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Enugu Campus Hackathon Grand Finale Showcases 11 Student Tech Teams

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Enugu Campus Hackathon Grand Finale Showcases 11 Student Tech Teams

The Enugu Campus Hackathon Grand Finale is set to bring together student innovators, tech leaders, policymakers, and ecosystem partners in Enugu State to celebrate ideas, solutions, and the future of innovation. Hosted by Enugu Campus Hackathon, the event follows months of building, collaboration, and problem solving across campuses.

The journey began with campus rounds across six campuses in Enugu State and continued through a hands on bootcamp that pushed teams to refine ideas into working products. “Out of hundreds of participants, eleven teams remain,” the state government said, noting that the finalists “showed up, kept building, took feedback seriously, and turned early ideas into real, working solutions.”

At the Grand Finale, the final eleven teams will pitch their products, demo what they have built, and compete for top prizes before judges, partners, and members of the tech community. Enugu Campus Hackathon described the event as “one last showdown” where months of learning, late nights, and iteration come together on one stage.

This is more than a competition. It’s a moment to celebrate the talent coming out of Enugu’s campuses and the kind of innovation that’s possible when young builders are given the right platform.

The Grand Finale will hold at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, on Friday, 20th February 2026, by 10:00AM WAT. Attendance is subject to host approval.

Interested participants have been advised to register online to save a spot.

Registration details are available on the official website https://enugucampushackathon.ng/finale for attendees seeking updates and announcements.

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NITDA, NCC deepen collaboration to accelerate digital transformation

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NITDA, NCC deepen collaboration to accelerate digital transformation

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening inter-agency collaboration to fast-track Nigeria’s digital transformation at a strategic meeting with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

At the engagement, the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, was represented by Dr. Dimie Shively Warowie, PhD, Director of Corporate Planning and Strategy, who met with the Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau of the NCC to explore areas of mutual cooperation.

Discussions centred on a shared ambition to deliver “universal, meaningful, and affordable connectivity” for all Nigerians, while also safeguarding the digital space. The NCC representative highlighted Nigeria’s growing regulatory maturity, pointing to the Commission’s achievement of G5-level collaborative regulation and commending the leadership of the Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijjani.

Beyond commendations, the Bureau reaffirmed its readiness to work closely with NITDA by providing technical support, cybersecurity tools, and backing initiatives aimed at inclusive connectivity and functional digital transformation centres across the country.

Speaking on behalf of the NITDA Director-General, Dr. Warowie outlined the agency’s strategic focus areas, which include digital skills development, cybersecurity resilience, innovation and digital entrepreneurship, and the harmonisation of regulatory frameworks and technical standards.

Both organisations expressed strong commitment to sustained collaboration, identifying digital literacy, cybersecurity capacity building, innovation support, school connectivity, and regulatory alignment as immediate priorities.

The renewed partnership was described as reflecting a collective resolve to leverage institutional synergies and expertise to advance Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda and build an inclusive, digital economy.

Rivers Govt Seeks Bonny Monarch Partnership for Youth Jobs

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Rivers Govt Seeks Bonny Monarch Partnership for Youth Jobs

The Rivers State Ministry of Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding sustainable employment and empowerment opportunities for youths across the State under the leadership of the Honourable Commissioner, Hon. Chisom Kenneth Gbali, PhD, FNES.

This assurance was reiterated during a courtesy visit by Dr. Gbali to the Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of Grand Bonny, His Majesty King Edward Asemini Williams Dappa Pepple III, at the King Perekule Palace in Bonny.

The visit was aimed at seeking the Monarch’s counsel, partnership, and institutional support to strengthen engagement with multinational companies and other corporate entities operating within Bonny Kingdom.

Speaking during the meeting, Dr. Gbali said Bonny remains one of Nigeria’s foremost hubs for oil and gas activities and stressed that its vast economic resources must be leveraged to create meaningful employment opportunities for Rivers people. He said, “Bonny is central to the nation’s oil and gas industry, and these resources should translate into real jobs and empowerment for our people.”

The Commissioner expressed concern that Rivers youths, including those from host communities where multinationals operate, have historically been underserved in employment and empowerment initiatives. He noted that the Ministry is determined to reverse this trend through deliberate collaboration with traditional institutions, private sector stakeholders, and development partners.

In his remarks, His Majesty King Edward Asemini Williams Dappa Pepple III commended the Commissioner’s proactive approach. The Monarch said, “This partnership is a significant step toward inclusive economic growth, and I pledge my full support to the Ministry in delivering jobs for Rivers indigenes.”

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Bonny Council of Chiefs, Se-Alabo Ambassador Dagogo Soala Claude-Wilcox, applauded the initiative and stressed that employment generation must go beyond conventional methods. He called for creativity, innovation, skills acquisition, and entrepreneurship development as key strategies for harnessing the talents of young people in emerging industries.

The highlight of the visit was the presentation of a souvenir by His Majesty to the Honourable Commissioner. The Commissioner was accompanied by a delegation of directors and senior officials from the Ministry.

FG launches Happy Woman App to link Nigerian women to finance, skills

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FG launches Happy Woman App to link Nigerian women to finance, skills

The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, has introduced the Happy Woman App Platform as part of the nationwide scale-up of the Nigeria for Women Programme (NFWP), aimed at digitally connecting 25 million women to finance, skills development, markets, essential services, and government interventions.

The platform was unveiled during the Presidential launch of the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up Project in Abuja and is designed as a secure digital interface to support women’s economic inclusion across all states of the federation. It forms a core component of the expanded programme, which builds on a pilot phase implemented in six states that reached over one million women beneficiaries.

HappyWoman is a centralized digital ecosystem created to simplify how women access opportunities. The platform provides women with access to financing, including special interest loans designed to support business growth and improve financial stability. It also offers a curated marketplace where users can access deals and discounts on products and services relevant to their businesses and daily needs.

In addition, the platform integrates capacity development tools, business growth support, and structured market access to help women improve productivity and income. These features are intended to reduce barriers that have historically limited women’s participation in the formal economy and government-supported programmes.

The Happy Woman App Platform will serve as a single access point for women to engage with multiple support systems previously delivered through fragmented channels. These include access to financial services, skills acquisition programmes, market opportunities, social protection initiatives, and targeted government interventions at federal and state levels.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented at the launch by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said, “Digital inclusion is no longer optional; it is foundational to effective service delivery and national competitiveness,” adding that placing women at the centre of national planning is essential for sustainable growth and social stability.

The digital platform is expected to enhance transparency, coordination, and monitoring across participating institutions by enabling data-driven decision making and real-time tracking of beneficiaries. This approach will reduce inefficiencies linked to manual systems and improve accountability in women-focused social and economic programmes nationwide.

Through partnerships with development institutions and financial service providers, the platform will also support women’s access to finance, savings opportunities, and financial literacy, particularly for those excluded from the formal financial system. The government said this aligns with broader efforts to promote inclusive economic participation and reduce gender-based barriers.

The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim, said the scale-up reflects a policy shift where women are recognised as central drivers of economic growth, social cohesion, and democratic stability. She described the platform as a critical tool supporting wider inclusion.

The World Bank said the digital framework places women at the centre of development planning and delivery, noting that investing in women remains vital for stability, productivity, and long-term prosperity.

State governments are expected to support implementation through counterpart funding and delivery structures. The Federal Government said nationwide deployment of the Happy Woman App Platform will strengthen coordination between institutions while improving access to verified support.

The HappyWoman app is available on https://happywoman.ng/ for Nigerian women to sign up.

DBN, SMEDAN Sign MoU to Boost MSME Financing, Training

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DBN, SMEDAN Sign MoU to Boost MSME Financing, Training

The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to accelerate MSME growth, financing, and capacity development across Nigeria.

The partnership will drive MSME advocacy and policy reforms, deliver training with joint certification programmes, strengthen MSME data collection and reporting, and execute media and stakeholder engagements.

Following the signing ceremony, DBN Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Tony Okpanachi, joined SMEDAN Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Charles Odii, on a tour of the facility in Abuja.

He addressed a cohort of the SMEDAN GROWHer Accelerator Programme and said, “Together, we’re building the future of Nigerian entrepreneurship, driving job creation, innovation, and economic growth”.

Ekiti Scholarship Board Opens 2025/2026 Applications for Students

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Ekiti Scholarship Board Opens 2025/2026 Applications for Students

The Ekiti State Scholarship Board has announced the commencement of applications for scholarship and bursary awards for the 2025/2026 academic session, inviting eligible students to apply within the stated window.

According to the Board, applications will be submitted online from Monday, February 9, 2026, to Friday, February 27, 2026, through the Ekiti State Scholarship Board portal. The Board said interested applicants are expected to complete and submit their forms before the deadline, noting that “late entries will not be entertained.”

For the Scholarship Award, applicants must be in their second year or above in their chosen courses and must have a minimum of five credits, including English Language and Mathematics, in one sitting. Undergraduate university students are required to have a minimum CGPA of 4.0, while polytechnic and NCE students must have at least 3.50 or its equivalent.

The Bursary Award is open to all undergraduates, polytechnic students, college of education students, schools of nursing and midwifery students, as well as colleges of health technology students who meet the required conditions. Physically challenged students in tertiary institutions are also eligible under the Handicapped Scholarship Award category.

Postgraduate applicants are required to possess a minimum of Second Class Upper Division at the undergraduate level. The Board advised applicants to carefully review the guidelines and apply through the official portal within the approved application period. The Board urged accuracy in submitted details.

DCAA launches to train African creators for $26bn microdrama market

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DCAA launches to train African creators for $26bn microdrama market

The Digital Creator Africa Academy for Microdrama (DCAA) has officially launched as Africa’s first specialised institution dedicated to building a sustainable ecosystem for vertical content and microdrama production. The Academy is focused on preparing African creators for short-form, mobile-first storytelling across monetised platforms.

DCAA was co-founded by Pan-African creative strategist Ifeoma “Oma” Areh and media innovator Elijah Affi. The founders said the Academy was created to equip African creators with the skills, tools and global strategies needed to compete in the $26 billion vertical video market. Unlike conventional film schools, DCAA operates as a career accelerator rather than a purely academic institution.

The programme targets 300 experienced filmmakers, videographers and writers, supporting their transition from traditional horizontal storytelling to the high-growth world of vertical microdrama. It is designed for working professionals who already understand storytelling but must adapt to the fast-paced, mobile-first demands of today’s streaming ecosystem.

Although the Academy formally launches this week, its presence has already been felt across the continent. Since September 2025, DCAA has carried out an extensive educational tour, engaging filmmakers and content creators at major industry events including the Soweto International Film Festival, The Kingdom Film Festival, and Africa Creative Market.

Through this tour, the Academy introduced African creatives to the global shift toward vertical storytelling while identifying high-potential talent ready to scale. The organisers said this early engagement helped position the Academy strongly ahead of its official launch. As a result, DCAA enters its launch phase and has received hundreds of applications from creatives encountered during the roadshow.

A key objective of the Academy is to bridge Africa’s revenue gap in the premium vertical drama space. While African creators have achieved wide reach on open platforms such as YouTube, the continent remains underrepresented on monetised vertical drama platforms including ReelShort, DramaBox, and ShortMax.

DCAA plans to close this gap by training creators in pacing, visual language, episodic hooks and storytelling structures required to succeed on these global platforms. Speaking on the vision behind the initiative, co-founder Ifeoma “Oma” Areh said the Academy is focused on creators who are ready to operate at scale.

“DCAA is building an ecosystem for African microdrama that combines creative excellence with business and distribution intelligence, ensuring African stories can compete profitably on the global stage,” she said.

The Academy’s curriculum blends African storytelling traditions with proven microdrama frameworks from vertical markets. Its faculty includes professionals drawn from China’s duanju industry, India, and leading Western streaming hubs.

A major feature of the programme is the integration of Artificial Intelligence to reduce production costs and timelines, enabling small teams to deliver quality content efficiently. Participants will train within a studio-based model and graduate as production units.

The free, three-week intensive programme runs across six specialised streams: scriptwriting, directing, production, editing, AI filmmaking and acting. Each stream is tailored to vertical storytelling and mobile viewing.

The launch of DCAA is supported by industry partners, including Ingene Studios, Africa Creative Market, TechMedia Foundation, Digital Native Africa, Fourth Mainland, and WildPepper Studios. Applications are now open for the inaugural cohort, with filmmakers from Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, and the African diaspora invited to apply via the Digital Creator Africa Academy website online.

NCDMB Trains Delta Youths in Welding, Fabrication Skills

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NCDMB Trains Delta Youths in Welding, Fabrication Skills

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in collaboration with YougRich Heritage Nigeria Limited, has trained youths in Delta State in a Welding and Fabrication programme aimed at empowering Nigerian youths with practical skills in various trades.

The one-month training programme, which has been successfully concluded, brought together participants from different backgrounds and skill levels who came to learn and acquire new technical competencies relevant to the welding and fabrication industry.

The closing ceremony was attended by the Chief Executive Officer of YougRich Heritage Nigeria Limited, Agbanashi Young, who expressed appreciation to NCDMB for the opportunity given to his company to train the youths. “We are honored to partner with NCDMB on this initiative, and we are proud of the progress made by the participants,” Young said.

He urged the board to continue with similar programmes, noting their long-term impact on young people. “We urge the board to keep it up, as this kind of training will go a long way in empowering Nigerian youths and making them self-reliant,” he added.

Agbanashi Young also praised President Bola Tinubu for his support to NCDMB and its programmes. “We are grateful to Mr. President for his unwavering support to NCDMB and its efforts to develop the skills of Nigerian youths,” he said.

Participants at the programme commended the organisers, describing the training as comprehensive and well-structured. They praised the dedication of the facilitators and thanked NCDMB and YougRich Heritage Nigeria Limited for providing them with an opportunity to gain new skills that can improve their employability.

The Welding and Fabrication training was designed to equip participants with the technical knowledge needed to work in the industry. The programme covered safety protocols, proper equipment handling, and basic project design and execution.

The successful completion of the programme reflects NCDMB’s commitment to youth skills development and self-reliance, with expectations that beneficiaries can secure jobs or start businesses across Delta State and beyond nationwide.

AG-SME Bootcamp and Competition opens with N1m grant for Agripreneurs

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AG-SME Bootcamp and Competition opens with N1m grant for Agripreneurs

Applications have opened for the AG-SME Bootcamp and Pitch Competition, a three-day intervention aimed at strengthening agri-focused small and medium enterprises while improving access to finance for young entrepreneurs.

The programme is designed to strengthen Ag-SMEs, enhance investment readiness, deepen Business Development Service Provider (BDSP) linkages, and improve access to finance across selected agricultural value chains.

Behind every thriving agribusiness is a founder who was given the right support at the right time. The bootcamp goes beyond training to provide clarity, confidence, and structure for growth-ready businesses.

The AG-SME bootcamp targets young agri-preneurs working across key value chains and offers a space to learn, connect, refine ideas, and pitch for catalytic support that can move businesses forward.

This 3-day Ag-SME Bootcamp is about more than training. It’s about building businesses that are ready for investment, growth, and long-term impact.

Participants will also benefit from linkage and diagnostics sessions, investment readiness training for Ag-SMEs, and a pitch competition offering catalytic grants of up to N1 million each.

In addition to the bootcamp activities, selected participants will receive one-month post-boot camp advisory support aimed at helping them apply lessons learned and improve business performance.

Eligibility for the programme is open to youths between the ages of 18 and 35 who are engaged in agribusinesses with a specific value-chain focus on rice, maize, and soyabeans.

Special consideration would be given to female applicants, stressing that inclusive growth remains central to the intervention. Sustainable agriculture doesn’t happen by chance, it is built deliberately with the right tools, people, and opportunities.

The programme is scheduled to hold in Lagos in March 2026 and is targeted at founders who are ready to take their agribusiness ventures seriously.

If you are ready to take your agribusiness seriously, this is where the journey gets structured.

Interested applicants are advised to apply online. To apply for AG-SME Bootcamp and Pitch Competition, interested applicants should visit bit.ly/Ag-SME. The application window is currently open nationwide.

Senator Karimi disburses ₦100,000 bursary each to beneficiary students

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Senator Karimi disburses ₦100,000 bursary each to beneficiary students

The Senator representing Kogi West, Senator Sunday Karimi, has disbursed a total of ₦300 million as bursary support to students, with each beneficiary receiving ₦100,000, in what has been described as a landmark education intervention in Kogi State.

Speaking on the initiative, Karimi said the bursary scheme was introduced to reduce the financial pressure faced by students and to reaffirm his belief that education remains the strongest tool for empowerment.

“This intervention is about investing in our future. When we support our students today, we are securing a better tomorrow for Kogi State and Nigeria at large,” the senator said.

He disclosed that the ₦300 million fund was shared evenly among beneficiaries, with payments of ₦100,000 per student. According to him, the distribution was spread across the three senatorial districts of Kogi State to ensure fairness, inclusiveness, and balance in the selection process.

Karimi explained that the programme was targeted at Kogi State indigenes studying in public tertiary institutions across Nigeria. He said the wide coverage of the scheme was deliberate, stressing that genuine students should not be excluded because of their location or financial background.

“This is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, which places strong emphasis on human capital development,” he said. Karimi added that supporting students also aligns with his commitment to mobilising grassroots support for the president’s re-election through people-focused initiatives.

Some beneficiaries described the bursary as timely and life-changing, noting that the funds would help them pay tuition, secure accommodation, and purchase academic materials.

Reports from disbursement centres across the state indicated scenes of excitement and gratitude among students, as the scheme is regarded as one of the largest education support interventions by a serving legislator in the country at present.

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