A team of Nigerian secondary school students has emerged Africa’s top young entrepreneurs after winning the 2025 Africa Company of the Year award at the Junior Achievement Africa Company of the Year Competition.
The winning team, Smartgenix Aeromonitor Limited, represented Darul Noor by Intercontinental Schools at the continental competition, where it impressed judges with an innovative drone technology designed for precision agriculture.
The achievement was confirmed in a statement issued on Friday by the Marketing and Communications Manager of Junior Achievement Nigeria, Mr Tobiloba Olaosun.
Reacting to the victory, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Junior Achievement Nigeria, Mr Dave Uduanu, commended the students for their ingenuity and leadership.
“Smartgenix Aeromonitor Ltd symbolises the incredible talent and leadership that Nigerian youth possess. Their success serves as a powerful reminder that with the right mentorship and opportunities, young innovators can truly lead on the global stage,” Uduanu said.
In addition to clinching the overall Africa Company of the Year title, the team also won the Public Choice Award, having received overwhelming support from voters across Africa and beyond, underscoring the broad appeal and relevance of their innovation.
The award comes with a cash prize of $3,000 and qualifies the Nigerian team to advance to the De La Vega Global Entrepreneurship Award, a global contest that brings together first-place winners from Junior Achievement’s six regional competitions. The global competition offers a grand prize of $15,000, alongside international recognition and access to educational opportunities.
This year’s competition was held under the theme “ACT: Action for Climate Transformation,” challenging participants to develop sustainable solutions to pressing environmental, social and economic problems.
According to the statement, Smartgenix Aeromonitor Ltd stood out with its drone-based solution aimed at improving agricultural productivity by reducing costs, saving time, minimising labour and promoting sustainable farming practices.
The winning team comprises Ruqaiya Abdulfatai Alubankudi, Khadija Muhammad Musa, Rukaiya Makki Abubakar and Zainab Idris Gaya, all secondary school students, whose success highlights the growing impact of youth-led innovation in addressing global challenges.
Junior Achievement Nigeria noted that it continues to empower young people aged five to 35 through programmes such as the Company Programme and SET4LYF, equipping them with skills in financial literacy, work readiness, entrepreneurship and digital literacy.
The triumph of Smartgenix Aeromonitor Limited further underscores Nigeria’s rising profile in innovation and entrepreneurship, signalling a promising future for the next generation of African leaders.
