Enugu State’s drive to position itself as a hub for youth-driven innovation has received a major boost with the announcement of a landmark partnership between the Enugu Campus Hackathon 2025 and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), through its innovation platform, InnovateNaija.
The collaboration creates a national pipeline for student-built prototypes, offering them the opportunity to transition from campus-level ideas to investment-ready ventures recognized across the country.
Under the agreement, the overall winner of the Enugu Campus Hackathon 2025 will receive a ₦2.5 million seed grant from NASENI and represent Enugu State at the National Invention Festival (Invention Fest) in Abuja, February 2026, where they will compete for prizes worth up to ₦30 million. The winner will also gain exposure to top investors, technocrats, and policymakers within Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem.
“We are building more than a competition—we’re building a runway for globally competitive startups from our classrooms,” said Arinze Chilo-Offiah, Special Adviser to the Governor on Digital Economy and MSMEs and Director General of the Enugu SME Center. “This partnership with NASENI means that our student innovators are not just dreaming—they’re deploying, scaling, and representing Enugu on the national stage.”
The Hackathon is a flagship initiative of the Enugu State Government, powered by the Enugu SME Center and the Office of the Special Adviser on Digital Economy & MSMEs, with delivery support from partners including Genesys Tech Hub, The Garage, and Capitis Global Ventures. These organizations are expected to provide technical mentorship, venture-building support, and guidance to help transform ideas into viable startups.
Chilo-Offiah said the initiative reflects the bold vision of Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah to build Enugu into a hub of disruptive innovation, job creation, and inclusive economic growth.
“This initiative aligns with the Governor’s commitment to creating a $30 billion economy. By investing in youth and digital enterprise, we are laying the foundation for sustainable development in Enugu State,” he added.
Currently, campus rounds of the competition are ongoing at institutions including the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), University of Nigeria Enugu Campus (UNEC), Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Coal City University, and Godfrey Okoye University. Finalists will later converge for the grand finale where one winning team will be selected to represent Enugu at the national level.
The organizers say the Hackathon is “more than a competition—it is a launchpad for the next generation of builders, thinkers, and disruptors.”
