Young Innovators Win Big At Maiden Enugu Campus Hackathon

*As Gov Mbah Intensifies Push For Productivity-Led Economy  

By Cosmas Chukwu—

Youth innovators triumphed at the weekend during the maiden edition of the state-backed Enugu Campus Hackathon competition.

The Campus Hackathon serves as an innovation platform aimed at consolidating the state’s position as a rising hub for youth-led digital enterprise and venture creation, in line with the Enugu State Digital Transformation Strategy.

An elated Enugu Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, who witnessed the grand finale, described the Campus Hackathon as part of his administration’s bold innovation drive to transition the state from a consumption-driven economy to a productivity-led economy.

Speaking during the grand finale, held at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, Mbah described the youth as the heartbeat of a knowledge-driven and digital economy.

In the main category of the hackathon, delivered in collaboration with Genesys Tech Hub, The Garage, and Capitis Global Ventures, Growdex, an AI-powered advertising automation platform that enables creators and businesses to create, publish, and optimise adverts across multiple channels from a single dashboard, won the star prize of $5,000 in investment grants.

Zaddy Express, a tech-enabled logistics and on-demand delivery platform providing fast, reliable last-mile solutions for individuals and businesses, came second and received a $3,500 investment grant.

Linia Finance, a fintech platform offering accessible, data-driven credit and financial tools to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and underserved individuals, secured third place and received a US$2,500 investment grant.

In the DeepTech category powered by the African DeepTech Foundation, Ambu Gynacare, a health-tech startup developing biodegradable sanitary pads made from banana fibres to combat menstrual poverty and reduce plastic waste, emerged as the winner, taking home US$2,500 in investment grants.

According to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Digital Economy and MSMEs, Arinze Chilo-Offiah, the winners will, in addition to the cash grants, undergo a six-month post-hackathon incubation programme with Genesys Tech Hub, valued at over US$10,000, where they will receive structured mentorship, product refinement, investor readiness, and scaling support.

Chilo-Offiah, who also serves as the Director-General of the Enugu State SME Centre, explained that the focus of the hackathon on universities was deliberate.

“This is an incubation programme that goes to the heart of the startup ecosystem, which is our universities. That is where innovation begins,” he said.

He clarified that the top ten teams emerged for the finale after campus rounds and a ten-day intensive boot camp.

Meanwhile, Governor Mbah stated that the Enugu Campus Hackathon was designed to identify and accelerate high-potential technology talents across tertiary institutions in the state.

He added that the hackathon reflects his administration’s deliberate strategy to build a modern, innovation-driven economy anchored on enterprise, technology, and private-sector growth.

The Governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, emphasised that the administration’s guiding philosophy is “a clear shift from consumption to productivity.”

“Enugu State must transition from a consumption-driven structure to a productivity-led economy powered by enterprise, technology, and a vibrant private sector. Today, we are not merely providing a platform for competition.

“We are architecting systems and institutional frameworks designed to unlock the vast potential of our youth. Our mission is to build a modern economy capable of competing on the global stage,” he stated.

Mbah described the initiative as part of a broader investment in what he termed “intellectual infrastructure.”

“We are redesigning our educational system to produce problem-solvers rather than mere certificate holders. By modernising our curriculum and enabling technology-driven learning, we are preparing our young people for the demands of the future global workplace. This is what we call intellectual infrastructure,” he said.