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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Federal Government of Nigeria, in partnership with global tech giant Ericsson, will launch the ‘Connect NextGen’ Innovation Hackathon today at the Presidential Villa, targeting young Nigerians with cutting-edge skills in AI, 5G, IoT, cloud computing and sustainable technologies.
The four-month programme, overseen by the Office of the Vice President, forms a key part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Nigeria and Ericsson. It aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, emphasising digital economy growth, technology integration and education.
Announcing the initiative in Abuja yesterday, the Office of the Vice President, highlighted an eight-week acceleration phase featuring hands-on mentoring and practical projects. Participants will tackle real-world challenges in digital inclusion, smart cities, agritech and sustainability, with top teams securing access to accelerators and incubation support.
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The hackathon is open to university students, startups and emerging talents nationwide.
In a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha, he explained that a parallel Ericsson Educate programme for ICT policymakers will also be launched to boost Nigeria’s digital transformation.
Head of Ericsson West and Southern Africa, Majda Lahlou Kassi, emphasised the partnership’s impact, saying “At Ericsson, we are proud to partner with the Federal Government of Nigeria to support the country’s digital transformation journey.
Through initiatives focused on skills development, alongside our Ericsson Educate programme for policymakers and regulators, we aim to contribute to a stronger digital ecosystem. By bringing together talent development and informed policy dialogue, we support efforts to address connectivity gaps and enable inclusive, sustainable growth.”
