Africa’s top young innovators have converged on Abuja as Junior Achievement Africa opens the 15th edition of its prestigious Company of the Year (COY) competition, with Nigeria and seven other countries vying for the continent’s leading student entrepreneurship award.
Running from December 3 to 5, 2025, the event brings together standout student-led companies for a chance to win cash prizes, scholarships and long-term venture support—along with the opportunity to represent Africa on the global stage.
Teams from Eswatini, Ghana, Mauritius, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia are showcasing climate-centered projects inspired by this year’s theme, “Action for Climate Transformation.” Their innovations span renewable energy, green technology, digital solutions, the circular economy and fintech.
JA Africa Highlights the Power of Early Entrepreneurship
JA Africa President/CEO Simi Nwogugu noted that the annual competition has become a launchpad for young people building viable businesses from real problems in their communities.
Speaking at a pre-event briefing in Abuja, she emphasized that African youth “understand both the challenges and the solutions but lack the needed resources.” JA Africa, she said, exists to bridge that gap through training, mentorship and access.
As one of Africa’s largest youth entrepreneurship platforms, Junior Achievement Africa operates in 23 countries, reaching over 1.5 million young people annually through programmes that cultivate entrepreneurial thinking early.
“We go into secondary schools to instill a mindset of self-reliance,” she said. “The question becomes: What solutions can you create?”
She highlighted a previous student team that addressed plastic pollution by converting waste plastics into construction materials—lowering building costs while operating profitably.
Nwogugu explained that JA’s influence is already evident across the continent, citing alumni such as Iyinoluwa Aboyeji (co-founder of Andela and Flutterwave) and Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.
According to her, JA has impacted more than five million young people since inception—possibly 10 million when including earlier programmes.
Prizes and Global Opportunities
This year’s COY competition will determine Africa’s representative for the Ralph de la Vega Global Entrepreneurship Competition.
Winners will earn:
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$3,000 – 1st place
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$2,000 – 2nd place
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$1,000 – 3rd place
The global prize stands at $15,000.
Nwogugu stressed that the long-term benefits outweigh the cash rewards. Participants also receive scholarships, mentorship, business development support and access to a global alumni network they can rely on throughout their careers.
She revealed that JA boards across the network have mobilized about $1 billion in the past four years to strengthen youth entrepreneurship programmes, noting that partnerships with education, youth and women’s ministries are critical for expanding access in public schools.
“Most of our beneficiaries are in public schools because they are the ones who need this education the most,” she said.
Nwogugu added that COY intentionally integrates youth entrepreneurship into Africa’s broader climate and development agenda.
“At JA Africa, we believe Africa’s greatest resource is the creativity of its youth,” she said. “Climate action is a development priority, and COY empowers young people to turn innovative ideas into real impact.”
Global Leaders Applaud the Competition’s Impact
JA Worldwide CEO Asheesh Advani described the Africa edition of COY as a powerful convergence of confidence and innovation.
“Every year, students present exceptional ideas,” he said. “Belief in oneself is the foundation of entrepreneurship, and JA nurtures that belief.”
Headline sponsors FedEx and PMIEF also expressed optimism about the finalists.
FedEx Regional Sales Manager Ruth Kabogo noted that building great products is just the beginning—scaling them is where true impact happens.
PMI Nigeria Board Trustee Deji Ishmael added that project management fosters discipline and problem-solving, values PMIEF aims to promote through its support.
Stakeholder Dialogue to Close the Event
The competition will conclude on December 5 with the JA Africa Stakeholder Convening, where government officials, policymakers, corporate leaders and civil society groups will discuss strategies for integrating entrepreneurship education into national systems and expanding opportunities for African youth.
