Junior Achievement Africa and global aerospace giant Boeing have announced plans to launch two major STEM and entrepreneurship initiatives in Nigeria and Togo aimed at equipping young people with the skills to drive innovation, sustainability, and long-term economic growth across Africa.
The announcement was made in a statement by JA Africa’s Director of Marketing and Communications, Ellen Ukpi. According to the statement, the initiatives are part of Boeing’s broader strategy to deepen its talent development and women empowerment efforts on the continent through its long-standing partnership with JA Africa.
In Nigeria, the programme tagged Girls STEMpreneurship has already enrolled 500 secondary school girls who will participate in immersive innovation camps. These camps are designed to build vital skills for careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), as well as prepare participants for further education or self-employment. Top-performing teams from the programme will also receive seed funding to bring their business ideas to life.
Meanwhile, in Togo, the focus will be on JA Africa’s Company Programme model, where 600 senior secondary school students will learn how to set up and run startups. Participants will gain hands-on experience in business operations, including market research, financial management, and leadership, while developing solutions to pressing environmental challenges.
The programmes will culminate in local and regional events where students will showcase their innovations. Boeing employees will be involved as mentors and judges at various stages of the programmes, providing industry expertise and real-world insights.
Kuljit Ghata-Aura, President of Boeing Middle East, Türkiye, Africa, and Central Asia, said the initiative builds on past successes. “Our partnership with Junior Achievement Africa has already helped over 5,000 young people across the continent unlock their potential. We are confident that the programmes in Nigeria and Togo will create meaningful opportunities for a new generation of talent and support the continent’s economic development.”
Simi Nwogugu, President and CEO of JA Africa, described the collaboration as a testament to a shared belief in the potential of Africa’s youth. “Boeing’s sustained commitment across multiple countries demonstrates trust in our education model and amplifies our role as the go-to partner for entrepreneurship education and STEM learning on the continent,” Nwogugu said.
Since 2021, Boeing and JA Africa have worked together to deliver similar programmes in countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Madagascar, Mauritania, Senegal, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. Alumni from these programmes have gone on to launch businesses and become job creators in their communities.
