The future of Africa’s STEM talent is looking brighter as JA Africa and the ExxonMobil Foundation officially launched the second year of the ExxonMobil Foundation STEM Africa Program across all four implementing countries—Nigeria, Namibia, Angola, and Mozambique. This year’s rollout is already in motion, building on the powerful momentum from 2024.
On May 9th, the launch in Abuja, Nigeria, brought together students from five schools in the AMAC Local Council Area for a spirited STEM quiz showdown, testing their knowledge in physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics.
Just a week later, on May 17th, and in collaboration with our local partner, Minds in Action STEAM, the first Zonal Quiz took place at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) in Windhoek—an exciting step forward as students began their journey through a series of competitive STEM activities.
In Angola, our local partner ADPP Angola officially launched the ExxonMobil Foundation STEM Africa Program and kicked off Quiz One on May 22, 2025, at the Integrated Center for Technological Training (CINFOTEC) in Rangel, Luanda. The event hosted over 200 guests, including representatives from ExxonMobil Angola, the Luanda Science Center, the Ministry of Education of Angola, as well as school principals and teachers. They have since conducted the second quiz in Luanda’s First Cycle of Education, with participation from five schools.
The program also launched at the Maputo College of Education in Mozambique on May 29th, with support from our local partner, Osuwela. The launch featured 180 students from five secondary schools in the Maputo Municipality, who participated in the first zonal quiz.
Now in week 6, the interactive Kahoot quizzes are underway in all participating countries, engaging thousands of students in weekly challenges that promote critical thinking and STEM literacy. Early participation has been strong and enthusiastic, showing that the program is not just active—it’s thriving.
Last year, the program exceeded expectations, reaching over 6,000 students through weekly quizzes and immersive Innovation Camps. The impact was measurable: in Nigeria and Angola, students’ lowest quiz scores jumped by 212% and 298.8%, respectively. More than 96% of participants reported a heightened interest in pursuing STEM careers, and 82.7% cited improved problem-solving abilities.
This year, approximately 3,000 students are expected to benefit from this experiential learning approach. In 2024, the most promising student innovators will be selected to attend a prestigious regional industry conference in Cape Town, South Africa, where they will showcase their solutions, engage with industry leaders, and gain exposure to global perspectives in energy and technology.
“Investing in young African minds is key to building a workforce capable of addressing tomorrow’s global challenges,” said Alvin Abraham, President of the ExxonMobil Foundation.
“We’re thrilled to partner again with the ExxonMobil Foundation to nurture these vital STEM competencies,” added Simi Nwogugu, President and CEO of JA Africa. “This is an investment in the future of Africa.”
With the program now officially launched in all countries and already making an impact, the ExxonMobil Foundation STEM Africa initiative continues to be a beacon of opportunity, helping young Africans not only imagine the future but also build it.
