Organisers of STEM Africa Fest have announced plans for the sixth edition of the event, saying this year’s programme will provide African children with practical training in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and other emerging technologies to help prepare them as the continent’s next generation of innovators and problem solvers.

Described by its organisers as Africa’s largest STEM festival for children, the event will take place on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at the Landmark Event Centre, Lagos. The 2026 edition will be held under the theme, “Building Future Innovators.”

Speaking about the vision behind the initiative, Co-convener of STEM Africa Fest, Mrs. Jadesola Adedeji, said the festival was created to shift children’s education away from rote memorisation towards experiential learning that develops creativity, innovation, critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Adedeji explained that the concept for the festival emerged in 2021 after she connected with co-founder Titi Adewusi on Instagram and realised they both shared concerns about the state of Nigeria’s education system.

“We both shared the same frustration around education and the way teaching and learning was done in Nigeria. We believed STEM education offered children a more experiential way of learning, moving away from rote learning, cramming and regurgitating, to building innovation, creativity and critical thinking,” she said.

She noted that the festival was deliberately designed to give children an active role in learning by engaging directly with science and technology instead of simply receiving classroom instruction.

“We wanted a learning festival where children could learn through participation, exploration and experimentation. Learning should be hands-on. When children learn by doing, they retain more and become problem solvers rather than mere consumers of knowledge,” she added.

Reflecting on the festival’s growth, Adedeji recalled that its inaugural edition was held virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic, while the first physical edition attracted more than 6,000 participants, highlighting increasing interest in practical STEM education.

She also revealed that the organisers are broadening the initiative’s impact beyond the annual event by providing sponsorship opportunities for children from underserved communities. In addition, they are encouraging more girls to pursue careers in science and technology through mentorship and engagement with female role models.

According to Adedeji, the programme has also drawn attention from education stakeholders in countries including Ghana and Egypt, leading the organisers to develop a playbook that will enable the model to be replicated across Africa.

Discussing this year’s theme, Co-founder and Co-organiser Titi Adewusi said the focus is on preparing children for technologies of the future while equipping them with enduring skills.

“We want to build tomorrow by giving children the skills, exposure and opportunities they need. Technology will continue to evolve, but critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving and the ability to learn will always remain valuable,” she said.

Adewusi disclosed that children between the ages of seven and 15 will take part in activities covering robotics, artificial intelligence, electronics, engineering, drones, chess, 3D printing, science experiments and interactive museums through eight specialised learning laboratories.

“We don’t want children to simply hear about technology. We want them to touch it, build with it, experiment with it and imagine themselves creating solutions,” Adewusi said.

She further stated that the festival will include a Tech Career Corner, where Nigerian professionals working in science and technology will mentor participants, introduce them to emerging career opportunities and inspire them to become inventors, innovators and entrepreneurs.