…As Darul Noor by Intercontinental Schools, Kano emerges 2025 NCOY
Junior Achievement Nigeria (JAN) has reiterated its commitment to help young girls transition from school to work, emphasising the importance of empowering Nigerian students through entrepreneurship and innovation.
This was disclosed during the recent 2025 2025 National Company of the Year competition, an annual initiative aimed at empowering the next generation of young innovators through the School-to-Work Educational Transition for Long-Term Youth Fulfillment (SET4LYF) initiative.
“For over 26 years, Junior Achievement Nigeria has been equipping young people with entrepreneurship and financial literacy skills. Through SET4LYF, we are helping marginalized girls transition from school to work, supporting them into tertiary education, employment, or business ownership,” Olaolu Akogun, country director, SET4LYF, said.
He noted that the winners of the national competition will represent Nigeria at the African Company of the Year competition in Abuja in December, where they will compete with peers from across the continent.
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“This year alone, we have reached over 58,000 girls across 21 states. Our goal is not just to host competitions but to nurture these young women for life, reducing unemployment and poverty through sustainable empowerment,” Akogun said during the recent SET4LYF national convening and 2025 Company of the Year competition.
Tobiloba Olaosun, brand and marketing manager, Junior Achievement Nigeria, said there are plans under way to expand the initiative by 2026 in drive for a holistic gender and national representation.
“We are expanding the SET4LYF initiative to reach 60,000 more girls, including persons with disabilities, while also raising awareness for gender inclusion for the company program, an avenue to nurture and mentor young boys. We invite local and international partners, NGOs, fintechs, and private sector organizations to join us in scaling this impact and helping every young Nigerian achieve their full potential,” Olaosun said.
According to her, the 2025 NCOY competition reinforced JAN’s commitment to building an ecosystem where young Nigerians, particularly girls, are empowered to create, innovate, and lead.
SET4LYF is the flagship initiatives of JAN that organises NCOY, a national showcase of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship among secondary school students nationwide. The competition brought together six outstanding student companies that emerged winners from the regional contests.
The student company Sproutgenix Aeromonitor Ltd, of Darul Noor by Intercontinental Schools, Kano, emerged as the overall winner of the 2025 National Company of the Year (NCOY) award.
The innovative team, whose school also won the award last year, developed a drone technology for precision agriculture, designed to reduce cost, save time and labour, and support climate action for sustainable transformation.
Other finalists included, Sunny Bright Technology, Community Secondary School, Asokoro – developed preventive solutions for flood epidemic. ViHi Technologies, Special Education Center, Uyo, created assistive technology devices made from recyclable materials to empower the movement of the visually impaired.
Cynosure Greenhouse Solutions, Alaba Lawson Royal College, created an advance green energy access and sustainability; the New Era Company of Cypress Academy, Kano harnessed technology to build safer, more resilient communities. While Climaclear by International School, Unilag presented an air-quality solutions aligned with SDGs 3, 11, and 13.
