The Telecommunication and Technology Sustainability Working Group (TTSWG) has announced the second edition of its flagship conference and exhibition, the Innovators Makers Challenge (IMC) Conference & Innovation Exhibition.
The event is scheduled to take place on Thursday, 24 September 2026, at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Sponsored by IHS Nigeria, the IMC Conference & Innovation Exhibition will bring together high-level stakeholders from Nigeria and across the globe, including policymakers, industry CEOs, investors, development partners, financial institutions, leading innovators and thought leaders across the technology ecosystem.
The conference aims to unlock the limitless opportunities within Nigeria’s technology and telecommunications ecosystem, with a core focus on advancing sustainability.
Other partners include Hydrogen, Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre (NCIC), LBS Sustainability Center (LBSSC) and MTN.
The IMC Conference & Exhibition established itself as a premier innovation platform during its maiden edition, attracting more than 300 in-person attendees and 759 registrants, while showcasing 17 groundbreaking innovations. The event also helped catalyse a new wave of sustainability-driven entrepreneurship.
Three years after its maiden launch in 2023, IMC 2.0 returns on a larger scale, with a stronger focus on impact. With an expanded scope, the initiative seeks to identify, support and accelerate innovative solutions across multiple sectors that contribute to sustainable development and national competitiveness.
The sectors covered include AgriTech, EnergyTech, HealthTech, FinTech, Water Solution Technology, Waste & ClimateTech, Artificial Intelligence & Emerging Technologies, Manufacturing & Industrial Innovation, Education, Infrastructure & Smart Cities, Creative Industries, Digital Governance & Civic Technology, Logistics & Mobility, and other technology-enabled sectors driving economic growth and social impact.
Speaking on the initiative, Bankole Oloruntoba, Lead Consultant at the TTSWG Secretariat, said IMC 2.0 would build on the foundation established in 2023 while significantly expanding its mandate.
“TTSWG is not only building on the success of 2023 foundation, we are scaling up significantly this year. We’ve expanded IMC 2.0 mandate to accelerate solutions across HealthTech, FinTech, AgriTech, ClimateTech, AI, Manufacturing, Education, Infrastructure, Creative Industries, Digital Governance, and other technology-enabled sectors with proven market validation and measurable economic, social, and environmental impact,” Oloruntoba said.
This year’s programme includes the Go-to-Talent Competition, which is ongoing. The competition is open to young Nigerian innovators and entrepreneurs aged 18–35, growth-stage startups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), as well as tech and sustainability startups.
Another component is the IMC Bootcamp, a three-day mentorship programme featuring modules on business development, team building, finance and pitching.
The programme will also feature an Innovation Exhibition involving startups and matured companies, as well as Business Clinics offering legal and business consulting booths.
The Innovation Exhibition will showcase more than 20 startups, technology firms, research projects and development organisations presenting breakthrough solutions aimed at supporting sustainable development.
A major highlight 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, who will select the winners at the conference.
The top three winners will receive a combined ₦9,200,000 in seed capital. The winner will receive ₦7,000,000, while the first runner-up will receive ₦1,200,000 and the second runner-up will receive ₦1,000,000.
Bankole further noted that, to ensure accountability, maximise investment outcomes and support long-term business growth, all winning startups will participate in a structured six-month post-competition incubation programme.
Other key highlights of the 2026 conference and exhibition include the launch of the Telecommunication and Technology Citizenship Awareness Roadmap (TATCAR) 2023–2026, which will capture key updates and best practices driving responsible growth in Nigeria’s technology and telecommunications sector.
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