STEM Africa is intensifying efforts to nurture the next generation of innovators, with its flagship STEM Africa Fest aiming to reach at least 25,000 more children, parents and educators across Africa through practical science and technology education.
The initiative comes as concerns continue to mount over the widening science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills gap in Nigeria and across Sub-Saharan Africa, where experts say limited access to hands-on learning is slowing the development of a globally competitive workforce.
Speaking at a media parley in Lagos, co-organiser of the festival, Jadesola Adedeji, said the annual event was established to make STEM education more accessible, engaging and relevant to children by moving beyond classroom theory.
“STEM Africa Fest was created to respond to the growing need to make STEM education more accessible, practical and engaging for children across Nigeria. For too long, STEM learning has been perceived as abstract, overly technical and disconnected from everyday experiences, which limits how early learners engage with it and see themselves in it,” she said.
Adedeji explained that the festival exposes participants to immersive experiences that demonstrate the practical applications of science and technology, while connecting children with educators, innovators and industry partners.
According to her, the initiative has evolved beyond an annual event into a platform for building a stronger STEM ecosystem and promoting policy discussions on science and technology education across Africa.
“We see ourselves as ecosystem builders. This festival is not just an event; it is an advocacy platform aimed at making STEM education mainstream across Africa. Through it, we are also spotlighting the work of other stakeholders and partners within the ecosystem,” she said.
The push comes amid growing concerns over Africa’s shortage of skilled STEM professionals. UNESCO has identified inadequate access to practical science and technology education during the early years as a major factor limiting the region’s contribution to the global STEM talent pipeline despite its youthful population.
In Nigeria, stakeholders have also pointed to an education system that remains largely theory-based, with limited exposure to coding, robotics, engineering design and problem-solving skills.
Co-founder and Co-organiser of the festival, Titi Adewusi, said inclusiveness remains a major focus of the initiative, with special interventions aimed at children from underserved communities.
“From inception, our goal has been to make participation as accessible as possible, with targeted interventions to widen access for underserved communities. At least 20 per cent of attendees participate at no cost, with transportation and feeding fully covered through our partners, enabling us to reach public schools, NGOs and SOS villages,” she said.
Adewusi added that the organisers are equally committed to increasing girls’ participation in STEM careers.
“As female founders, we are particularly passionate about ensuring that girls are not just represented but empowered to thrive in STEM, helping to build a more diverse and inclusive pipeline of future innovators across Africa,” she said.
The sixth edition of the festival, themed “Building Future Innovators,” is scheduled to hold on July 18 in Lagos. It will feature robotics demonstrations, coding competitions, artificial intelligence workshops, drone technology sessions, engineering laboratories, as well as dedicated sessions for parents and teachers on integrating experiential STEM education into schools.
