The African Olympiad Academy (AOA), a pioneering institution dedicated to advancing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education across the continent, held its official launch and Open House on Wednesday, 19 November 2025.
The event, hosted at the school’s modern campus, brought together educators, policymakers, parents, and partners from different African countries. Guest Speaker Mr. Eraste Rurangwa, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of ICT (MINICT), presided over the ceremony.
AOA officially opened in September with its first cohort of 30 students—equally balanced between boys and girls—from eight African nations including Namibia, Kenya, Nigeria, Botswana, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda. All students were admitted on full scholarships, a reflection of the Academy’s commitment to accessibility and excellence.
Arun Shanmuganathan, co-founder and Executive Director of AOA, described the Academy as an investment in the continent’s most powerful resource: its people.
“Africa’s young minds carry extraordinary potential,” he said. “The challenge has never been a lack of brilliance, but the lack of platforms that allow that brilliance to shine. AOA exists to change that narrative.”
The school also provides an online learning program to help students who cannot join the campus physically to participate in selected training sessions in both English and French.
Talking to Kigali Times, the fellow co-founder and Head of School, Gaidi Faraj, emphasized the Academy’s unique approach to learning, which places inquiry, resilience, and creativity at its core.
“We encourage our students to ask bold questions,” Faraj noted. “When they hit a wall, we don’t want them to retreat—we want them to push further. Every complex problem is a doorway to a new discovery.”
Rwanda Olympiad Foundation has played a major role in strengthening mathematics education across the country, with Rwandan learners achieving impressive results in both local and global contests. Throughout the 2024–2025 academic year, students stood out in events such as the Rwanda Mathematics Competition, the Pan-African Mathematics Olympiad, as well as international platforms like the IMO, the International Olympiad in Informatics, and the International Olympiad in AI.
Rwandan student Sonia Keza, one of the first AOA scholars, described how quickly the school has shaped her academic and personal growth.
“AOA feels like a home,” she said. “We learn together, support each other, and celebrate each other’s cultures. It’s a place where you’re challenged, but you’re never alone.”
From Nigeria, Abasiofon Otobong Sampson reflected on the courage and confidence the Academy instills in its students.
“I’ve learned that innovation starts with taking risks,” she said. “Here, it’s okay to try, fail, and try again. That mindset changes everything about how we approach learning.”
The Academy’s establishment follows an extensive talent search across the continent, where the AOA team organized math camps to identify exceptional students. This ensured representation from diverse countries and backgrounds, giving academically gifted learners an opportunity to access world-class education regardless of economic status.
In his keynote address, Guest Speaker Mr. Rurangwa applauded the Academy for setting a powerful example of inclusive, Pan-African education.
“Institutions like AOA are essential for Africa’s future,” he said. “This is how we build a generation capable of competing globally and solving the challenges facing our communities.”
As the launch event concluded, the Academy’s leadership reiterated that AOA is more than a school—it is a transformative community. Its mission extends beyond academic excellence to building empathy, leadership, innovation, and a deep understanding of African identity and purpose.
With its first cohort now fully settled and the program officially launched, the African Olympiad Academy stands positioned to shape the continent’s next generation of scientists, thinkers, and problem-solvers.
