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From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, yesterday unveiled what he described as a bold innovation drive aimed at repositioning the state from a consumption-driven economy to a productivity-led economy.
The governor spoke at the grand finale of the maiden Enugu Campus Hackathon held at the Dome Hall of the International Conference Centre (ICC), Enugu. He was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia. The Enugu Campus Hackathon, implemented through the Enugu MSME & Startup Agency (Enugu SME Centre), is designed to identify and accelerate high-potential technology talents across tertiary institutions in the state.
According to Mbah, the hackathon reflects his administration’s deliberate strategy to build a modern, innovation-driven economy anchored on enterprise, technology and private-sector growth.
He stressed that the administration’s guiding philosophy is a clear shift “from consumption to productivity.”
“Enugu State must move from a consumption-driven structure to a productivity-led economy powered by enterprise, technology and a vibrant private sector. Today, we are not merely providing a platform for competition.
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“We are architecting systems and institutional frameworks designed to unlock the vast potential of our youth. Our mission is to build a modern economy capable of competing on the global stage,” he stated.
Mbah described the initiative as part of a broader investment in what he termed “intellectual infrastructure.”
“We are redesigning our educational system to produce problem-solvers rather than mere certificate holders. By modernising our curriculum and enabling technology-driven learning, we are preparing our young people for the demands of the future global workplace. This is what we call intellectual infrastructure,” he said.
He disclosed that the winner would receive $5,000 and six months of incubation support valued at over $10,000, while the second and third place teams would receive $3,500 and $2,500 respectively, alongside structured enterprise support.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on SME Development and Investment Promotion, Arinze Chilo-Offiah, said the hackathon was intentionally rooted in universities.
“This is an incubation programme that goes to the heart of the startup ecosystem, which is our universities. That is where innovation starts,” he said, noting that after campus rounds and a 10-day intensive boot camp, the top 10 teams emerged for the finale.
