Tijani, Swedish Envoy, Others to Headline Enugu Tech Festival 2026

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, alongside the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Udeh, and the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, will participate in the Enugu Tech Festival 2026.

The Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Enugu State, Lawrence Ezeh, disclosed this on Sunday, noting that Governor Peter Mbah, who is the Special Guest of Honour, will declare the festival open and present Enugu’s technology and youth-innovation initiatives.

Mr Ezeh said the event, also known as ETF 0.2, will feature a broad range of speakers, including the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to Nigeria, Anna Westerholm.

According to Mr Ezeh, the speakers represent sectors driving technological advancement, including artificial intelligence, fintech, clean energy, digital policy, and investment.

“There will be keynote speeches, panel discussions, masterclasses, and workshops focusing on artificial intelligence, agritech, healthtech, cybersecurity, renewable energy technology, and digital infrastructure,” he said.

The festival, themed “Coal to Code: Energy in New Form,” reflects Enugu’s economic transition and ambition to position itself as a technology and innovation hub.

Scheduled to hold from 24 to 27 February at the Enugu International Conference Centre, the commissioner said the event is expected to attract more than 50,000 participants, including startup founders, developers, investors, corporate leaders, academics, policymakers, and students.

He added that delegations from across Nigeria, other African countries, and international innovation ecosystems have confirmed attendance.

Mr Ezeh said a major highlight of the festival will be three days of free digital skills training for over 67,000 participants, both physically and online.

He noted that trainers from the United Kingdom, including partners from 1Goal Analytics, will conduct sessions covering data analytics, software development, artificial intelligence, and digital project management, with participants receiving foreign certification.

The commissioner said the festival aligns with Governor Mbah’s vision of transforming Enugu into a knowledge-based and digitally driven economy.

“The governor has consistently emphasised innovation, enterprise, and youth empowerment as central to the state’s future. Through reforms and investments, Enugu is laying the foundations for a resilient digital economy,” he said.