THE 2026 STEM CLUBS ACROSS AFRICA CHALLENGE IS NOW LIVE — AWARDS IN NOVEMBER 2026

🏆 2026 Challenge — Now Open

The Africa Electricity
Challenge 2026

Five STEM Clubs. One continent. One mission. Which club can produce the best solution to bring constant, 24/7 electricity to Africa? The future is built by students like you.

$1,000
Electricity Prize
$100
Open Innovation Prize
5
Competing Schools
Nov 2026
Awards Ceremony
Enter Your Team Learn More
The Two Challenges

Two Ways to Win

Every STEM Club member competes. Every student can win. Choose your challenge — or enter both.

1
⚡
The Electricity Challenge
$1,000

Africa has the resources, the talent, and the need. No more excuses. Design and present the best solution for bringing constant, reliable, 24/7 electricity to communities across Africa. Your solution must be practical, scalable, and grounded in real science and engineering. The winning team receives $1,000 to invest in building out their prototype.

All STEM Clubs Teams of 2–5 $1,000 Prize
2
💡
Open Innovation Challenge
$100

Pick your interest. Pick your problem. Present your pitch. This challenge is open to any problem you care about — water, health, agriculture, education, transportation, or anything else. Identify the problem, research the science behind it, design a solution, and pitch it. The best pitch wins $100 and recognition across the STEM Clubs Across Africa network.

Any Problem Individual or Team $100 Prize
Why Electricity?

Africa Has the Resources.
Students Have the Answers.

Africa receives more solar energy per square metre than almost any other continent. It has vast wind corridors, powerful rivers, and geothermal potential. Yet over 600 million people still lack reliable electricity. This is not a resource problem — it is an innovation and implementation problem. That is exactly what STEM students are trained to solve.

☀️
Solar Energy
Africa receives 2,000–3,000 kWh/m² of solar radiation per year — among the highest in the world. Photovoltaic systems, concentrated solar power, and off-grid solar microgrids are all viable pathways.
💨
Wind Power
The East African Rift Valley, coastal regions, and the Sahel have significant wind energy potential. Small-scale wind turbines can power rural communities where grid extension is not cost-effective.
💧
Hydropower
Africa's rivers — the Congo, Niger, Zambezi — hold enormous untapped hydropower potential. Micro-hydro systems can deliver reliable baseload power to communities near waterways.
🔋
Energy Storage
The key to 24/7 power is storage. Battery technology, pumped hydro storage, and thermal storage systems can bridge the gap between generation and demand — making intermittent sources reliable.
🌐
Smart Microgrids
Decentralised smart microgrids — combining multiple energy sources with intelligent management systems — can deliver reliable power to communities without waiting for national grid expansion.
♻️
Waste-to-Energy
Biogas from agricultural waste, municipal solid waste gasification, and biomass combustion can turn Africa's abundant organic waste streams into clean, reliable electricity.
How to Compete

Build Your Team. Build Your Solution.

Each STEM Club forms internal teams. Teams research, design, and present their solutions. The best solution from each school advances to the inter-school final in November 2026.

01
Form Your Team
Gather 2–5 students from your STEM Club. Assign roles: researcher, engineer, presenter, data analyst, and project manager. Every member contributes.
02
Research the Problem
Study the electricity situation in your community. What is the source of the problem? What resources are available locally? What have others tried? Ground your solution in real data.
03
Design Your Solution
Apply mathematics, physics, chemistry, and engineering principles to design a practical solution. Build a model, prototype, or detailed technical proposal. Show your calculations.
04
Present Your Pitch
Prepare a 10-minute presentation covering: the problem, your solution, the science behind it, the cost, and the impact. Submit your written report and present to judges in November.
05
Submit Your Entry
Upload your project report and photos using the student project submission page. Your STEM Club coordinator will confirm your entry. Deadline: October 31, 2026.
06
Compete in November
All finalist teams present their solutions at the November 2026 STEM Clubs Across Africa Awards. Winners receive their prizes and recognition across the entire network.
Key Dates

Challenge Timeline

Mark these dates. Every deadline is an opportunity.

June 2026 — Now
Challenge Launch
The 2026 STEM Clubs Across Africa Challenge is officially open. Teams register and begin their research phase.
July – September 2026
Research & Design Phase
Teams research their chosen problem, design their solution, build prototypes or models, and prepare their written reports. Mentors from the LIFE network are available to guide teams.
October 31, 2026
Submission Deadline
All written reports and project documentation must be submitted via the student project upload page. No late entries accepted.
November 2026
Finals & Awards Ceremony
Finalist teams present their solutions. Winners are announced. The Electricity Challenge winner receives $1,000 to invest in their prototype. The Open Innovation winner receives $100. All participants receive certificates of achievement.
The Prizes

Real Money. Real Impact.

These prizes are not just awards — they are investments in your ideas. The $1,000 Electricity Prize is designed to help the winning team actually build their prototype.

⚡
Electricity Challenge
$1,000
Grand Prize — November 2026
Awarded to the team that presents the most practical, scientifically grounded, and scalable solution for bringing 24/7 electricity to African communities. Prize money is intended to fund prototype development. Winner also receives a certificate, recognition across the STEM Clubs Across Africa network, and a mentorship session with Amos Tarfa and the LIFE team.
💡
Open Innovation Challenge
$100
Innovation Prize — November 2026
Awarded to the individual or team that presents the most compelling pitch for solving any problem of their choice. Judged on creativity, scientific grounding, clarity of presentation, and real-world impact potential. Winner also receives a certificate and recognition across the network.
Competing Schools

Five Clubs. One Challenge.

These are the five STEM Clubs currently competing in the 2026 challenge. More schools joining means more competition — and more innovation.

🏫
FGC Lagos JETS Club
Federal Government College Ijanikin, Lagos
🏫
Ogbona STEM Club
Ogbona Secondary School, Edo State
🏫
El-Olam STEM Club
El-Olam International Schools, Jos
🏫
Westwood Park STEM Club
Westwood Park School, Jos
🏫
PedMax STEM Club
PedMax Excellence Academy, Abuja
Judging Criteria

How Entries Are Judged

Entries are evaluated by a panel of educators, engineers, and LIFE mentors using the following criteria.

30%
Scientific Accuracy
Is the solution grounded in real physics, chemistry, and engineering? Are the calculations correct? Does the team demonstrate genuine understanding of the science?
25%
Practicality & Feasibility
Can this solution actually be built? Is it cost-effective for African communities? Does it account for local resources, infrastructure, and constraints?
20%
Innovation & Creativity
Does the solution bring a fresh perspective? Does it combine existing technologies in a new way? Does it address a gap that current solutions miss?
15%
Presentation Quality
Is the pitch clear, compelling, and well-structured? Does the team communicate their idea effectively? Is the written report professional and complete?
10%
Impact Potential
How many people could benefit from this solution? How scalable is it across different African contexts? What is the long-term vision?

Register Your Team

Enter your team details below to officially register for the 2026 STEM Clubs Across Africa Challenge. One registration per team.

⚡ Electricity Challenge
$1,000 Prize
💡 Open Innovation
$100 Prize