Enugu Tech Festival 2026 Exceeds Expectations

The second edition of the Enugu Tech Festival (ETF 2.0) has ended successfully, making history with a record 53,000 people attending in person. This large turnout shows that Nigeria, especially Enugu State, is becoming more important in the global digital and technology space.

The four-day event was held from February 24 to 27, 2026, at the Enugu International Conference Centre. The organisers had planned for 50,000 participants, but the number exceeded expectations. Many people also joined online from different parts of the world. During the event, discussions from the festival were among the top five trending topics globally on social media.

The convener of the festival and Enugu State Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Prince Lawrence Ezeh, said the huge turnout proves that Enugu’s digital plans are working. He explained that the goal was to inspire innovators, business owners, investors and tech thinkers. According to him, the large participation shows that African technology is moving from ideas to real action.

Attendance was spread across the four days, with 20,000 people on the first day, 15,000 on the second day, 13,000 on the third day and 5,000 on the final day. Each day focused on important areas such as leadership, investment, new technologies and building a strong tech community.

The theme of the festival, “Coal to Code: Energy in New Form,” connected Enugu’s history as a coal city with its future as a technology hub. The Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, opened the festival with a keynote speech. He said the global tech revolution is driven by ideas, software and data, not physical assets. Referring to major technology companies like Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet Inc., Amazon and Meta Platforms, the governor said Enugu would not just watch others succeed but would take part and create its own solutions.

The second day focused on business and investment. A special “Deal Room” allowed startups to meet investors from Lagos, Nairobi, London and Dubai. Although the organisers did not release the exact amount of money involved, several startups reportedly secured further funding discussions.

Prince Ezeh explained that the goal was to connect skilled tech talent with investors, adding that Enugu is positioning itself as the main technology investment gateway in the Southeast.

On the third day, attention turned to artificial intelligence, blockchain and Web3. A live hackathon produced new solutions in financial technology, healthcare and climate-friendly farming. Experts also discussed how to regulate artificial intelligence and digital finance responsibly.

Skill development was a major focus throughout the festival. Many young people received practical training in software development, cloud computing and blockchain technology.

The event ended with an award ceremony, technology exhibitions and cultural performances, showing how technology and creativity can work together. Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, said the federal government remains committed to supporting innovation, research and youth entrepreneurship to grow the economy.

The Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Chidiebere Onyia, described ETF 2.0 as a major success that has improved Enugu’s image worldwide.

During the festival, hundreds of laptops and tablets were given to outstanding participants. Some startups also received ₦10 million grants each to help them develop their products, while others received smaller grants for training, prototypes and community tech centres.

Prince Ezeh concluded by saying that inspiration alone is not enough, stressing that the festival was created not just to motivate young people but to give them the tools they need to succeed.