Nigeria’s technology and telecommunications ecosystem is set to welcome policymakers, industry leaders, investors, innovators and development partners as the Telecommunications and Technology Sustainability Working Group (TTSWG) holds the second edition of its Innovators Makers Challenge (IMC) Conference and Innovation Exhibition.
The event, scheduled for Thursday, September 24, 2026, at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos, is expected to spotlight technology-driven solutions capable of advancing sustainable development and national competitiveness.
Sponsored by IHS Nigeria, the conference will bring together high-level stakeholders from Nigeria and beyond, including technology CEOs, financial institutions, investors, development organisations, innovators and thought leaders.
Other partners include Hydrogen, Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre (NCIC), LBS Sustainability Center (LBSSC) and MTN.
According to TTSWG, the maiden IMC, held in 2023, attracted more than 300 physical attendees and 759 registrants and featured 17 innovations, establishing the platform as a significant avenue for sustainability-focused entrepreneurship.
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Three years after its debut, IMC 2.0 is expected to expand its focus across a broad range of sectors, including AgriTech, EnergyTech, HealthTech, FinTech, ClimateTech, artificial intelligence, manufacturing, education, smart cities, digital governance, logistics and mobility.
Speaking on the initiative, Lead Consultant at the TTSWG Secretariat, Bankole Oloruntoba, said the 2026 edition would build on the foundation established by the maiden event while significantly expanding its mandate.
“TTSWG is not only building on the success of the 2023 foundation, we are scaling up significantly this year,” Oloruntoba said.
He added that the programme would prioritise solutions with market validation and measurable economic, social and environmental impact.
A major attraction of the event will be the IMC Quest Pitch Competition, where the top five growth-stage startups emerging from the IMC Bootcamp will pitch their ideas before a panel of judges.
The top three winners will receive a combined N9.2 million in seed funding, with the winner receiving N7 million, the first runner-up N1.2 million and the second runner-up N1 million.
The organisers said the winners would also undergo a six-month post-competition incubation programme designed to improve accountability, investment outcomes and long-term business growth.
Other activities include a three-day IMC Bootcamp, business clinics offering legal and business consultancy, and an innovation exhibition featuring more than 20 startups, technology firms, research projects and development organisations.
The event will also witness the launch of the Telecommunication and Technology Citizenship Awareness Roadmap (TATCAR) 2023–2026, highlighting developments and best practices for responsible growth in Nigeria’s technology and telecommunications sector.
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