Nigeria’s technology and telecommunications ecosystem is set to host policymakers, industry leaders, investors, innovators and development partners as the Telecommunications and Technology Sustainability Working Group (TTSWG) prepares to hold the second edition of its Innovators Makers Challenge (IMC) Conference and Innovation Exhibition.
The event is scheduled for Thursday, September 24, 2026, at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos. It is expected to showcase technology-driven solutions aimed at promoting sustainable development and strengthening national competitiveness.
Sponsored by IHS Nigeria, the conference will attract high-level stakeholders from Nigeria and beyond, including technology CEOs, financial institutions, investors, development organisations, innovators and thought leaders.
Other partners supporting the event include Hydrogen, Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre (NCIC), LBS Sustainability Center (LBSSC) and MTN.
According to TTSWG, the inaugural IMC, held in 2023, recorded more than 300 physical attendees and 759 registrants, while featuring 17 innovations. The event established the platform as an important avenue for promoting sustainability-focused entrepreneurship.
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Three years after its launch, IMC 2.0 is set to broaden its focus to several 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 laid 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 explained that the programme would give priority to solutions that have achieved market validation and demonstrated measurable economic, social and environmental impact.
One of the major highlights of the event will be the IMC Quest Pitch Competition, where the top five growth-stage startups emerging from the IMC Bootcamp will present their ideas before a panel of judges.
The top three winners will receive a combined N9.2 million in seed funding. The overall winner will receive N7 million, while the first and second runners-up will receive N1.2 million and N1 million respectively.
The organisers also disclosed that the winners would participate in a six-month post-competition incubation programme aimed at strengthening accountability, improving investment outcomes and supporting long-term business growth.
Other activities lined up for the event include a three-day IMC Bootcamp, business clinics providing legal and business consultancy, as well as an innovation exhibition featuring more than 20 startups, technology firms, research projects and development organisations.
The event will also feature the launch of the Telecommunication and Technology Citizenship Awareness Roadmap (TATCAR) 2023–2026, which will highlight developments and best practices for responsible growth in Nigeria’s technology and telecommunications sector.
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