Tech initiative expands programme for underserved children

Organisers of STEM Africa Fest have expanded efforts to provide access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics education for underserved children as the festival prepares for its sixth edition and a broader rollout across Nigeria.

Speaking at a media parley in Lagos recently, the organisers said at least 20 per cent of participants at the 2026 edition would attend free of charge, with transportation and feeding fully covered through partnerships aimed at reaching public schools, non-governmental organisations and SOS villages.

The festival, described by organisers as West Africa’s largest experiential science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics festival for children and young people, is scheduled to hold its flagship Lagos edition on 18 July 2026, at the Landmark Event Centre.

 The 2026 programme will also feature a multi-city rollout, including Ilorin, as part of efforts to make STEM learning more accessible and practical for children and teenagers across the country.

Co-founder and Co-organiser of STEM Africa Fest, Titi Adewusi, who is also Co-founder of 9ijakids, said inclusion remained central to the initiative.

 “From inception, our goal has been to make participation as accessible as possible, with targeted interventions to widen access for underserved communities. Importantly, 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, “Inclusion remains central to our mission because we believe access to quality education is a fundamental right for every child. 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.”

 The theme of the 2026 edition is “Building Future Innovators”, reflecting the festival’s focus on creating practical learning environments where children can explore and apply STEM concepts through real-world experiences.

 Speaking on the significance of the event, Co-organiser of STEM Africa Fest, Mrs Jadesola Adedeji, said the initiative was established to make STEM education more accessible, practical and engaging for children across Nigeria.

 “STEM Africa Fest was created to respond to the growing need to make STEM education more accessible, practical, and engaging for children across Nigeria,” she said.

 “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. This informed our decision to design a platform that introduces children to STEM through immersive, hands-on experiences that reflect real-world applications, ´she added.

 According to her, the festival has evolved from a learning-focused initiative into a broader ecosystem-building platform that brings together educators, innovators and development partners committed to advancing STEM 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. Over the years, the value of this initiative has been reflected in the number of activities, collaborations, and projects that continue to emerge from the festival each year,” she added.

 The organisers cited concerns over a shortage of STEM professionals in Sub-Saharan Africa, noting that limited access to practical science and technology education at an early age continues to affect the development of talent in the region.

 They said the challenge is reflected in Nigeria’s education-to-employment pipeline, where theoretical learning often limits exposure to applied innovation, coding, robotics and engineering-based problem-solving.

 The 2026 festival will feature interactive STEM laboratories, robotics showcases, coding and game development challenges, artificial intelligence and machine learning workshops, engineering and innovation laboratories, drone technology sessions and science experiments. Career-focused sessions will also expose participants to opportunities in global technology and innovation sectors.

 Parents, teachers and school leaders will participate in dedicated sessions exploring how experiential STEM education can be integrated into learning environments to improve student engagement and learning outcomes.

 Since its inception in 2021, STEM Africa Fest said it has impacted more than 25,000 children, students, parents and educators across Nigeria and several African countries, including Ghana, Zambia, Rwanda, The Gambia, Kenya and Sierra Leone.

 The organisers said the event remains open to students, schools, educators and families, with registration and participation details available through the festival’s official communication channels.