• Ericsson and Nigeria’s government launched the “Connect NextGen Hackathon.”
• The four-month program targets 5G, AI, IoT, cloud and sustainability.
• Top teams will access incubation, funding and networking opportunities.

Sweden’s Ericsson announced on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, the launch of the “Connect NextGen Hackathon” in Nigeria, in partnership with the federal government, represented by the Office of the Vice President. Participants are invited to develop applications and services in priority areas including digital inclusion, smart cities, agritech and sustainability.

Open to innovators, startups and students, the hackathon will run for four months starting Feb. 11, 2026. It combines hands-on mentoring, technical training and an eight-week acceleration program focused on strategic technologies such as 5G, the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI) and sustainable solutions.

“Through initiatives focused on skills development, alongside our Ericsson Educate programme for policymakers and regulators, we aim to contribute to a stronger digital ecosystem,” said Majda Lahlou Kassi, Ericsson’s head of West and Southern Africa.

According to the company, the initiative seeks to enhance digital skills not only among young talent but also among public officials and policymakers. As part of the program, an “Ericsson Educate” module tailored to ICT regulators and decision-makers will support the development of policies conducive to digital transformation.

For Nigerian authorities, the initiative addresses a dual objective: fostering local innovation in a country with a large youth population and advancing the national digital transformation agenda. The most successful teams will gain access to additional incubation and acceleration programs, along with funding and networking opportunities.

Adoni Conrad Quenum