All eyes are on Enugu as the Enugu Campus Hackathon Grand Finale 2026 prepares to spotlight the region’s brightest startup talents — with a distinguished panel of judges assembled to evaluate the Top 11 finalist teams.
Organisers say the grand finale will not only celebrate innovation but also subject emerging ventures to “rigorous scrutiny, strategic guidance, and credible evaluation.”
“Behind every transformative startup is rigorous scrutiny, strategic guidance, and credible evaluation,” the organisers said in a statement announcing the panel.
For this year’s edition, the hackathon has convened an accomplished mix of founders, investors, policymakers, ecosystem builders and technology leaders — individuals with hands-on experience in building, scaling and sustaining high-impact ventures.
The Judges
The panel features:
- Cynthia E. Chisom – Principal Partner, SDC Startup School
- Victoria Fabunmi – National Coordinator, ONDI at National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)
- Alex Onyia – CEO, Educare
- Ekene Odum – Director, Operations & Programs, Genesys Tech Hub
- Francis Sani – Programme Director, 3MTT; Technical Adviser, Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy
- Rev. Fr. Prof. Christian Anieke – Vice Chancellor, Godfrey Okoye University
- Innocent Isichei – Managing Partner, ACIOE Associates
According to the organisers, the judges collectively bring deep expertise across venture capital, product development, digital policy, education technology, startup acceleration, innovation ecosystem building and enterprise growth.
“This is more than a judging panel — it is a convergence of experience, capital intelligence, ecosystem leadership, and national policy alignment,” the statement added.
Evaluation Criteria
The Top 11 finalist teams will pitch their ideas before the panel and will be assessed based on:
- Innovation & Originality
- Feasibility & Scalability
- Market Viability
- Execution Strategy
- Real-World Impact
The event is expected to draw key players from Nigeria’s technology and entrepreneurship ecosystem, positioning Enugu as a growing hub for youth-led innovation and digital transformation.
Event Details
Date: Friday, 20th February 2026
Time: 10:00AM WAT
Venue: International Conference Centre, Enugu
Organisers are encouraging startup enthusiasts, investors, ecosystem stakeholders and innovation advocates to attend.
“If you care about startups, digital transformation, venture growth, and the future of Enugu’s innovation economy — this is the room to be in,” the organisers stated.
Registration is open via: https://enugucampushackathon.ng/finale
The grand finale promises not only competition but connection — a platform where ideas meet capital, mentorship and policy support.
