The Young Techies Festival is quickly gaining recognition as a household name, particularly following the immense success of its 4th edition, held recently at the Celebr8 Event Centre in Port Harcourt.
This year’s event brought together over 1,150 participants – children, parents, sponsors, educators, partners, and supporters – in a vibrant celebration of creativity, innovation, and technology.
The event, which was proudly sponsored by the Rio Foundation, CESA (Computer Empowerment Scheme for Africa), the Eleme Local Government Council, and Market Square, lived up to its promise. The event was also supported by Techeconomy.
“You must dare to dream big and, more importantly, discipline yourselves to take the necessary steps to achieve those dreams,” says Somkenechukwu Chukwudera Mamah, founder of Code Ambassadors and Convener of the Young Techies Festival, while addressing participants at the 4th edition of the event.
It was more than just a festival – it was a platform for young minds to showcase their ingenuity. Some of the finalists, including the Africa Regional Winner in the Beginners Division of the Global Technovation Challenge, spoke about their tech solutions and mobile apps, captivating the audience with their brilliance.
Attendees were further inspired by a lineup of tech speakers such as Brue Lucas, CEO of OlotuSquare, Angela George, Senior Systems Engineer, Unity HQ, Ashford Etela and Oluwasegun Adekola, who simplified complex topics and shared their journeys into the tech industry.
These talks set the stage for one of the event’s biggest highlights – a hackathon competition where ten children pitched AI-powered solutions to real-world problems in their communities, each aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Three winners, Jehu Elijah, Omole Tamilore, and Lisa Henry, emerged and were awarded laptops, routers, and a three-month data subscription, courtesy of CESA. Ten other participants received full scholarships to the upcoming Code Ambassadors Summer Coding Classes, sponsored by Market Square.
Alongside the rich tech content and inspiring sessions, participants enjoyed an engaging Game Quiz, a captivating spoken word performance by Merit Speaks, and thrilling raffle draws with exciting prizes, making the day both educational and entertaining for all.
In a bid to make the event accessible, Dr. Gloria Obo Dibiah, Administrator of Eleme Local Government Area, sponsored 200 students from Eleme Local Government Area to attend the event.
A special parents’ panel session explored parenting in the digital age, addressing how to balance boundaries, freedom, and tech in children’s lives. Children also engaged hands-on with cutting-edge tools like a 3D printing machine by 3D Reality Hub and immersive Virtual Reality by ArFed.
The festival featured exhibitions, games, free dental and eye checks, thanks to partners Snow Dental Care and Lotag Eye Clinic, and plenty of moments to remember.
The next edition of the Young Techies Festival is scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 18, 2026, with even more groundbreaking innovations expected.
