Enugu has taken another major stride in its digital transformation journey as the State’s Campus Hackathon 2025 kicked off in grand style with the successful completion of its University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) Campus Round — an event that showcased the creativity and technical brilliance of young innovators across the state.
The two-day program, held at the Roar Nigeria Hub, witnessed an impressive display of tech-driven solutions designed to tackle real-world challenges across education, healthcare, productivity, and finance. From gamified learning systems to AI-powered academic assistants, student innovators proved that Enugu’s campuses are fast becoming fertile ground for cutting-edge innovation.
The Enugu Campus Hackathon is an initiative of the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Digital Economy and MSMEs, powered by the Enugu SME Center. It is a multi-campus innovation challenge aimed at identifying, nurturing, and launching the next generation of tech entrepreneurs from the State.
Participating campuses include:
- University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)
- Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu
- Coal City University
- University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus (UNEC)
- Godfrey Okoye University
- Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT)
Winners from each campus will advance to the Grand Finale, where they will compete for over US$100,000 in combined support, including cash prizes, mentorship, incubation, and investor access.
UNN Round: Innovation at Its Finest
The just-concluded UNN round featured over a dozen finalist teams, each presenting scalable solutions to pressing social and economic challenges. Notable innovations included:
- HighScore EdTech – An AI-powered, gamified learning platform targeting exam preparation and performance improvement.
- Ndụlinka – A unified digital health system connecting patients, doctors, and pharmacies.
- JacMate – An AI academic assistant designed to help Nigerian university students optimize their studies.
- JuliTech, UniTour, Victory Medicipher, and Mamihub – Additional standout projects combining creativity, clarity, and real-world relevance.
Judges and mentors described the pitches as “world-class,” noting the level of technical depth and entrepreneurial potential displayed by participants.
Governor Mbah: “This Is Not Just a Program, It’s a Pipeline”
Governor Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to digital innovation and youth empowerment, emphasizing that initiatives like the Campus Hackathon form a critical part of the State’s transformation agenda.
“The Enugu Campus Hackathon is not just a program — it is a pipeline,” Governor Mbah said at the launch. “We are building a future where young people don’t just have ideas, but also the tools, mentorship, and capital to build lasting enterprises.”
Under Mbah’s leadership, the State has prioritized talent development, digital infrastructure, and entrepreneurship, aiming to position the state as the innovation hub of the South East and beyond.
Chilo-Offiah: “The World Should Be Watching”
Arinze Chilo-Offiah, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Digital Economy and MSMEs, described the hackathon as a cornerstone of the state’s startup ecosystem strategy.
“This is not just about prizes — it’s about building Enugu’s startup economy from the ground up,” Chilo-Offiah explained. “What we saw at UNN proves that our young people are more than ready. The world should be watching.”
He added that the government’s focus is on equipping students and entrepreneurs with the resources and opportunities needed to transform local ideas into global enterprises.
Next Stop: IMT, Coal City University, and Beyond
Following the success of the UNN round, the hackathon team will move to Café One, Enugu, for the IMT and Coal City University Campus Rounds, before heading to Attuenyi Coding Academy for the UNEC Round and other participating institutions.
Each round will produce finalists who will advance to the statewide Grand Finale, where the best innovators will be unveiled later this year.
A New Era for Enugu’s Digital Future
The Enugu Campus Hackathon 2025 has already sparked a wave of excitement among students, investors, and policy leaders, reaffirming Enugu’s reputation as a rising hub for technology and innovation in Nigeria.
As Governor Mbah’s administration continues to align education with digital transformation, one message rings clear: Enugu’s campuses are no longer just centers of learning — they are now launchpads for the next wave of African innovators.
Watch a highlight reel here: https://bit.ly/EnuguCampusHackathon-UNNDay1CampusRound
For updates, follow @EnuguCampusHack and all official Enugu State innovation channels.
