downloadable guide, one-on-one strategy calls, and a complete video course bundled with a workbook and curated resources.

The following user stories capture the features I concluded it would be important to incorporate into the course product I created:

• As a Yoruba beginner, I want a clear, structured roadmap so I don’t feel overwhelmed by where to start.

• As a busy mom, I want a flexible study plan that I can fit into my hectic schedule so I can still make progress.

• As an American wife of a Nigerian man, I want to understand my husband's language so I can feel closer to his family.

• As someone who’s failed before at learning Yoruba, I want accountability and motivation so I don’t give up again.

• As a self-motivated learner, I want to know the best resources out there so I don’t waste time on ineffective tools.

Iteration and Pivot

When user engagement began to plateau, I returned to the data and observed user behavior more closely. While initial interest in the course was strong, it became clear that the self-paced learning format didn’t align with how users actually preferred—or were realistically able—to learn. There was a clear mismatch between the product I had built (a self-study toolkit) and the true user preference: structured accountability, private tutoring, or in some cases, simply accepting they wouldn’t learn the language at all. 

Recognizing that building the right solution was more important than pushing forward with my original idea, I decided to sunset the venture. Given that I was still on my own journey learning a Nigerian language, I also acknowledged I wasn’t best positioned to deliver the kind of support users truly needed. This decision reinforced for me the value of user-centered product development and knowing when to pivot based on real-world insights. 

Takeaways

The experience also allowed me to demonstrate the following skills useful for working in product:

• Market research & user interviews

• Product development & delivery

• Pivoting based on data & feedback

• Lean MVP execution