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The Federal Government, in partnership with global technology leader Ericsson, has unveiled the ‘Connect NextGen’ Innovation Hackathon, A four-month initiative,it is designed to equip Nigerian youths with high-demand digital skills in emerging technologies.
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The programme will be officially launched this week at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, under the oversight of the Office of the Vice-President.
Mr Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice-President), confirmed the development.
What is Connect NextGen?
Connect NextGen operationalises a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Federal Government and Ericsson. It is focused on accelerating Nigeria’s digital transformation through hands-on youth empowerment.
Nkwocha explained that the hackathon is aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. It will provide young innovators with a Federal Government-backed platform to develop and scale real-world technology solutions.
What Participants Will Learn
Selected participants will undergo intensive, practical training across Nigeria’s most critical technology growth areas, including:
- 5G networks
- Internet of Things (IoT)
- Cloud computing
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Sustainable technology solutions
The programme features an eight-week acceleration phase, complemented by hands-on mentoring and project-based learning.
Ericsson’s Commitment to Nigeria’s Digital Future
Majda Lahlou Kassi, Head of Ericsson West Africa, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to Nigeria’s technological advancement.
“We are proud to partner with the Federal Government of Nigeria on its transformation journey. Through skills development initiatives and the Ericsson Educate programme, we aim to strengthen Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.”
She added that bridging connectivity gaps and fostering inclusive, sustainable growth requires both talent development and informed policy dialogue.
Upskill or Unravel: Nigeria’s Workforce at a Tipping Point
With Africa’s largest youth population and fastest-growing digital economy, Nigeria faces both an opportunity and an urgency: to upskill its workforce for the jobs of tomorrow.
Initiatives like Connect NextGen directly address the skills gap by moving beyond theoretical learning to real-world application.
The hackathon also signals stronger public-private collaboration in Nigeria’s tech space, positioning the country as a competitive player in the global digital economy.
