Student entrepreneurs from eight African nations recently showcased innovative, climate-focused business solutions in Abuja during the 15th Junior Achievement (JA) Africa Company of the Year competition. The three-day event, which concluded over the weekend (December 3–5, 2025), operated under the theme “Action for Climate Transformation,” bringing together teams from Eswatini, Ghana, Mauritius, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda, and Zambia.
At the grand finale, First Bank of Nigeria Limited presented its coveted CEO Award to Team Mauritius. This annual contest serves as a vital platform, enabling young innovators to compete for a chance to represent Africa at the global finals, alongside securing access to funding, scholarships, and long-term venture support.
The Winning Solution: Plantura
In a statement released on Sunday, FirstBank confirmed that Team Mauritius distinguished itself by excelling across all five judging pillars:
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Strength of business idea
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Financial management and sustainability
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Leadership and teamwork
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Stage pitch performance
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Trade fair presentation
The team’s company, Plantura, particularly impressed the bank with its “plant and air-based purifier.” This climate-smart solution was developed by four students whom the bank described as “smart, agile, and intelligent.”
The bank stated: “We unanimously agreed that Mauritius had our vote for the FirstBank CEO Entrepreneurship Award.” The award was presented to the winning team by Dr. Tobechi Enyioko and Nidi Sohotyep on behalf of FirstBank.
The Importance of Corporate Partnership
Simi Nwogugu, President and CEO of JA Africa, commended FirstBank for its sustained commitment, noting that the bank’s support has been instrumental in strengthening entrepreneurship and financial literacy programs across the continent. She highlighted the significance of having a major local financial institution as a headline sponsor.
Nwogugu expressed hope to deepen the relationship further, suggesting engagement not only through funding but also through active volunteering by FirstBank employees in classrooms.
Asheesh Advani, President and CEO of Junior Achievement Worldwide, urged other Nigerian institutions to follow FirstBank’s example of leadership in supporting youth entrepreneurship.
Addressing Africa’s Job Crisis
Nwogugu took the opportunity to highlight Africa’s severe employment challenges. She reported that while approximately 11 million young people enter the labor market annually, only about 3 million new jobs are created, resulting in millions of youth unemployment.
She warned that without deliberate efforts to empower the continent’s youth, issues like poverty and crime could worsen.
“Our solution is to raise young people who are not only job seekers but job creators,” Nwogugu asserted.
JA Africa prioritizes entrepreneurship education from an early age, focusing on ethics, integrity, and problem-solving. Furthermore, recognizing that the future of work is rooted in technology, the organization is committed to digital skills training. JA Africa currently reaches 1.5 million youths and plans to more than triple that number, targeting 5 million by 2030.
