In a bold move to combat the growing STEM talent shortage and position Nigeria for the future of work, Product Hub Africa (PHA), through its Stem-A-School initiative, has successfully trained over 3,000 students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
At the recently concluded 2025 STEM Conference held at Nile University, Abuja, the initiative connected students with experts in robotics, aerospace, and artificial intelligence (AI). The event was a powerful reminder of the critical role STEM plays in Africa’s global competitiveness.
“Africa Can’t Afford to Be Left Behind” — Victoria Oladosu
Founder of Stem-A-School and PHA, Victoria Oladosu, emphasized the need to build a pipeline of young innovators in response to the rapid evolution of AI technologies globally.
“More people need to build careers in STEM and become innovators if Nigeria and Africa won’t be left behind in the global AI race,” she stated.
“STEM is the difference between where we are in Africa and where we want to be.”
She also stressed that while traditional professions remain essential, a renewed focus on core STEM paths is vital to unlock Africa’s full potential.
Empowering the Youth for an AI-Powered Future
Nigeria’s youthful population — with a median age of around 18 — represents both a challenge and an opportunity. As the country seeks to ride the AI wave, expected to inject $15 billion into Nigeria’s economy by 2030, training this population is key.
According to Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Nigeria’s draft National AI Strategy outlines plans to equip 70% of the young workforce (ages 16–35) with AI-related skills, aiming to reduce unemployment and power economic growth.
Targeting the First Layer of the AI Ecosystem
Oladosu explained that her initiative focuses on the first layer of AI readiness—educating future talent.
“We have so many unskilled young people in Nigeria, and getting them into STEM should be a priority.”
The initiative has already visited numerous tertiary and pre-tertiary institutions and will expand further in May 2025, targeting six universities in Osun State, including:
- Redeemers University
- Adeleke University
- Obafemi Awolowo University
- Oduduwa University
- Osun State University
- Bowen University
Education as a Tool for Unlocking Futures
“When we invest in STEM education, especially for young people and girls, we are not just teaching skills—we are unlocking futures,” said Oladosu.
Joshua Abah, Dean of the Faculty of Computing at Nile University, reinforced the importance of AI, saying:
“What AI does is improve productivity and efficiency. We must take the lead in Africa’s transition into the fourth industrial revolution.”
The Path Ahead
With only 7.7% of Nigerian jobs coming from the formal sector (Q3 2023, NBS), initiatives like Stem-A-School provide a lifeline for underserved youth and a foundation for economic transformation. By nurturing tech-savvy talent from the ground up, Product Hub Africa is laying the groundwork for an AI-powered future, one student at a time.
