About Skills Plug
Skills Plug empowers Explorers to confidently learn French, prepare to study in France, relocate, and thrive in the French World. Through practical guidance, lived experience, and personalized support, we make every step of your journey clearer, smoother, and more rewarding.
Our Story
Skills Plug was born from a simple belief: no one should have to navigate learning French, studying in France, or relocating alone.
After experiencing the challenges of adapting to a new language, culture, and environment firsthand, I realised how valuable practical guidance and genuine support can be. Those experiences inspired the creation of Skills Plug, a place where Explorers can find trusted guidance, build confidence, and prepare for every stage of their journey into the French World.
Today, Skills Plug continues to help explorers and organisations take meaningful steps toward new opportunities through language, education, and cultural connection.
Our Mission
To empower Explorers with the language skills, practical guidance, and cultural confidence they need to successfully study, relocate, and thrive in the French World.
Our Vision
To become a trusted gateway connecting explorers to opportunities across the French World through language, education, and meaningful cultural experiences.
Our Values
Integrity
We provide honest, practical, and trustworthy guidance that puts the needs of our Explorers first.
Excellence
We are committed to delivering high-quality learning experiences and professional support in everything we do.
Empowerment
We equip Explorers with the knowledge, confidence, and skills to achieve their goals independently.
Cultural Connection
We believe language opens doors to meaningful relationships, new opportunities, and a deeper understanding of the French World.
Meet Matilda Akande
Founder | French Language & Relocation Specialist
My name is Matilda Akande, and I founded Skills Plug to help others experience a smoother journey into the French World than I did.
My journey has taken me from learning and adapting to life in France to earning a Master’s degree, teaching French, supporting families, and helping Explorers confidently pursue their own goals.
Every learner, student, family, and professional has a unique story. That’s why I believe guidance should always be practical, personal, and built around individual needs.
Through Skills Plug, my mission is simple: to equip Explorers with the confidence, knowledge, and support they need to thrive in the French World.
Discover My Journey
Every journey has a beginning, and mine started long before I arrived in France. It was shaped by curiosity, determination, moments of uncertainty, and lessons that no classroom could teach.
Looking back, I realized that what I needed most wasn’t just French lessons—it was personalized guidance from someone who understood the journey. That realization became the foundation of Skills Plug and the reason I’m passionate about helping other Explorers navigate their own path with confidence.
Abuja, Nigeria
Where The Dream Began
My journey into the French World began in Abuja, Nigeria, where I started learning French from scratch. Like many people, I enrolled in French classes with a desire to learn the language and discover the opportunities it could open for me.
I committed myself to the learning process, moving from one course to the next, preparing for examinations, and steadily building my confidence. Each class strengthened my language skills, but deep down, I felt that something was still missing.
I wasn’t just looking for French lessons, I was searching for direction. I wanted to understand how the language could connect me to international opportunities and what the next step beyond the classroom should be. There was no one to guide me through that journey or help me see the bigger picture.
That realization led me to make a life-changing decision: to experience French beyond the classroom and immerse myself in an environment where the language was part of everyday life.
Lomé, Togo
My First Immersion
Determined to take my French beyond the classroom, I made the decision to immerse myself in a French-speaking environment. Living in Togo gave me the opportunity to practise the language every day and build confidence in ways that textbooks never could.
For the first time, French became part of my daily life rather than something I only studied during lessons. My communication improved, and I began to see new possibilities for my future.
Yet, despite the progress I was making, I still felt something was missing. I was learning through experience, but I was navigating everything alone. I still didn’t have someone to guide me through the bigger picture or help me prepare for what lay ahead.
That search for clarity eventually led me to France.
France
Where Reality Began
Moving to France was a dream come true, but it also became the most challenging chapter of my journey. Beyond speaking French, I had to learn how to navigate a completely different culture, education system, administration, housing, healthcare, and everyday life.
There was no roadmap, no mentor, and no one to explain the things I didn’t even know I needed to ask. Many of the lessons I learned came through trial and error, making the journey much harder than it needed to be.
Over time, I found my footing. Studying for a Master’s degree in Sciences de l’Éducation et de la Formation deepened my understanding of learning, education, and how people develop new skills in different environments. Alongside my studies, I built my professional career, taught in French schools, and raised bilingual children. Those experiences gave me more than qualifications, they gave me the understanding and confidence that only lived experience can provide.
Looking back, I realized that the hardest part wasn’t learning French. It was trying to navigate an unfamiliar world without the guidance of someone who had already walked the path.
Skills Plug
Why I created It
Every stage of my journey taught me something valuable. Abuja gave me the dream, Togo gave me immersion, and France gave me experience. Together, they revealed one important truth: learning a language is only part of the journey.
What I needed most was personalized guidance from someone who understood the path I was trying to follow. Someone who could answer the questions I didn’t yet know to ask and help me avoid unnecessary confusion and setbacks.
That is why I created Skills Plug.
Today, I help Explorers confidently learn French, prepare to study, relocate, and thrive in the French World. My goal is to provide the guidance I wish I had, so that your journey can begin with confidence instead of uncertainty.
