Extracting mini CEOs …How First Quantum literacy is empowering Zambia’s next generation of young leaders

LUSAKA, ZAMBIA – In classrooms across Zambia, a quiet revolution is unfolding; one book, one idea, and one young mind at a time.
Through the Mini CEO Competition, supported by First Quantum, nearly 300 primary and secondary schools are participating in an innovative literacy and entrepreneurship programme designed to unlock leadership potential among learners.
In North-Western Province alone, 32 schools are participating in the initiative, which blends reading, public speaking, entrepreneurship, and digital learning to nurture confident, critical thinkers, helping to extract the “Mini CEOs” already sitting in Zambia’s classrooms.
Literacy as Liberation
Speaking during the official launch in Solwezi, North-Western Province Provincial Education Officer Mr Fredrick Munkinyi emphasised that literacy is the foundation upon which future leaders are built.

“Literacy is not just about decoding words on a page. It is about understanding, analysing, and applying information. When a child reads confidently, that child gains the power to question, imagine, innovate and lead,” he said
Mr Munkinyi added that partnerships between the private sector and government are critical to strengthening Zambia’s education system and preparing learners for an increasingly knowledge-driven economy.
From Reading to Leadership
The Mini CEO programme is built around a series of books authored by Dr. Sepo Imakando Musokotwane, which introduce young readers to leadership, entrepreneurship and problem-solving concepts in an engaging and relatable format.
Dr. Sepo said the initiative is designed to transform the way learners experience reading.
“Today is not just the launch of the Mini CEO competition, but the launch of a generation that is confident and courageous,” she said.

“We are nurturing a generation that is not afraid to read, but excited to lead. For too long, reading in classrooms has been associated with pressure and memorisation for examinations. Through this initiative, we want children to see learning as exciting, empowering and purposeful.”

Building Skills for the Future
The competition integrates multiple learning dimensions.

Primary school learners participate in structured reading contests that progress from knockouts to quarter-finals, semi-finals and national finals.
Meanwhile, secondary school learners apply entrepreneurial concepts from the Mini CEO books by developing and pitching their own business ideas, turning classroom learning into practical innovation.
A curriculum-aligned digital platform further supports the programme, using artificial intelligence tools to track learning progress and provide teachers with insights into each learner’s development.
Importantly, organisers stress that the technology is designed to support teachers rather than replace them, helping transform classrooms into hubs of creativity and innovation.
Investing in Zambia’s Future
For First Quantum Kansanshi Foundation, the initiative reflects a broader commitment to strengthening education and opportunity in host communities.
Dr. Sylvia Mwanza-Kabaghe, Head of Education at the Foundation, said literacy remains one of the most powerful tools for social transformation.
“At First Quantum, we believe literacy empowers and liberates people. It improves lives by expanding capabilities, reducing poverty, increasing participation in the labour market and contributing to sustainable development,” she said.

“This initiative is not just the flag-off of a competition. It is the beginning of a movement that is helping change the landscape of education in Zambia and across Africa.”
She added that the programme aligns closely with Zambia’s evolving curriculum, which places greater emphasis on entrepreneurship, innovation and practical problem-solving.
“Investing in literacy initiatives that also encourage entrepreneurial thinking secures a sustainable future for generations to come,” Dr. Mwanza-Kabaghe said.

A Movement Growing in Classrooms
With 32 participating schools in Solwezi and hundreds more across the country, the Mini CEO programme is steadily gaining momentum.
For many learners, it represents their first opportunity to combine reading with leadership development and entrepreneurial thinking.
The finals of the primary school competition will be held on 26 March 2026, while selected secondary school teams will pitch their business concepts in the final stage of the programme.
And for organisers, the goal is simple but powerful:
To ensure that Zambia’s classrooms do not just produce readers, but leaders.

First Quantum is a global metals and mining company producing mainly copper, gold and nickel. The company’s assets are in Zambia, Spain, Mauritania, Australia, Finland, Turkey, Panama, Argentina and Peru.
In 2024, First Quantum globally produced 431,000 tonnes of copper, 139,000 ounces of gold and 24,000 tonnes of nickel.
In Zambia it operates the Kansanshi mine and smelter in Solwezi, and the Sentinel copper mine and the Enterprise nickel mine in Kalumbila.
The company is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
http://www.first-quantum.com/