For John Onuigbo, innovation in education isn’t just a career — it’s a calling born from experience. He grew up seeing what happens when curiosity meets barriers: talented young minds dimmed by lack of access. That reality fueled his mission to prove that technology can bridge the gap, giving every learner a fair chance to shine.
Through his ventures, John Onuigbo has pioneered new ways to make learning interactive, inclusive, and inspiring. By integrating gamification and immersive digital experiences, he is reshaping how students engage with science, turning once-distant concepts into dynamic, hands-on lessons that spark discovery. His work doesn’t just close learning gaps. It prepares a new generation of critical thinkers to thrive in an increasingly digital world.
Read: Meet Wemimo Abbey: From Lagos to Billion-Dollar Fintech
Building Foris Labs: Redefining Science Education in Nigeria
In 2016, John Onuigbo founded Foris Labs, a pioneering virtual science laboratory designed to revolutionize how secondary school students learn physics, chemistry, and biology. The platform allows learners to perform realistic experiments through interactive digital simulations, turning mobile devices and computers into powerful classrooms.
For many Nigerian students, limited access to functional laboratories has long been a barrier to understanding science. Foris Labs became the solution, a digital bridge that enables hands-on experimentation regardless of geography or infrastructure.
Today, Foris Labs is not only transforming how science is taught, but also how it is experienced. The platform has been adopted by leading schools across the country, helping teachers deliver more engaging lessons and students build deeper comprehension through practical interaction.
Under John’s visionary leadership, Foris Labs has grown to become one of the top three EdTech startups in Nigeria, earning continental recognition and a spot among HolonIQ’s Top 50 African EdTech Startups in both 2023 and 2024.
Empowering Future Innovators: The Birth of Stemnovo NG
Beyond virtual labs, John’s commitment to educational empowerment birthed Stemnovo NG, an initiative focused on equipping young people in rural and semi-urban communities with practical skills in coding, robotics, and entrepreneurship.
Through hands-on learning, Stemnovo NG helps students turn curiosity into innovation and transforms them from passive learners into problem solvers. Since its inception, the program has reached over 17,000 students, providing them with the tools to innovate and compete globally.
Many participants from Stemnovo NG have gone on to win national and international innovation challenges, developing technology-driven solutions to local issues, a true reflection of Onuigbo’s mission to democratize learning and spark creative leadership.
Gamification as a Force for Change
At the heart of Onuigbo’s work lies the idea that learning should be experienced, not endured. Through gamification, using play, challenge, and reward as learning mechanisms, his platforms make science and technology accessible, exciting, and relevant.
By merging education with immersive tech, Foris Labs and Stemnovo NG are cultivating a generation of creative problem-solvers who can adapt to the world’s evolving demands. His approach is not just about teaching skills, but about igniting curiosity and nurturing the joy of discovery.
Recognition and Impact
John Onuigbo’s groundbreaking work has earned him numerous local and international accolades. In 2021, he made history as the first African to win the Stanford Center on Longevity Design Challenge, a global competition celebrating creative solutions in education, health, and wellbeing.
In 2025, he was nominated for The Future Awards Africa (TFAA) Prize for Education, one of the continent’s most prestigious recognitions, described by Forbes as “the most important youth award in Africa” and by the World Bank as “the Nobel Prize for Young Africans.”
Beyond these, Onuigbo has received several other awards honoring his contributions to STEM education and youth empowerment. Each recognition serves as a testament to his relentless drive to make learning more inclusive and impactful across Africa.
Read: Aroloye Oluwatosin Wants Teachers to Be Seen, Heard, and Valued
Building the Future Through Innovation
Today, John Onuigbo stands as one of Nigeria’s leading voices in education innovation, his work continues to transform how African students learn and dream, turning limitations into launchpads for creativity and possibility. He is not only reshaping classrooms but also inspiring a continent to believe in the power of homegrown solutions.
At RefinedNG, we tell stories of visionary Africans transforming ideas into impact. innovators, dreamers, and builders redefining the future across industries. Stay tuned as we continue to spotlight the voices shaping tomorrow’s Africa, today.
RefinedNG — your number one stop for all things positive.