In a strategic move to position Nigeria as a global technology hub, the Federal Government, FG, in collaboration with telecommunications giant Ericsson, is set to launch the Connect NextGen’ Innovation Hackathon.
The four-month intensive programme will be unveiled today, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Coordinated by the Office of the Vice President, the initiative serves as the operational launchpad for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at closing the digital skills gap among Nigeria’s burgeoning youth population.
The hackathon is designed to move beyond theoretical learning, offering a “bottom-up” approach to technology integration as part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The programme is open to university students, early-stage startups, and emerging young talents across the 36 states and the FCT.
The programme is built on three key pillars. First, an 8-week acceleration phase offers intensive growth training for promising tech ideas.
Second, participants receive hands-on mentoring from global industry experts at Ericsson.
The programme focuses on priority tech tracks, providing deep dives into 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), Cloud Computing, AI, and Sustainable Technologies.
Participants are encouraged to develop homegrown solutions tailored to Nigeria’s unique challenges.
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The hackathon will focus on four critical sectors. In agritech, participants will explore ways to enhance food security through smart farming.
The smart cities track will leverage data to improve urban living and infrastructure. Under digital inclusion, the aim is to ensure technology reaches underserved communities.
The sustainability sector will encourage the development of eco-friendly tech solutions for the future.
Outstanding teams will not only receive recognition but will also gain access to exclusive business accelerators and further incubation opportunities to scale their prototypes into viable businesses.
Recognising that innovation requires a supportive regulatory environment, the partnership includes the launch of the Ericsson Educate programme.
This specialised track is specifically designed for ICT policymakers and regulators to ensure that Nigeria’s digital ecosystem is backed by informed and forward-thinking governance.
“By bringing together talent development and informed policy dialogue, we support efforts to address connectivity gaps and enable inclusive, sustainable growth,” said Majda Lahlou Kassi, Head of Ericsson West and Southern Africa.
Applications for the Connect NextGen Hackathon will open tomorrow and remain active for one month.
The registration period runs from February 11, 2026, to March 10, 2026, and interested participants can register via the official portal www.ericssonhackathon.techrevolutionafrica.org
The initiative represents a major milestone in the administration’s efforts to empower 100 million Nigerians with digital literacy and build a future-ready workforce.
