Nigerian-born educators Oluwatoyin Kode and Adeolu Kode have said a strong grounding in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics is critical to making African students globally competitive.
In a statement on Thursday, the couple, co-founders of STEM Prep Tutoring in the United States, spoke on how targeted STEM-focused academic support was helping African immigrant children overcome learning gaps abroad while also driving digital empowerment in rural Nigerian communities.
“When African children migrate, the intelligence is there, but the system shock is real.
“STEM knowledge gives them confidence, relevance, and a global language that cuts across borders,” Oluwatoyin said.
She recalled the experience of many Nigerian students who arrive in the U.S. as top performers but struggle within months due to differences in teaching style, digital learning tools, and curriculum structure.
She added, “A child who was excelling in Lagos suddenly feels lost in class.” It’s not a failure of ability; it’s a failure of transition support.”
Oluwatoyin added that research-backed realities informed their intervention.
“Studies show that over 65 per cent of newly arrived African students experience academic regression in their first year.
“We realised that without deliberate support, many brilliant children would be left behind,” she said.
This realisation, she said, led to the establishment of STEM Prep Tutoring in March 2019.
She said it was deliberately designed to decode the U.S. education system for African parents while strengthening students’ STEM and digital foundations.
“Our mission was clear: Close learning gaps quickly, empower parents with knowledge, and position African students for competitive STEM careers,” Oluwatoyin said.
According to Oluwatoyin, the impact has been both visible and measurable.
“Since inception, we have served over 820 students. On average, our learners record a 28 per cent improvement in Mathematics and English within three months,” she said.
She noted that seven out of every 10 students who started below grade level now perform at or above their expected level.
She highlighted test preparation outcomes.
“We’ve seen SAT score increases ranging from 180 to 360 points.
“Some of our students are scoring above 1,400 and gaining admission into top U.S. universities. Beyond test scores, the organisation places strong emphasis on early exposure to technology.
“We train students in coding, robotics, AI fundamentals, and web development.
“Some middle-school students are already building their first apps and websites,” Oluwatoyin said.
Oluwatoyin said STEM Prep Tutoring’s success was also rooted in cultural fluency. “African parents have high expectations, and we understand that. We don’t encourage mediocrity, but we also understand the emotional pressure immigrant children face.”
She added that parents often express relief at being understood.
“They tell us, ‘You understand our children, you understand us,’ and that trust makes all the difference.”
Adeolu explained that shared lived experience helps the organisation connect deeply with families.
“We’ve walked this path ourselves,” he said. “So we know how to guide both parents and students through it.”
“The organisation’s work has drawn international attention, including coverage by AP News, which described STEM Prep Tutoring as “a model for equitable STEM empowerment.”
“That recognition showed us that what we’re doing has global relevance. “But our focus has always been impact, not publicity.”
He stressed that diaspora success should translate into homegrown development. “When African students thrive abroad, they become ambassadors of our intellectual capital,” he said.
In 2024, the statement revealed that Oluwatoyin sponsored a digital-skills training programme for 25 secondary school students in Eruwa, Oyo State, exposing them to basic coding, computer literacy, internet research, and data handling.
“Many of those children had never used a laptop beyond the basics. By the end, they could write simple code and create digital projects,” he said.
Adeolu described the initiative as strategic rather than charitable.
“This is about capacity building. If we want Nigeria to compete globally, digital skills must reach rural communities too,” he said.
“Local leaders in Eruwa praised the programme as a rare opportunity for rural students, but Oluwatoyin downplayed personal credit. It’s not a gift; it’s a responsibility,” he said.
The Kodes said their work reflected a broader vision of national development driven by education.
“In the U.S., confident Nigerian students go on to high-income careers and contribute meaningfully to the economy.
“That also strengthens Nigeria’s global reputation,” Adeolu said.
He added that the impact at home is equally important.
“Digital literacy opens doors for rural youth who were previously excluded. Early exposure creates future-ready Nigerians.
“STEM Prep Tutoring plans to launch a global digital learning academy, expand its Nigeria-based programmes, establish a scholarship fund for African immigrant students and partner with Nigerian schools to boost STEM exposure.
“With Nigeria’s youth population projected to exceed 100 million within a decade, we cannot delay. We are raising a generation that must compete globally, and my job is to ensure they are prepared,” he said.
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