Allexer Namundjembo
JA Africa, with support from the ExxonMobil Foundation and the Mindsinaction STEAM Centre, has launched the 2026 ExxonMobil Foundation STEM Africa Program to equip young Africans with critical skills in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) and artificial intelligence (AI).
The 2026 edition, dubbed STEM Africa 2.0, will target 4,000 additional students aged 14 to 17 across the continent.
It builds on a partnership that has already reached more than 10,000 young people in Angola, Mozambique, Namibia and Nigeria.
The launch comes as Africa’s youth population grows rapidly while access to STEM and digital skills remains limited.
The program combines hands-on learning, mentorship from industry professionals and real-world problem-solving to prepare students for emerging sectors such as energy, sustainability and digital innovation.
Participants will move through a four-phase learning experience that includes STEM and AI quizzes, zonal competitions, national innovation camps and a final continental showcase at Africa Energy Week Conference.
Organizers said the structure is designed to move beyond classroom theory and help students develop practical solutions to real-world challenges while building confidence, collaboration and critical thinking skills.
“The future of Africa will be shaped by the ideas, ingenuity and leadership of its young people,” said Simi Nwogugu, president and CEO of JA Africa.
“Through STEM Africa 2.0, we are not only strengthening STEM competencies but also opening pathways into artificial intelligence and innovation.
This is about ensuring that young people across the continent are prepared to lead, create and solve problems that matter, both locally and globally.”
Alvin Abraham, president of the ExxonMobil Foundation, said the initiative is part of a broader strategy to drive economic growth through education.
“We believe that investing in young people is one of the most powerful ways to drive long-term economic growth and resilience,” Abraham said.
“By supporting STEM Africa 2.0, we are helping to bridge the skills gap and enabling young people to engage with emerging technologies that will define the future of work.”
By integrating AI literacy into secondary school STEM education, the program aims to align with global workforce trends and strengthen links between education and employability.
It also seeks to expose participants to career pathways in high-growth sectors and build a pipeline of future innovators.
The program emphasizes inclusion and gender balance, with a focus on underserved communities.
A monitoring and evaluation framework will track learning outcomes, behavioral shifts and long-term progression into STEM-related pathways.
In Namibia, the Mindsinaction STEAM Centre is facilitating school activations for the ExxonMobil Foundation STEM Africa Kahoot quizzes, zonal STEM quiz competitions and the National STEM Innovation Camp.
Students will be selected from the camp to compete at the regional STEM finals in Cape Town.
Young people, educators and partners interested in the program can visit exxonmobilstemsafrica.org for more information
