Organisers promise free access for underserved children as festival targets wider reach beyond Lagos in July 2026

The sixth edition of STEM Africa Fest, West Africa’s largest experiential science and technology festival for children and youth, will hold its flagship event at Landmark Event Centre, Lagos on Saturday, July 18, 2026. Organisers confirmed the expansion of the festival to multiple cities including Ilorin, Kwara State, to deepen access to hands-on STEM education nationwide.

With the theme ‘Building Future Innovators,’ this year’s festival aims to create immersive learning experiences for Nigerian children by exposing them to real-world applications of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM). Organisers say the event is designed to spark curiosity and problem-solving skills among young Nigerians while building a pipeline for future innovators.

At a media briefing in Lagos, Mrs Jadesola Adedeji, Co-organiser of STEM Africa Fest, restated the festival’s commitment to advancing practical STEM education in Nigeria. She said, “STEM Africa Fest was created to respond to the growing need to make STEM education more accessible, practical, and engaging for children across Nigeria. For too long, STEM learning has been perceived as abstract and disconnected from everyday experiences.” Adedeji noted that the festival now functions as a broader ecosystem-building platform connecting educators, innovators and partners across Africa.

Co-founder Titi Adewusi emphasised the focus on inclusion. “From inception, our goal has been to make participation as accessible as possible… At least 20% of attendees participate at no cost with transportation and feeding fully covered through our partners,” she said. Adewusi highlighted targeted efforts to reach public schools and NGOs while ensuring girls are empowered in STEM pathways.

According to UNESCO, Sub-Saharan Africa faces a persistent shortage of skilled STEM professionals due largely to limited access to practical science and technology education at early stages. In Nigeria specifically, this gap is visible in schools where theory-heavy curricula restrict exposure to applied innovation such as coding or robotics.

This year’s programme will feature interactive labs in robotics, coding challenges, AI workshops, drone technology sessions and science experiments. Career-focused panels will expose participants to global technology sectors while dedicated sessions for parents and teachers will explore integrating experiential learning into school curriculums.

Since launching in 2021, STEM Africa Fest has reached over 25,000 children and educators across Nigeria and other African countries including Ghana and Kenya. Organisers invite students, teachers and families nationwide; registration details are available via official festival channels and www.stemafricafest.com.

Source: https://www.pulse.ng/story/stem-africa-fest-returns-for-its-sixth-edition-to-champion-innovation-and-stem-education-in-nigeria-2026062514094140123