…To compete for JA $15,000 global prize
Nigeria’s Smartgenix Aeromonitor Ltd, from Darul Noor by Intercontinental Schools, has emerged winner of the 2025 Junior Achievement Africa Company of the Year (ACOY) with a cash prize of $3,000.
Smartgenix Aeromonitor, who was crowned Junior Achievement Nigeria (JAN) ACOY in October will now advance to the De La Vega Global Entrepreneurship Award, where it will compete for JA Worldwide’s global competition.
The competition brings together first-place winners from JA’s six regional competitions, offering the winner a global recognition, educational opportunities, and a chance to win the $15,000 global prize.
The Smartgenix team also secured the Public Choice Award, garnering votes from Nigerians both locally and globally, which showcased their innovation on the continental stage.
“Smartgenix Aeromonitor Ltd demonstrates the creativity, resilience, and leadership potential of Nigerian youth. They are proof that with the right mentorship and opportunity, young innovators can lead on the global stage,” Dave Uduanu, chairman, board of directors, Junior Achievement Nigeria, said in a statement.
According to Uduanu, the annual JA Africa Company of the Year competition gathers Africa’s top young entrepreneurs, who excel at national competitions, to compete for various categories.
He disclosed that this year’s theme, ACT: Action for Climate Transformation, challenged participants to develop solutions that address environmental, social, and economic issues in their communities.
According to him, Sproutgenix Aeromonitor Ltd impressed judges with their drone technology for precision agriculture, designed to reduce costs, save time, minimize labour, and support sustainable climate action.
He added that the winning team, Ruqaiya Abdulfatai Alubankudi, Khadija Muhammad Musa, Rukaiya Makki Abubakar, and Zainab Idris Gaya, are secondary school students redefining youth-led innovation across Africa.
“Through initiatives like Company Program, SET4LYF, amongst others, Junior Achievement Nigeria continues to empower young people aged 5 to 35 with financial literacy, work readiness, entrepreneurship, and digital skills, bridging the gap between education and real-world impact.”
