Nigeria targets 50,000 Tech innovators in FG-Ericsson Hackathon
2026-02-11 - 16:18
By Johnbosco Agbakwuru ABUJA — The Federal Government, in partnership with Ericsson, is set to engage 50,000 young Nigerians in digital mentorship, skills training, and startup support through the Connect NextGen Innovation Hackathon. Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima announced this on Wednesday at the official launch of the four-month programme at the State House Conference Hall, Abuja. Represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, he described the initiative as a strategic blueprint for Nigeria’s tech ecosystem, aimed at creating jobs and transforming the country from a tech consumer to a global tech exporter. Shettima explained that the hackathon will serve as a nationwide innovation pipeline, starting with open applications and large-scale mentorship for participants from universities, startups, and technology hubs. Fifty high-potential teams will be shortlisted for intensive technical guidance, then narrowed to ten finalists for incubation and acceleration, positioning winners as emerging industry leaders. “This hackathon isn’t just a contest — it’s our pipeline to turn Nigeria’s youth into world-class innovators, coding solutions that power global systems,” Shettima said. He emphasized that the programme aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s economic priorities, particularly job creation and youth empowerment, while exposing young Nigerians to emerging fields such as AI, cloud computing, IoT, and sustainable technologies. Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, noted that hackathons transform ideas into commercial value while nurturing problem-solving skills among young innovators. Ericsson Nigeria Country Manager Peter Olusoji Ogundele highlighted the company’s commitment to Nigeria’s digital transformation, emphasizing infrastructure investment and skills transfer to enable the country to export digital talent globally. Development partners also expressed support. The EU Delegation’s Head of Cooperation, Massimo De Luca, said digital skills and public-private partnerships drive inclusive growth, while Swedish Ambassador Anna Westerholm praised the programme’s focus on youth empowerment and innovation. Special Assistants to the President on Project Support and ICT Policy, Shuhdah Ahmed and Dr. Salihu Ibrahim Dasuki, explained that the hackathon bridges the gap between education and industry through structured mentorship, practical learning, and measurable outcomes across universities, startups, and innovation ecosystems. Stakeholders described the Connect NextGen Innovation Hackathon as more than a competition, but a national effort to translate policy into productivity, foster home-grown digital solutions, and position Nigeria as a competitive force in the global knowledge economy.