In a bold move to transform Nigeria from a “tech consumer” to a “global exporter of digital solutions,” Vice President Kashim Shettima officially launched the Connect NextGen Innovation Hackathon on February 11, 2026, in Abuja. This four-month initiative is a strategic partnership between the Federal Government and telecommunications giant Ericsson, designed to identify and scale the next generation of Nigerian tech leaders.
1. The Innovation Pipeline: By the Numbers
The hackathon is structured as a nationwide funnel to capture and refine high-potential talent from universities, startups, and tech hubs.
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50,000 Participants: The target pool for initial mentorship and skills development.
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50 Shortlisted Teams: These high-potential groups will receive intensive technical guidance and product development support.
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10 Finalists: A select group that will enter a dedicated incubation and acceleration phase.
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8-Week Acceleration: Finalists will benefit from a structured program focused on making their products market-ready.
2. Core Technological Focus Areas
The Vice President emphasized that a “brilliant line of code written in Nigeria can power systems anywhere in the world.” To achieve this, the program focuses on four pillars of the Fourth Industrial Revolution:
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Artificial Intelligence (AI): Developing intelligent systems for automation and decision-making.
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Cloud Computing: Building scalable infrastructure for the borderless knowledge economy.
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Internet of Things (IoT): Connecting devices for smart cities, security, and tracking.
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5G & Sustainable Technologies: Leveraging high-speed connectivity to power GreenTech and AgriTech solutions.
3. Global Partnerships and Local Impact
The launch brought together high-level stakeholders who view Nigeria’s youthful population as its “strongest competitive advantage.”
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The “Renewed Hope” Alignment: Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, noted that the project aligns with President Tinubu’s priorities of job creation and shifting toward a knowledge-based economy.
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International Support: The European Union (EU) and the Swedish Embassy (represented by Ambassador Anna Westerholm) reaffirmed their commitment to digital skills as a tool for economic resilience.
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Ericsson’s Vision: Country Manager Peter Olusoji Ogundele stated that the partnership is about “skills transfer,” enabling Nigeria to export digital talent globally.
How to Apply: Timeline & Criteria
| Key Detail | Information |
| Registration Period | February 11 – March 10, 2026 |
| Official Portal | www.ericssonhackathon.techrevolutionafrica.org |
| Eligibility | University Students, Startups, and Young Innovators in Nigeria |
| Sectors | FinTech, HealthTech, AgriTech, CleanTech, EdTech, and more |
| Top Reward | Access to accelerators, incubation, and global investor networks |
“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.” — Vice President Kashim Shettima, February 2026.
