Enugu Unveils Campus Hackathon 2025, Offering Over $100,000 in Prizes to Youth Innovators

— A groundbreaking opportunity for Enugu’s brightest tech talents to build, pitch, and scale

The Enugu State Government has officially launched the Enugu State Campus Hackathon 2025 — a high-impact innovation challenge designed to empower a new wave of builders, coders, designers, and problem-solvers across the state.

The initiative, jointly organized by the Enugu SME Center and the Office of Digital Economy, is held in collaboration with Genesys Tech Hub, The Garage, and Capitis Global Ventures. It is open to students, fresh graduates, and young innovators between the ages of 18 and 35 living in Enugu, regardless of academic background.

The Campus Hackathon, which will take place across six leading tertiary institutions in the state — University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), University of Nigeria Enugu Campus (UNEC), Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Godfrey Okoye University, Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), and Coal City University — promises a total prize pool of ₦9 million for campus-level winners.

Each participating campus will host its own competition, with prizes awarded as follows:

• 🥇 1st Place – ₦750,000
• 🥈 2nd Place – ₦500,000
• 🥉 3rd Place – ₦250,000

In addition to campus rounds, participants can compete for an exclusive Deep Technology Innovation Pool, valued at $5,000+, in partnership with the African Deep Tech Community.

The most outstanding teams from each campus will advance to the Grand Finale, where they will compete for international-scale startup support and funding. The final stage prizes include:

• 🥇 1st Place – $5,000 grant + post-incubation support
• 🥈 2nd Place – $3,500 grant + post-incubation support
• 🥉 3rd Place – $2,500 grant + post-incubation support

Speaking on the launch, the Special Adviser to the Governor on SME Development, Mr. Arinze Chilo-Offiah, emphasized that the hackathon is part of the state’s broader agenda to nurture a digitally skilled, entrepreneurial youth population that can create scalable solutions and attract global investment.

“This is not just a competition. It’s a launchpad. Enugu is positioning itself as the Silicon Valley of Eastern Nigeria — a place where talent meets opportunity,” Chilo-Offiah said.

Applications are now open via www.enugucampushackathon.ng, with registration encouraged for early birds. Interested participants may contact the organizers at +234 707 423 9843, +234 707 830 2813, or via email at info@enugucampushackathon.ng.

Build the next big thing. Start from Enugu.