The Enugu State Government has formally unveiled plans for its second annual Tech Festival, setting an ambitious goal to host 50,000 participants in February 2026. Building on the impressive success of the inaugural 2025 event, which drew over 28,000 attendees, this next edition aims to position Enugu as a major tech hub in Africa.
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From Inauguration to Ambition: Central Planning Committee Takes Charge
At the inauguration ceremony held today in Enugu, the State Commissioner for Innovation, Science, and Technology, Dr. Prince Lawrence Ezeh, announced that the newly formed Central Planning Committee—which includes a Local Organising Committee and an advisory board of local and diaspora tech experts—is gearing up for the upcoming festival. Scheduled to run from February 24–27, 2026, the event’s theme, “Coal to Code: Energy in New Form,” signals Enugu’s transformation from its coal-mining roots to a forward-thinking, innovation-driven future.
Building Momentum: Lessons from the 2025 Festival
The inaugural Enugu Tech Festival, which took place in early May 2025, exceeded expectations:
- Over 28,000 participants attended, including tech enthusiasts, startups, investors, and educators.
- Registration was streamlined with computerised accreditation, ensuring transparent daily attendance tracking.
- Festival highlights included tech workshops, panel discussions, networking sessions, investment pitches, coding academies, and special giveaways such as laptops and tablets.
These milestones reflect the state’s growing digital ecosystem, supported by investments in STEM education, digital infrastructure, and partnerships with global tech firms.
Powerful Endorsements: Federal and International Buy‑In
High-level endorsements bolstered the festival’s credibility. Federal Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, described Enugu’s inaugural festival as “the biggest technology conference that has ever happened in Nigeria.” He pledged strong federal support and attended in person, bringing top tech professionals and promising collaboration between state and federal authorities.
This partnership included:
- Federal investment in high-speed connectivity infrastructure—fibre-optic deployment and mobile base stations.
- Support for AI research, cybersecurity training, and the establishment of a NITDA Zonal Office.
A Transformative Theme: “Coal to Code”
The festival’s 2026 theme resonates with Enugu’s evolving identity. The shift from coal-dependent industry to digital innovation is encapsulated in “Coal to Code: Energy in New Form.” This reflects a national strategy to diversify into renewable technologies and build a knowledge economy.
Commissioner Dr. Ezeh emphasised that the next festival will explore the convergence of energy and technology through engaging discussions, technical exhibitions, entrepreneurial showcases, and education-driven sessions.
Global Best Practices: Learning from VIVA Paris
Dr. Ezeh, an attendee at the 2025 VIVA Tech conference in Paris, shared that insights from that global event will inform the 2026 festival’s format and content. Plans are underway to integrate:
- International speaker line-ups and networking structures.
- Scalable setups that spotlight local innovation alongside global collaborations.
- Enhanced engagement formats, including startup pitch competitions, investor meets, and digital showcases.
Inclusive Innovation: Empowering Youth and Communities
A key mandate for 2026 is broad-based participation, aiming to engage:
- Tech-savvy youth, students, and startups.
- Local SMEs, artisans, women entrepreneurs, and civil servants.
- Educators and academic leaders to foster STEM education.
The state’s ongoing initiatives—Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) and the Digital Innovation Complex—aim to train over 1,000,000 residents and equip over 200 institutions with tech-ready infrastructure by 2027.
Anticipated Impact and Economic Upside
Governor Peter Mbah’s vision frames the festival not as an isolated event, but as a catalyst for:
- Strengthening Enugu’s digital ecosystem and retaining local tech talent.
- Attracting tech investments and fostering startup growth via the planned West Africa Stargate (WASGate) infrastructure.
- Generating economic activity—exceeding US$25 million in impact as seen in 2025.
- Creating a sustainable progression from coal-based history to innovation-forward progress.
Planning Structure: Committee and Advisory Roadmap
The Central Planning Committee for 2026 comprises:
- A Local Organising Committee (LOC) managing logistics, program planning, partnerships, and outreach.
- An Advisory Board comprised of prominent tech experts from Nigeria and abroad to shape policy, programming, and strategic direction.
Dr. Ezeh confirmed the board will be instrumental in fostering linkages with academic institutions, government entities, and international organisations.
Festival Programming: What to Expect
The 2026 Tech Festival is expected to feature:
- Keynote sessions on tech trends, renewables, and innovation-led governance.
- Technical workshops on AI, coding, cybersecurity, green energy tech, and UI/UX.
- Pitch competitions and investor roundtables to elevate startup funding opportunities.
- Innovation expos showcasing products, research, and services from Enugu and African innovators.
- Networking & mentorship hubs to enable meetups between startups, academics, investors, and officials.
- Panel dialogues focusing on energy transition, youth inclusion, gender equity, and sustainable entrepreneurship.
Enugu’s Vision: From Regional Legacy to Continental Tech Beacon
Today’s announcement demonstrates Enugu’s ambitious pivot from its coal heritage to digital prominence. Through strategic policymaking, federal alignment, and strong leadership from Governor Mbah, the state is staking its claim on becoming a West African tech powerhouse.
With a bold target of 50,000 participants—nearly doubling the previous attendance— the festival is poised to shape narratives, drive digital transformation, and elevate Enugu on the global tech stage.
What’s Next?
In the months ahead, the LOC will:
- Open participant, startup, and sponsor registration.
- Finalise keynotes, workshops, and exhibition setups.
- Curate partnerships, funding channels, and media outreach.
- Roll out promotion campaigns targeting students, SMEs, tech professionals, and global stakeholders, including African diaspora audiences.
Why This Matters
- For Enugu residents, it means more jobs, entrepreneurial opportunities, and technology-grounded public services.
- For Nigeria, it marks a shift toward decentralising tech growth beyond Abuja and Lagos.
- For Africa, Enugu’s approach offers a replicable model, where legacy regions convert historical assets into digital economies.
By positioning February 2026’s “Coal to Code” Tech Festival as both a local celebration and a global tech platform, Enugu is telling a clear story: South-East Nigeria is ready to join the league of innovation-driven cities worldwide.
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