About Us
15k+
Students Reached
500+
Partners
300+
Awarded Leaders
New Education Standard Award Africa (NESA Africa) is a prestigious initiative committed to recognizing and celebrating excellence, innovation, and impactful contributions in education across Africa. Established to set new benchmarks in education, the awards serve as a catalyst for change, inspiring organizations, institutions, governments, and individuals to drive lasting improvements in the African education sector.
NESA Africa 2025, hosted by the Santos Creations Educational Foundation (SCEF) Nigeria Local Chapter, marks the inaugural edition of this transformative initiative. The awards are structured to encourage educational development through sustainable partnerships, leveraging Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), policy advocacy, philanthropy, and community engagement.
As part of its long-term vision (2025–2030), NESA Africa will transition into a continental movement, expanding its impact across the five African regions while engaging diaspora and global partners in ensuring education for all.
About Us – NESA Africa
Recognizing Excellence. Driving Educational Innovation. Advancing Africa’s Sustainable Future.
🌍 Introduction
The New Education Standard Award Africa (NESA-Africa) is a landmark initiative dedicated to celebrating excellence, innovation, and impactful change in the African education sector. Rooted in the principles of social impact, sustainability, and continental development, NESA-Africa empowers educators, governments, organizations, and institutions transforming education systems across Africa.
Conceived in 2010 as the Stakeholders Education Standard Award, the idea evolved over a decade of reflection and improvement. It was rebranded in 2023 as NESA-Africa and now launches its inaugural edition on December 13, 2025 under the stewardship of the Santos Creations Educational Foundation (SCEF).
Aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) and Africa Union Agenda 2063, NESA-Africa is more than an award—it is a movement for educational justice, inclusion, equity, and development.
🎯 Mission
To accelerate Africa’s educational transformation through strategic recognition of excellence, digital innovation, and sustainable collaboration, aligning all activities with the global SDGs and African continental goals.
🌟 Vision (2030)
To be Africa’s leading education award and change platform, mobilizing public-private investments, amplifying innovative educational models, and ensuring equitable access to quality learning—reaching every child and youth across Africa.
🌐 Strategic Alignment
- SDG 4 – Quality Education: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
- SDG 5 – Gender Equality: Promote girls’ education through award focus areas and scholarship programs.
- SDG 9 – Innovation & Infrastructure: Encourage STEM, EdTech, and vocational excellence.
- SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals: Leverage multi-sector partnerships for education financing and advocacy.
- Aspiration 1: A prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development.
- Goal 2: Well-educated citizens and a skills revolution underpinned by science, technology, and innovation.
- Goal 17: Full gender equality in all spheres of life—including education.
- Goal 18: Engaged and empowered youth and children.
📈 SMART Goals (2025–2030)
- Recognize 100+ changemakers in education annually.
- Facilitate over $10 million in scholarships by 2027.
- Establish sustainable education hubs in 5 regions by 2029.
- Institutionalize awards in diaspora and bilateral partner territories.
- Reach 500,000+ digital engagements yearly.
- Empower 50,000+ learners through scholarships and CSR.
- Track 20% annual growth in nominations, votes, and partnerships.
- Establish NESA-Africa chapters in 54 African countries and 25 diaspora zones.
- Integrate AI for impact tracking and award evaluation.
- Launch multilingual voter and nominee platforms for inclusion.
- Tied to SDG 4 and Agenda 2063 education priorities.
- Inclusive of marginalized groups, rural learners, women, and youth.
- Promotes education-led community transformation via local chapters.
- 2025: Inaugural event and scholarship pilot.
- 2026–2028: Continental rollout and program scaling.
- 2029–2030: Consolidation into Africa’s premier education sustainability hub.
🏅 Award Structure
- Africa Icon Blue Garnet Award
Non-competitive lifetime recognition for education trailblazers across Africa. - Blue Garnet & Gold Certificate Awards
Competitive public and judge-reviewed awards across 8 categories and 101 subcategories.
Supports CSR, STEM, EdTech, Policy Advocacy, and Educational Media. - Platinum Certificate of Recognition Awards
Non-competitive institutional honors for policy-makers, governments, global partners, and CSR champions.
📚 Social Impact Strategy
- 🌱 Scholarships & AGC Voting – Every vote powers a child’s education through the AfriGold Coin (AGC).
- 🤝 Local Chapters – Community-run NESA chapters drive grassroots engagement, school rebuilding, teacher support, and data collection.
- 📡 NESA TV & It’s In Me Radio – Broadcasting real-time education transformation and community voices across Africa.
- 💡 Ambassadors & Diaspora Agents – Mobilizing diaspora and youth as changemakers, mentors, and funders.
- 📘 EduAid-Africa Expo & Webinar Series – Creating policy spaces and learning exchanges across 54+ countries.
🗺️ Roadmap to 2030
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2025 | First NESA-Africa awards, AGC wallet launch, and pilot scholarships |
| 2026 | East & Southern Africa integration; diaspora partner activation |
| 2027 | Full Africa-wide hosting rotation begins; CSR fund expands |
| 2028 | AI-powered impact evaluation and award certification system |
| 2029 | NESA-led policy coalitions on funding, STEM, and early childhood |
| 2030 | 1 million learners reached; 100,000 scholarships issued; 1,000 awardees recognized continentally |
🙌 Join the Movement
- ✅ Nominate a Champion
- ✅ Vote & Support with AGC
- ✅ Become a Sponsor
- ✅ Apply as Judge or Ambassador
- ✅ Join/Lead a Local Chapter
- ✅ Watch NESA TV & Webinars
📬 Contact
Email: [email protected]
Host: Santos Creations Educational Foundation (SCEF)
Phone: +234 805 667 7770
Address: 19 Godwin Okigbo Street, Marsha Kilo, Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria
Why NESA Africa
Mission 🎯
To drive sustainable transformation in education by recognizing outstanding contributions, fostering innovation, and strengthening collaboration among key stakeholders in Africa and beyond.
Vision 🌍
By 2030, NESA Africa will be the leading education impact awards and initiative in Africa, facilitating investment in education, promoting innovative learning solutions, and ensuring inclusive access to quality education for all children and youth across the continent.
The NESA Journey
NESA Africa, formerly known by different names, has undergone an evolutionary transformation from its initial concept in 2010. Over the years, the initiative faced numerous challenges, including funding limitations, stakeholder alignment, and logistical constraints. However, through resilience and continuous refinement, NESA Africa has emerged as the leading pan-African platform for recognizing excellence in education.
- 2010–2013Stakeholder consultations and concept development under the name Stakeholder Education Standard Award.
- 2014–2016Renamed Nigeria Education Standard Award, aiming to establish national recognition for education contributions.
- 2017 – 2019Further rebranding to New Nigeria Education Standard Award (NNESA) to align with policy and sectoral reforms.
- 2020 – 2024Transition to a broader continental vision, culminating in NESA Africa – New Education Standard Award Africa, expanding its reach to the entire African continent.
- 2025First official edition of NESA Africa, hosted by SCEF Nigeria Local Chapter, bringing together global education stakeholders.
What We Do
Learn About Our Work
Addressing Educational Challenges In a country facing infrastructural deficits, outdated curricula, and educator motivation issues, NESA Africa strives to encourage government bodies, NGOs, UN agencies, CSR initiatives, and private entities to play pivotal roles in improving education.
Educational Programs and Initiatives
We develop and deploy educational programs that range from basic literacy to advanced digital skills. Our initiatives are tailored to meet local needs and delivered through collaborations with local communities, government and international partners.
