The Federal Government has unveiled a new digital innovation programme targeting no fewer than 50,000 young Nigerians for mentorship, skills development and enterprise support, as part of a partnership with telecommunications giant, Ericsson.
Vice President Kashim Shettima disclosed this yesterday at the launch of the Connect NextGen Innovation Hackathon, a four-month national initiative inaugurated at the State House, Abuja.
Shettima, who was represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, described the programme as a practical step towards transforming Nigeria into a global exporter of digital solutions, rather than remaining a consumer of foreign technologies.
He said the hackathon was designed as a nationwide innovation pipeline that would begin with open applications and large-scale mentorship, expected to engage about 50,000 participants drawn from universities, startups and technology hubs across the country.
Officials said the registration portal opened on Wednesday and would run until March 10, 2026.
Under the structure of the programme, 50 high-potential teams will be shortlisted for intensive technical guidance and product development support, before being narrowed to 10 finalists for incubation and acceleration.
The eventual winners, Shettima said, would be positioned as emerging industry leaders capable of building scalable solutions for both local and global markets.
The Vice President noted that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s economic priorities, particularly job creation and youth empowerment, stressing that employment in the 21st century is increasingly tied to digital capability and technological innovation.
“A brilliant line of code written in Nigeria can power systems anywhere in the world,” he said, adding that Nigeria’s youthful population remains its strongest advantage in the unfolding digital revolution.
Shettima said exposing young Nigerians to emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, Internet of Things (IoT), and sustainable technologies would strengthen the workforce and stimulate technology-driven entrepreneurship.
Also speaking at the launch, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, said the government was deliberately investing in knowledge-based growth, describing hackathons as platforms that move ideas from curiosity to commercial value while strengthening problem-solving skills.
Ericsson’s Nigerian Country Manager, Mr. Peter Olusoji Ogundele, said the partnership reflects the company’s long-term commitment to Nigeria’s digital transformation, noting that sustained investment in infrastructure and skills transfer would enable the country to export digital talent globally.
Development partners also pledged support. The Head of Cooperation of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Massimo De Luca, said investments in digital skills and public-private partnerships were strategic choices for inclusive growth and long-term resilience.
Sweden’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Anna Westerholm, described the initiative as a strong example of international collaboration anchored on youth empowerment and innovation.
Earlier, the Special Assistant to the President on Project Support, Shuhdah Ahmed, said the partnership between the Office of the Vice President and Ericsson would help bridge the gap between education and industry through structured mentorship and practical learning.
The Special Assistant to the President on ICT Policy, Dr. Salihu Ibrahim Dasuki, said the programme was designed to go beyond training to measurable outcomes, with active involvement of universities, startups and innovation ecosystems nationwide.
Stakeholders at the launch described the Connect NextGen Innovation Hackathon as more than a competition, but a coordinated national push to translate policy into productivity, nurture home-grown digital solutions and strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global knowledge economy.
