60 young innovators to compete in NASENI hackathon

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) is hosting a FutureMakers Virtual Hackathon and Pitch Sessions, with 60 young innovators from across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria participating. The event, organized by the NASENI Innovation Hub, will run from August 17 to 21, followed by pitch sessions from August 24 to 26.

The 60 shortlisted innovators, chosen from thousands of submissions, will create functional solutions to challenges specific to their respective zones. They will receive support from technical facilitators and mentors throughout the virtual build sprint. Participants whose solutions progress will advance to pitch sessions, where they will present to a panel of judges and industry leaders.

Winners from each zone will receive prize money, with first, second, and third place winners taking home N1.5 million, N1 million, and N500,000, respectively. The top six winners will then compete at the NASENI Invention Fest for a grand prize of N5 million, an international study tour, and scholarships to two leading Nigerian universities.

NASENI's Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, emphasized that the program aims to transform outreach and selection into practical solutions and ventures. Busola Beckley Perez-Folayan, the Hub Manager, explained that the initiative is a long-term talent pipeline rather than a one-time competition, with winners gaining access to SparkLab, mentorship, training, and scholarship opportunities.

The virtual format allows innovators from beyond Abuja and Lagos to participate, showcasing government-backed innovation infrastructure supporting young Nigerians. This program aligns with NASENI's mission to shift Nigeria from a consumer economy to a producer economy by addressing regional challenges with locally-driven technology-driven solutions.

The NASENI Innovation Hub collaborates with academic and ecosystem partners, including MIVA Open University and the African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja, and is a member of the AfriLabs network.