Africa’s Future STEM Leaders Shine at the ExxonMobil Foundation STEM Africa Regional Finals

Africa’s next generation of STEM leaders took center stage at the second annual ExxonMobil Foundation STEM Africa Regional Finals, hosted in partnership with Junior Achievement (JA) Africa in Cape Town, South Africa. Held during African Energy Week, the event brought together 16 exceptional students from Angola, Mozambique, Namibia and Nigeria, selected from a pool of over 3,000 participants across the continent.

The finalists presented innovative, STEM-driven solutions to some of Africa’s most pressing challenges today, including food insecurity and limited access to clean water and energy. Their projects and prototypes demonstrated the power of STEM education in driving sustainable, community-based innovation. Awarded first place was Team Scholar Sprouts from Namibia for a compact aquaponics system using fish waste to nourish crops, supporting sustainable farming and food security.

Students were awarded on stage in front of top energy leaders in government and industry at the African Energy Week Gala.

“The creativity and resilience these students have shown is inspiring,” said Simi Nwogugu, President & CEO of JA Africa. “Inspiring innovation in Africa’s youth today will define the continent’s position in tomorrow’s global economy. We’re thrilled to partner again with the ExxonMobil Foundation to nurture these vital STEM competencies. This is an investment in the future of Africa.”

The African Energy Chamber also awarded ExxonMobil the ESG Award for its focus on STEM education and other community investments across the African countries where we operate.

The ExxonMobil Foundation STEM Africa competition reached approximately 3,000 students across Nigeria, Namibia, Angola and Mozambique through weekly online STEM quizzes, in-person zonal competitions and immersive STEM Innovation Camps. These hands-on experiences—featuring mentorship from ExxonMobil engineers, interactive workshops and real-world design challenges—proved transformative:

• 97% of participants said they are now open to or actively pursuing STEM careers.
• 83% reported improved problem-solving skills.

Alvin Abraham, President of the ExxonMobil Foundation, added: “These young innovators are solving real-world problems with ingenuity and purpose. We’re proud to support their journey and help cultivate Africa’s next generation of STEM leaders.”

To learn more about the program, visit exxonmobilstemsafrica.org.