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How Access Bank is Nurturing Africa’s Next Generation of Innovators

From ThisDay · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Access Bank has sponsored the STEM Africa Fest for six years, transforming it into a large continental platform.
  • The festival inspires nearly 30,000 young people by making science, technology, engineering, and mathematics engaging and hands-on.
  • The bank's sustained investment, starting from a local initiative, has enabled the festival's expansion across Africa and challenged organizers to dream bigger.

Access Bank's six-year commitment to science and technology education has been instrumental in nurturing Africa's next generation of innovators through the STEM Africa Fest. What began as a local initiative has evolved into one of the continent's largest STEM learning platforms, inspiring nearly 30,000 young people.

They were the first people that believed in us. When it was just a dream that nobody was doing, we went around, and nobody understood. They took a chance on us from the very first year.

— Titi AdewusiDescribing Access Bank's crucial early support for the STEM Africa Fest.

This year's event, the sixth edition, saw over 3,500 children gather at the Landmark Event Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos. Instead of passive holiday activities, they engaged in programming robots, conducting chemistry experiments, building engineering models, flying drones, and designing digital animations using artificial intelligence. More than 50 exhibitors showcased cutting-edge technologies, making science exciting and technology hands-on.

The festival's success highlights the impact of sustained corporate investment driven by purpose. Access Bank has been the headline sponsor since the festival's inception, helping it grow from a Nigerian project to a continental platform reaching children in Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, Zambia, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and various Nigerian states. Co-convener Titi Adewusi emphasized that the bank's role extends beyond financial support, noting their early belief in the idea when others did not understand it.

When we went to Ghana, it was because Access was in Ghana and they said, ‘Come, we’ll back you up.’ When we went to Gambia, Sierra Leone, Zambia and Kenya, they stood with us.

— Titi AdewusiIllustrating how Access Bank facilitated the festival's expansion into other African countries.

Adewusi further explained that Access Bank actively encouraged the organizers to expand their vision. "When we went to Ghana, it was because Access was in Ghana and they said, ‘Come, we’ll back you up.’ When we went to Gambia, Sierra Leone, Zambia and Kenya, they stood with us." The bank's partnership has been crucial in challenging organizers to achieve more than they initially imagined, acting as a supportive force that invests financially and inspires greater ambition.

They’ve been a partner everybody prays for. They’re the kind of partner that puts their money there and also helps you dream bigger.

— Titi AdewusiHighlighting the comprehensive nature of Access Bank's partnership with the STEM Africa Fest.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ThisDay. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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