ExxonMobil Foundation, in collaboration with Junior Achievement Africa, has launched the 2025 edition of its Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Africa programme, aiming to empower over 1,500 secondary school students across Nigeria, Angola, Namibia, and Mozambique.
The initiative, officially flagged off in Abuja, Nigeria, is designed to nurture the next generation of African innovators by equipping them with vital STEM skills and career guidance. Through weekly quizzes, zonal competitions, and innovation camps, students will be exposed to activities that sharpen critical thinking, enhance collaboration, and ignite interest in technology-driven fields.
Speaking at the launch, Executive Director of Junior Achievement Nigeria, Ugonna Achebe, said the programme targets a new batch of students to expand its reach. “Students who participated in this programme last year are not participating again. This is a totally new batch because our aim is to reach as many young people as possible and equip them with skills to become digitally savvy and conscientious business leaders,” he explained.
Achebe noted that the programme goes beyond academics. “It’s about what we feed students now that shapes their capacity for growth and national impact later. We are building leaders who will make a difference,” he said.
Representing the Managing Director of ExxonMobil subsidiaries in Nigeria, Shane Harris, Community Relations and Operations Manager Nigel Cookey-Gam highlighted the importance of the initiative in sparking interest in STEM, especially among girls. “We observed that STEM is an area many children are reluctant to explore, particularly girls. This programme is designed to change that by building awareness and encouraging participation,” he said.
He stressed that the programme is not limited to Nigeria but runs concurrently in four countries where ExxonMobil operates. “It’s all about exposure. Winning is great, but what matters most is developing students’ capacity in STEM,” Cookey-Gam stated.
So far, the initiative has reached over 6,000 students across Africa. In Nigeria alone, participating students recorded a 212 percent improvement in their STEM knowledge scores, demonstrating the programme’s impact in narrowing learning gaps and boosting performance.
Cookey-Gam added that the most promising students from this year’s edition will be selected to represent Nigeria at a regional industry conference in South Africa, offering them further exposure to global STEM opportunities.
In a goodwill message, Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Maria Okhilo, speaking on behalf of the Director-Secretary of the FCT Secondary Education Board, praised the initiative for broadening students’ scientific and entrepreneurial thinking. “Our students are now engaging with their environment differently, thanks to this programme. Their horizons have expanded, and their capacity to innovate is growing,” she said.
The STEM Africa programme continues to stand as a model for private-sector-led educational support in Africa, demonstrating how partnerships can drive meaningful, long-term impact in shaping future-ready youths.
