Zain Africa Challenge Set to Return as University Challenge Africa in 2025 with Exciting New Format
The quiz competition formerly known as Celtel Africa Challenge and Zain Africa Challenge will return in late 2025 as University Challenge Africa. Created by Richard Reid, the show will feature university students from across Africa competing in a televised question-and-answer format.
Chris Oyeoku Okafor 
The highly anticipated quiz competition, formerly known as Celtel Africa Challenge and later Zain Africa Challenge, is set to make a grand comeback in late 2025 under its new name, University Challenge Africa. This beloved game show, which aired from 2005 to 2008, will feature the brightest university students from across the continent in an engaging televised question-and-answer format.
Richard Reid, the creator and producer of the game, expressed his enthusiasm for the revival, stating, “We are proud to bring back our iconic game under the new name, University Challenge Africa. With education as a top priority across the continent, we are committed to working with our broadcast partners and sponsors to highlight the academic accomplishments of Africa’s students and universities.”
Nigeria holds a special place in the competition’s history, famously clinching victory in the third season when students from the University of Ibadan triumphed. University Challenge Africa offers students a unique opportunity to showcase their knowledge and skills against peers from various African countries, with a chance to win over $1,000,000 in scholarships and grants.
In its previous iterations, universities from eight African nations participated, and the new format promises a return of competitors from Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa in 2025, along with invitations extended to universities from several other countries.
Reflecting on the program’s success, Tito Alai, former Group Chief Commercial Officer of Celtel and Zain Group, highlighted, “The Africa Challenge was a strategic marketing and CSR investment, reflecting our commitment to education, enriching students’ lives, and boosting the reputations of participating institutions.”
University Challenge Africa, part of the family of academic competitions created by the College Bowl Company, aligns itself with esteemed programs such as the US College Bowl, the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge, and the British quiz show University Challenge. The upcoming season is expected to captivate audiences and elevate the academic spirit across the continent when it returns to screens in 2025.
