Since its inception in 2023, the Eastern Africa Mathematics Olympiad (EAMO) has quickly established itself as a transformative initiative for mathematics education and talent development in the region. Its influence can be seen on multiple levels—among students, teachers, schools, and entire national education systems.
A remarkable outcome of EAMO is that almost all participants go on to pursue STEM-related subjects when entering tertiary education. Many of the finalists have secured admission to some of the world's most prestigious universities, including MIT, Oxford, Caltech, Cambridge, and others. These success stories highlight how the Olympiad opens doors to global opportunities and equips young East Africans to thrive in competitive academic environments.
EAMO has been a catalyst for launching mathematics competitions in countries where none previously existed. For instance:
The second most populous country in Africa had no tradition of mathematics competitions prior to 2022. In just a few years, over 15,000 students participated in the 2025 national competition, with the potential to reach 100,000 participants in the near future.
Similar initiatives have now been successfully introduced in South Sudan, Burundi, Zambia, and Djibouti, bringing mathematics competitions to thousands of students who previously lacked such opportunities.
This expansion demonstrates EAMO's power to ignite a regional movement that promotes mathematics as a discipline of creativity, problem-solving, and future career pathways.
Beyond competitions, EAMO has also invested heavily in training and capacity building. Thanks to the generosity of Jane Street we could organise an eight months training for 21 coaches from East Africa. The training was conducted by 8 European IMO leaders (one session weekly, 4-5 weeks each), while coaches came from East African seven countries. The knowledge gained will improve the training of students participating in all local math competitions. Note that European trainers worked on voluntary basis while the Jane Street grant was equally distributed among the participants in the project.
The ripple effect of EAMO goes far beyond the competitions themselves. It is creating a culture where mathematics is celebrated, where young talent is nurtured, and where East African students are empowered to contribute to the global scientific and technological community.
By combining student empowerment, teacher training, and regional collaboration, EAMO is not only raising the standard of mathematics in Eastern Africa but also shaping the continent's future innovators and leaders.
Students impacted across all editions
Countries participating in 2026
Coaches trained by European IMO leaders in capacity building program
Students in Ethiopia's national competition (2025)
