A 24-year-old Nigerian innovator and founder of Foris Labs, John Onuigbo, has been nominated for the 2025 Future Awards Africa (TFAA) Prize for Education, an honour that celebrates exceptional young Africans transforming their communities through innovation and leadership.
The award, described by Forbes as “the most important youth award in Africa” and recognised by the World Bank as “the Nobel Prize for Young Africans,” spotlights emerging changemakers shaping the continent’s future. This year’s edition is themed “Threads of Legacy.”
Onuigbo’s nomination acknowledges his groundbreaking efforts in expanding access to science and technology education through digital innovation. His company, Foris Labs, provides virtual science laboratories that allow secondary school students to conduct real-time experiments in physics, chemistry, and biology using computers or mobile devices.
The platform, already adopted by several schools across Nigeria, has significantly improved students’ learning outcomes and engagement in STEM subjects.
Before founding Foris Labs, Onuigbo launched Stemnovo NG, an initiative that equips young people in rural and semi-urban communities with practical skills in coding, robotics, and entrepreneurship.
Since its inception, the programme has trained over 17,000 students, many of whom have gone on to win national and international innovation competitions.
In 2021, Onuigbo made history as the first African winner of the Stanford Center on Longevity Design Challenge, a global competition recognising innovative solutions to improve health, education, and wellbeing.
Under his leadership, Nigerian students have earned international acclaim at the Global Diamond Challenge, World Affairs Challenge, and UK–Nigeria Debate Championship.
His company has also been ranked among the Top 50 African EdTech Startups by HolonIQ and the Top 3 EdTech Startups in Nigeria by the Global EdTech Startup Awards in 2023 and 2024.
Reacting to his nomination, Onuigbo described it as “a reflection of the work being done by many young Nigerians who are using innovation to make learning more inclusive.”
He added that the honour “serves as motivation to continue creating opportunities for students to learn and compete globally.”
The Future Awards Africa Prize for Education celebrates young Africans making measurable contributions toward improving learning outcomes across the continent.
This year’s edition continues its tradition of recognising creativity, sustainability, and lasting impact in education.
