…Mbah empasises import of tech in today’s world
…Minister declares event as ‘unprecedented’
…Don’t fully depend on AI, Zinox boss tasks youths
The 2025 Enugu Tech Festival that was officially opened in the City of Enugu Wednesday, attracted thousands of tech enthusiasts, innovators, and stakeholders from across the country and beyond.
Bosun Tijani, minister of Communications and Digital Economy, who declared open the event tagged ‘Coal to Code,’ described it as the biggest technology conference he had ever witnessed in the country.
“This is unprecedented,” Tijani said. “I’ve never, ever attended a tech conference of this magnitude in Nigeria. And I’ve been in the ecosystem for years. I even founded Nigeria’s first tech hub. What we are witnessing today in Enugu is a generational shift. This state has become a major force in our digital future.”
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According to the Minister, Enugu’s strides under Governor Peter Mbah reflect a transition from policy to tangible progress. He commended the state’s investments in digital infrastructure and its vibrant innovation ecosystem, saying they align perfectly with the federal government’s vision to co-create Nigeria’s digital economy across all states—not just in Abuja.
“There is something extraordinary about the energy and ambition here,” Tijani added. “Enugu has moved from imagination to execution, and this momentum is what will drive Nigeria’s tech future.”
Peter Mbah, Enugu State governor, in his address, urged young Nigerians to fully embrace technology, emphasising that the world is now driven by innovation and digital platforms.
“We are in an era where transformative ideas create disruptive platforms without the traditional assets,” he said. “Uber transformed transportation without owning a single car. Airbnb did the same to hospitality. Tesla is redefining mobility through technology. That’s the power of innovation. The youth must recognise this and position themselves accordingly.”
He said that the Tech Festival is part of his administration’s broader strategy to transform Enugu into a tech-powered economy.
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According to him, his government has implemented digital solutions across sectors like security, education, and land administration to empower youths and create a future-ready workforce.
Lawrence Ezeh, Enugu State commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, said the festival represents a paradigm shift from Enugu’s historic identity as a coal city to a rising hub of digital enterprise and innovation.
“For decades, our identity was built on coal—a resource that powered Nigeria’s early industrialisation. Today, we are powered by knowledge, innovation, and limitless digital possibilities,” he said.
Ezeh also announced that the Tech Festival would become an annual event, further cementing Enugu’s position as a leading tech destination in Nigeria.
Leo Stan Ekeh, chairman of Zinox Technologies, who spoke on his experience, asked the youths to be more serious with technology and never to fully depend on AI.
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Ekeh, who commended the Enugu State governor and the state commissioner for innovation, science and technology for thinking the way of changing the thinking of the youths to key into technology for future development, said that Enugu State was positioning itself as a central player in Nigeria’s rapidly evolving digital economy.
Other prominent figures present at the event were the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande; Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Uchenna Ugwu; former minister of Science and Technology, Barth Nnaji and the Group Managing Director of Afrinvest, Ike Chioke, Obi Cubanna, among others.
The new Enugu International Conference Centre venue of the event was filled with participants.
