JA Africa Celebrates the Region's Top Young Entrepreneurs with 14th Company of the Year Competition
December 7, 2024
JA Africa held its 14th Company of the Year (COY) Competition this week in Port Louis, Mauritius. Hosted by JA Mascareignes, the 2024 competition brought together nine JA student companies from Eswatini, Ghana, Mauritius, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. This year’s competition is sponsored by FedEx, Citi Foundation, Delta Air Lines, Boeing, MIPS, ABC Bank, Deramann Group, and Ecclosia Group.
The JA Company Program, JA’s flagship entrepreneurship program, equips high school students with practical business skills, enabling them to start and manage businesses. Participants design products, manage finances, and demonstrate corporate social responsibility through impactful projects that address community needs. After a series of local and one national competition, each national JA office selects its top JA student company to send to the JA Company of the Year competition.
Meet the Student Companies
JA Eswatini: Agri Tech Solutions from Vulamasango High School created electro-culture generators to enhance nutrient absorption and plant growth.
JA Ghana: SunSip Irrigation Systems from Archbishop Porter Girls’ Secondary School produces solar-powered irrigation systems with innovative features for sustainable, fuel-efficient farming.
JA Mascareignes: AquaGlow from Sookdeo Bissoondoyal State College offers a solar-powered UV purifier water bottle, promoting clean water access and reducing plastic reliance.
JA Nigeria: Smart Sprout from Darun Noor Intercontinental School, Kano, created Smart Sprinkler, an automated water regulation system for optimized crop hydration.
JA South Africa: Tenacity from Rhodesfield Engineering School of Specialisation designed vertical gardens promoting food accessibility and environmental sustainability.
JA Tanzania: BloomTech from Arusha Science Secondary School developed OptiGrow, an AI-powered app that helps farmers maximize yields and connect with markets.
JA Uganda: Eco Dynamics from Sacred Heart Secondary School Kiterede builds eco-friendly mechanical generators to address Uganda’s energy needs while prioritizing sustainability.
JA Zambia: Brilliant Mind Innovators from Kabulonga Girls Secondary School developed Think Harvest, a mobile app that offers climate insights to support farmers and climate-smart agriculture.
JA Zimbabwe: Velaid from Maranatha Christian High created AGMA, an app that supports organic, sustainable agriculture with weather forecasts and eco-friendly farming tips.
The Competition
On Day 1, students, judges, and partners gathered for the opening ceremony, hearing speakers including JA Worldwide CEO Asheesh Advani, JA Mascareignes Board Chair Nicolas Dalais, and JA Africa CEO Simi Nwogugu.
On Day 2, the competition kicked into high gear, as each student company took to the stage to present their businesses to the panel of judges, sharing not only their product or service information, but their financial wins and losses, marketing plans, and more. Students then attended signature award seminars from FedEx and PMIEF. The FedEx Global Possibilities Seminar showcased insights and discussions on how young entrepreneurs can leverage global connectivity and innovation to drive meaningful impact. The PMIEF Project Management Seminar explored essential project management skills that empower young entrepreneurs to turn innovative ideas into successful ventures. Following the presentations, students tended to their trade show booths, where they could further explain their businesses and products or services to judges and other event attendees.
On Day 3, students participated in closed-door interviews with the judges and capped off the event with the awards ceremony.
The Awards
The FedEx Global Possibilities Award honors the JA student company that exemplifies the principles of global connectivity—driven by innovation, expanding into new markets, fostering community development, and promoting sustainability and social responsibility.
Winner: Tenacity, JA South Africa
The PMIEF Best Application of Project Management Award recognizes the JA student company best demonstrates outstanding project management skills, applying project management principles from start to finish with remarkable dedication, organization, and impact.
Winner: BloomTech, JA Tanzania
The Delta Air Lines Girls LEAD Award recognizes five outstanding young female executives who demonstrate exceptional leadership qualities during the competition. These remarkable leaders will be awarded an unforgettable experience at the JA Girls LEAD Camp in Ghana in March 2025—a transformative opportunity to enhance their leadership skills and empower them to inspire others.
Winners:
Rebecca Kaira, JA Zambia
Yvonne Lyaruu, JA Tanzania
Jasmine Mudzonga, JA Zimbabwe
Auckland Sadhika Davi, JA Mascareignes
Tiyandza Khumalo, JA Eswatini
The Citi Foundation Client Focus Award celebrates the student company that demonstrates outstanding leadership, a strong commitment to client satisfaction, and excellence in customer service.
Winner: Zeilad, JA Zimbabwe
The Boeing Sustainable Innovation Award recognizes the JA student company that best demonstrates innovative sustainability.
Winner: SunSip Irrigation Systems, JA Ghana
The Public Choice Award, based on an online vote, is granted by the public for their favorite team.
Winner: AquaGlow, JA Mascareignes
Company of the Year, third place: Agritech Solutions, JA Eswatini
Company of the Year, second place: AquaGlow, JA Mascareignes
JA Africa Company of the Year: BloomTech, JA Tanzania
As JA Africa Company of the Year, BloomTech will join regional champions Achei from JA Americas, Limitless from INJAZ Al-Arab/JA MENA, Treberei from JA Europe, FlameGuard from Junior Achievement USA, and O’BGE from JA Asia Pacific to compete for the 2025 De La Vega Global Entrepreneurship Award.