By 
By Nana Theresa Timothy
The city of Jos came alive as ProdFest 2025 kicked off with groundbreaking conversations and activities from the 19th -23rd August, 2025, An event hosted by BlockFuse Labs and EthJos, from product showcases, powerful keynote addresses, and panel discussions that underscored Nigeria’s growing position in the global tech ecosystem. The event, was honoured by the Governor of Plateau State, represented by Rt. Hon. Istifanus Mwansat, innovators, policymakers, developers, and investors from across the country and beyond.
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Keynote Addresses that Set the Tone
Daser David-President Digital Bridge Institute
One of the highlights was the keynote speech delivered by David Daser, President of the Digital Bridge Institute. He spoke on “Building a Sustainable Tech Ecosystem: Collaboration Across Government, Industry & Academia.” His insights reinforced the urgent need for stakeholders to work together if Nigeria is to achieve its ambitious $1 trillion digital economy vision by 2030.
Ethereum Foundation’s Drake Justin also took the stage with a keynote titled “The Lean Consensus and Its Potential Impact on the Future of Ethereum.” His presentation was both technical and inspiring, giving developers and enthusiasts a glimpse into Ethereum’s evolving landscape.
Power-Packed Panel Sessions
The conference hosted multiple panel sessions featuring top voices in tech and Web3.
One of the panel, featuring Engr. Datong Dominic Gwaman (DG, PICTDA), Sadeeq Lawal (Sunnah Tech Lab), and Ben (ICT Lead, Plateau State Governor’s Office), focused on “Building Sustainable Tech Ecosystems: Collaboration Across Government, Industry & Academia.”
Another memorable session featured Ayodeji Awosika (Web3Bridge), Adaaku Peter (Blockfuse Labs), Steven Gonana Farm, Chidubem Emelumadu (Lisk Africa), and Prince Ponfa Miri. Their discussion on “Building Developer Talent: Bridging the Web2 to Web3 Skill Gap” was rich with personal stories of rising from challenges to industry recognition.
A second panel, moderated by Zinta, brought together SantiagoDevRel (Lisk), Okoye Kevin Chibuoyim, Ayodeji Awosika, and Victoria for a fiery discussion on “Building for Users, Not the Hype.”
In yet another session curated by Manoah Luka, panelists Longs Pemun Gotar, Sylvester Menawar, and Victoria explored “Bridging Research & Engineering: Where Do We Go From Here?”, offering perspectives on how research can better drive innovation.
Product Showcases: Innovation on Display
Startups and innovators had the chance to showcase products tackling real problems across finance, events, and blockchain.
Highlighted platforms included:
- CrowdPass – An on-chain event management and ticketing platform for transparency in entertainment.
- AyaHQ – A payments solution enabling seamless transactions across Africa.
- Azza – An AI-powered WhatsApp agent for fast and secure crypto trading.
- Tokkenly – A decentralized payment system converting crypto to fiat automatically.
- Microgigs – A decentralized freelance marketplace for talent and gigs.
- Fundable – A platform automating Web3 payments for easier user experiences.
- Coinsafe – Helping on-chain users save and earn with transparent savings and rewards.
- Onboard – A cross-border financial service designed for creators.
- Pyde, a new Layer 1 blockchain,
- Gaia, an advanced blockchain product.
- Blockops introduced a faster way to accelerate blockchain node operations,
The fireside chat featuring Pishikeni Tukura (Ayahq Co-Founder & COO) and Sheneni, curated by Emmanuel Doji, titled “Why Products Fail.” It was brutally honest and filled with take-home lessons for builders.
Expert Insights that Inspired Builders
Talks from industry leaders left participants buzzing with fresh insights.
- Ayodeji Awosika (Web3Bridge) delivered “The Business of Web3 Products,” stressing sustainability beyond hype.
- Mitong Dapal, Africa’s top tech lawyer, schooled attendees on compliance best practices for Web3 products, even offering free consultations to participants.
- Ibrahim Akorede Jimoh (Corestreams) unpacked the art of fundraising and what investors really want to see.
- Engr. Datong Dominic Gwaman (PICTDA DG) encouraged resilience and consistency among developers.
- Chidubem Emelumadu (Lisk Africa) introduced Lisk’s ecosystem and emphasized its potential for African builders.
Hackathon Champions Crowned
After three intense days of building, creativity, and problem-solving, the much-anticipated ProdFest Hackathon 2025 winners were unveiled.
1st Place – Team PayZen
2nd Place – Team VoteLink
3rd Place – Team Xanpay
These teams stood out for their innovation, execution, and real-world impact. Their success was the perfect way to close the day, proving once again that the future of Africa’s tech ecosystem is in capable hands.
Prodfest’s Future
As the event drew to a close, the organizers expressed heartfelt appreciation to the audience, partners, and participants whose presence and contributions made ProdFest 2025 a success. Attendees were reassured that ProdFest is not a one-time gathering but a movement that has come to stay. According to CEO Peter Adaaku Jnr., ProdFest is now an annual event, growing bigger each year, with plans already underway to take it beyond the city of Jos and eventually onto the global stage.
