Junior Achievement (JA) Africa has announced that more than 200,000 young Nigerians are expected to benefit annually from its flagship youth entrepreneurship programs, as the organization hosts the 15th edition of the JA Africa Company of the Year (COY) Competition in Abuja. The high-profile continental event, Africa’s premier business pitch competition for secondary school students, takes place from December 3 to 5, 2025, bringing together student entrepreneurs aged 14 to 17 from eight African countries.
At a press conference in Abuja, JA Africa president and CEO, Simi Nwogugu, said the competition demonstrates the organization’s commitment to grooming young innovators capable of driving sustainable development. In Nigeria alone, JA Africa impacts about 200,000 youths annually, including 20,000 secondary school students trained in the Company Programme this year.
“This year’s theme, Action for Climate Transformation (ACT!), reflects the urgent need for youth-led climate solutions,” Nwogugu said. “Through COY, students are transforming ideas into action and shaping a greener, more resilient Africa.”
The 2025 competition will feature student companies from Eswatini, Ghana, Mauritius, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda, and Zambia, competing to represent the continent at the Ralph de la Vega Global Entrepreneurship Competition. Participants will pitch innovations across six tracks: Innovation & Technology; Artificial Intelligence; Financial Technology; Digital Media & Creation; Renewable Energy; and Circular Economy & Sustainability.
JA Worldwide president and CEO, Asheesh Advani, said the organization has deployed over $1 billion globally in the last three years to support youth empowerment programs, using rigorous standards to measure long-term impact. JA is also integrating AI literacy and digital skills into its programs through partnerships with Microsoft.
On inclusiveness, Nwogugu said 5–10 percent of Nigerian participants must be young persons with disabilities, with accessible learning materials provided. Participants are also supported via a digital dashboard with guidance on scholarships and leadership opportunities.
The Abuja event will close with the JA Africa Stakeholder Convening on December 5, themed “Unlocking Africa’s Youth Dividend: Radical Pathways for Inclusive Skills, Entrepreneurship, and Employment Systems,” bringing together policymakers, educators, private-sector leaders, philanthropists, and civil society to strengthen the entrepreneurship ecosystem.
The 15th COY is backed by headline sponsors FedEx, PMIEF, and First Bank Nigeria. Nwogugu said sponsor support allows JA Africa to maintain an average cost of $20–$25 per student while delivering deep, year-long impact.
“When young people gain the confidence to innovate, they don’t just prepare for the future they create it,” Nwogugu said.
