Simi Nwogugu, CEO of JA Africa selected as Finalist for Africa Education Medal

Simi Nwogugu, the CEO of JA Africa, has been named one of the Top 10 finalists for the prestigious Africa Education Medal. This esteemed recognition highlights Simi’s outstanding contributions to advancing education across the African continent.

During her time as an employee at Goldman Sachs in New York City, Simi first encountered JA and was deeply impressed by the organization. This encounter led her to leave her successful career at the young age of 24 to introduce JA to Nigeria. Since then, she has played a pivotal role in leading JA's activities across the continent, making a significant impact on the lives of over 100,000 African youth annually.

Nwogugu is a passionate advocate for girls' education and has spearheaded several innovative projects. One of her notable initiatives is the Leadership, Empowerment Achievement & Development (LEAD) Camp for Girls, which has empowered more than 1,200 young girls to become future women leaders in society. She has also been involved in supporting the Venture in Management Programme (ViMP), which equips young people with essential business management skills and fosters social responsibility.

Under Simi’s guidance, JA Nigeria expanded its reach to over 1 million Nigerians in 5,000 schools. In recognition of her exceptional leadership, she assumed the role of CEO of JA Africa in 2020, further solidifying her commitment to empowering African youth.

The Africa Education Medal honors individuals who have made remarkable contributions to preschool, K-12, vocational, and university education. Nominations for the award opened in February 2023 and attracted educators, school administrators, civil society leaders, public servants, government officials, political leaders, technologists, and innovators from across the continent.

The finalists for the Africa Education Medal were selected by a distinguished jury using strict criteria to evaluate their impact and accomplishments. Simi Nwogugu's inclusion among the Top 10 finalists demonstrates her exceptional dedication and tireless efforts to transform education in Africa:

• Mary Ashun, Principal of Ghana International School, Ghana
• Laura Kakon, Chief Growth & Strategy Officer of Honoris United Universities, Morocco
• Rogers Kamugisha, Country Director of Educate!, Rwanda
• Grace Matlhape, CEO of SmartStart, South Africa
• Mary Metcalfe, former policymaker and CEO of Programme to Improve Learning Outcomes (PILO), South Africa
• Martha Muhwezi, Executive Director of FAWE, Uganda
• Jean-Claude Nkulikiyimfura, Executive Director of Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village, Rwanda
• Simi Nwogugu, CEO of JA Africa, Nigeria
• Sara Ruto, Former Chief Administrative Secretary of Kenya’s Ministry of Education and former CEO of PAL Network, Kenya
• Snehar Shah, CEO of Moringa School, Kenya

As the winner of the Africa Education Medal is yet to be announced, the nomination itself is a testament to Nwogugu's significant contributions and the positive influence she has had on education and youth empowerment in Africa.