Nigeria has officially kicked off its participation in the 2025 Junior Achievement (JA) Africa Company of the Year (COY) competition, a prestigious platform that empowers high school innovators to showcase their entrepreneurial talent and compete for a chance to represent Africa at the Ralph de la Vega Global Entrepreneurship Competition.
The 15th edition of the flagship event began on Wednesday in Abuja, bringing together Nigeria’s brightest young minds alongside teams from Eswatini, Ghana, Mauritius, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda, and Zambia. Designed for students aged 14 to 17 who have completed the JA Company Programme, COY provides a unique stage for youth to turn ideas into actionable ventures.
Guided by the theme “Action for Climate Transformation (ACT!)”, this year’s competition challenges participants to develop innovative solutions addressing pressing environmental and developmental issues. The contest spans six key tracks: innovation and technology, artificial intelligence, financial technology (fintech), digital media and creation, renewable energy, and circular economy and sustainability.
Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, Simi Nwogugu, President and CEO of JA Africa, emphasised the power of youth ingenuity:
“Africa’s greatest resource is the brilliance and creativity of its young people. Climate action is not just an environmental challenge—it is central to our development. Rising temperatures, extreme weather, and food insecurity threaten livelihoods, but they also present opportunities for innovative solutions. COY allows young people to transform ideas into action, demonstrating that Africa’s youth are today’s changemakers, not just tomorrow’s leaders.”
JA Africa, which reaches over 1.5 million young people annually across 23 countries, focuses on equipping students with entrepreneurial skills and a mindset of self-reliance, problem-solving, and sustainable business creation. The programme aims to prepare students to address challenges in their communities and build enterprises that generate jobs, wealth, and social impact.
Asheesh Advani, President and CEO of JA Worldwide, added that COY provides students with confidence and the belief in their entrepreneurial capabilities:
“Success as an entrepreneur starts with self-belief. COY nurtures this belief and reinforces it through recognition, mentorship, and exposure to a wider network of support.”
The competition will culminate on December 5, 2025, with the JA Africa Stakeholder Convening in Abuja, themed “Unlocking Africa’s Youth Dividend: Radical Pathways for Inclusive Skills, Entrepreneurship, and Employment Systems.” The high-level convening will bring together policymakers, educators, private-sector leaders, philanthropists, and civil society representatives to promote partnerships and advance youth entrepreneurship education across the continent.
Highlighting the long-term impact of JA programmes, Nwogugu pointed to alumni success stories, noting that former participants have gone on to found companies such as Andela and Flutterwave, reaching unicorn status, while others have assumed leadership roles in government, including current ICT Minister Bosun Tijani.
“Over the past 26 years, our alumni have become influential leaders in business, government, and social sectors. By instilling entrepreneurial skills early, we equip young Africans to design solutions, create jobs, and drive sustainable change.”
This year’s COY competition reinforces JA Africa’s mission to integrate entrepreneurship education, climate action, and youth empowerment, positioning the next generation as both innovators and agents of sustainable development across the continent.
