The Enugu State Government has announced that this year’s edition of the Enugu Tech Festival 2026 (ETF 2.0) will provide digital skills training and certification for 67,000 physical and virtual participants.
The Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Lawrence Ezeh, disclosed this on Friday during a news conference on the upcoming event. He said the festival is scheduled to hold between Tuesday and Friday at the Enugu International Conference Centre.
Mr Ezeh said trainers from the UK, including partners from 1Goal Analytics, would lead the sessions over three days. He added that all 67,000 participants would receive foreign certification upon completing the programme.
According to him, the initiative shows the Enugu State Government’s commitment to helping young people, students, civil servants and entrepreneurs gain practical skills in data analytics, software development, artificial intelligence and digital project management.
“This festival is driven by the bold vision of Governor Peter Mbah, whose ambition is to transform Enugu State into a leading knowledge-based and digitally enabled economy,” he said.
“The governor has consistently emphasised that the future of our state lies in innovation, enterprise and youth empowerment.
“His administration is deeply committed to digitisation across government services, education reform, technology incubation and infrastructure modernisation.
“Through deliberate reforms and strategic investments, Enugu is building the foundation of a resilient digital economy capable of competing nationally and globally,” he said.
Mr Ezeh explained that the theme for this year’s festival, “Coal to Code: Energy in New Form,” reflects Enugu’s transformation from its historical identity as the Coal City.
“We are converting that legacy into digital energy — ideas, code, research and entrepreneurship that will power sustainable economic growth.
“Coal once powered industries; now innovation will power prosperity. This metaphor captures the spirit of reinvention that defines modern Enugu,” he said.
He further stated that no fewer than 50,000 participants are expected to attend physically. The attendees will include Startup founders, developers, venture capitalists, corporate technology leaders, academics, policymakers and students.
“Delegations from across Nigeria, other African countries and international innovation ecosystems have confirmed attendance. The scale of participation signals growing confidence in Enugu as a serious technology destination,” he said.
Mr Ezeh added that ETF 2026 is expected to deliver measurable outcomes such as investment commitments, research collaborations, Startup funding agreements and cross-border partnerships, alongside tangible economic and social impacts.
“Governor Mbah’s broader economic transformation agenda is clear: diversify the economy, expand digital skills training, modernise infrastructure and attract global investment.
“Enugu is ready to host the world. We look forward to four days of innovation, collaboration and purposeful dialogue that will help shape the digital future of our state and our nation,” he said.
