Telecom giant Ericsson has partnered with the Nigerian government to launch the Connect NextGen Hackathon, a four-month innovation programme aimed at empowering young Nigerian tech talents.
The initiative, unveiled in Abuja in collaboration with the office of the vice president, Tech Revolution Africa and ecosystem partners, will bring together innovators, startups and university students to build solutions focused on digital inclusion, smart cities, agritech and sustainability.
The programme officially opened for applications on February 11 and will run until March 10.
Focus on 5G, AI, IoT and Emerging Technologies
Participants will undergo hands-on mentoring and an eight-week acceleration phase covering key technologies including 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, artificial intelligence and sustainable tech solutions.
Outstanding teams will gain access to accelerators and further incubation opportunities, positioning them to scale their innovations beyond the hackathon stage.
The initiative forms part of a broader Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ericsson and the Nigerian government aimed at digitally upskilling citizens, policymakers and public sector decision-makers.
As part of the rollout, Ericsson will also introduce its Ericsson Educate programme targeted at ICT policymakers and regulators to strengthen digital governance capacity.
Supporting Nigeria’s Digital Transformation
Majda Lahlou Kassi, Head of Ericsson West and Southern Africa, said the partnership reflects the company’s commitment to Nigeria’s digital future.
“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.”
Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, has been pushing to deepen broadband penetration, expand 5G deployment and drive technology-led growth as part of its broader digital economy strategy.
Industry analysts say programmes like Connect NextGen could help bridge Nigeria’s digital skills gap, particularly among young innovators seeking global competitiveness.
Who Can Apply?
The hackathon is open to university students, early-stage startups, and young innovators across Nigeria. Applications must be submitted via the official registration platform before March 10, 2026.
Ericsson, which has operated globally for nearly 150 years, provides telecommunications infrastructure and connectivity solutions to service providers and enterprises worldwide.
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