Junior Achievement Africa says youth entrepreneurship, innovation key to continent’s future

…as eight countries compete in Abuja with climate-smart student ventures

Junior Achievement (JA) Africa has reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing a new generation of African entrepreneurs, declaring that the continent’s future depends on equipping young people with the skills, confidence and opportunities needed to build solution-driven businesses.

Speaking as the 15th Company of the Year (COY) Competition opened in Abuja on Wednesday, Asheesh Advani, President & CEO, JA Worldwide said its mission is to ensure that Africa’s youth are not just prepared for the future of work, but empowered to create it.

The three-day event, holding from December 3 to 5, 2025, highlights Africa’s emerging innovators as they pitch climate-focused business solutions under the theme: “ACT! Action for Climate Transformation.”

Widely regarded as Africa’s premier entrepreneurship stage for teenagers aged 14 to 17, the COY Competition features student-led companies that completed JA Africa’s Company Program, a hands-on initiative that equips young people with entrepreneurial, financial literacy, work-readiness and STEM skills.

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“JA Africa, one of the continent’s largest youth-serving organisations, reaches over 1.5 million young people annually across 23 countries.

“COY in Africa has a unique energy — year after year, students present extraordinary ideas. To succeed as an entrepreneur, you must first believe in yourself. JA builds that self-efficacy, and awards help strengthen that belief.”— Asheesh Advani noted.

Speaking about this year’s climate-focused theme, Simi Nwogugu, President and CEO of JA Africa, said climate change is no longer a distant challenge but a daily reality affecting millions of Africans.

She noted that while rising temperatures, food insecurity and extreme weather events threaten livelihoods, they also present an opportunity for youth-led solutions.

According to her, the COY platform demonstrates that young Africans are already designing practical innovations capable of driving climate transformation.

“At JA Africa, we believe Africa’s greatest resource is the brilliance and creativity of its young people. Climate action is not just an environmental issue; it’s a development imperative. Across Africa, rising temperatures, food insecurity, and extreme weather threaten livelihoods and economies, butthey also present opportunities for innovation and resilience. COY gives young people a platform to transform ideas into action, showing the world that Africa’s youth are not only the leaders of tomorrow but the changemakers of today,” Nwogugu stressed.

With this year’s theme, Action for Climate Transformation (ACT!), we are proud to see students harnessing sustainable innovation to tackle the defining challenge of our time. Their ingenuity and passion remind us that when youth are empowered to lead, they don’t just adapt to the future, they create it. And in doing so, they light the path toward a greener, more resilient, and prosperous Africa.”— Nwogugu stated.

The students competing in Abuja represent Eswatini, Ghana, Mauritius, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia.

She noted that their projects explore new thinking across clean energy, the circular economy, artificial intelligence, fintech, digital content creation and sustainable manufacturing.

In an interview with journalists, Ellen Ukpi, Director of Marketing and Communications at JA Africa, said the organisation’s work aims to develop young Africans who can identify local problems and create scalable solutions.

She emphasised that while many youths understand the challenges around them, they often lack the structure, mentorship and resources to turn ideas into real enterprises.

She highlighted examples of student companies tackling plastic pollution by converting waste into affordable building materials, an innovation already helping communities construct more durable homes.

“They are turning a problem into a solution and making money from it. This is what we do across 23 countries,” Ukpi said.

In Africa, JA’s impact is deep and long-standing, with more than five million young people benefitting from its programmes, and its alumni include globally recognised innovators such as Nigerian entrepreneur Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, co-founder of Andela and Flutterwave.

Ukpi also noted that leaders in government and public service, including Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of ICT, participated in JA while in school.

The winning teams will receive $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 for first, second and third place, respectively, along with mentorship, scholarship opportunities and technical support.

The overall continental champion will represent Africa at the Ralph de la Vega Global Entrepreneurship Competition, where a $15,000 grand prize awaits.

Ukpi stressed that beyond cash prizes, the competition opens doors to global alumni networks, mentors and potential investors.

“These students gain lifelong support systems. They get scholarships and help to grow their businesses. They really have a global community they can count on,” she said.

Ukpi also confirmed that JA Africa works closely with African governments to expand access to entrepreneurship education.

In Nigeria, the Ministry of Education enables the organisation to reach public schools, while partnerships with the Ministries of Women Affairs and Youth support girls’ empowerment and youth development.

Several ministers and policymakers are expected to attend this year’s stakeholder forum to discuss embedding JA’s programmes into national curricula.

Addressing comments about a $1 billion fundraising effort mentioned during the event, Ukpi clarified that the figure represents cumulative funds raised by national JA boards globally over the past four years, not a single fundraising campaign.

This year’s COY Competition is backed by major global and African institutions such as FedEx, PMIEF, First Bank Nigeria and others

The event will culminate in the JA Africa Stakeholder Convening on December 5, themed “Unlocking Africa’s Youth Dividend: Radical Pathways for Inclusive Skills, Entrepreneurship, and Employment Systems.”

The gathering will bring together government leaders, educators, the private sector, philanthropists and civil society to develop new pathways for strengthening entrepreneurship education and expanding job opportunities for Africa’s fast-growing youth population.

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