In response, TD Africa, in collaboration with the Enugu Tech Festival (ETF) and the Enugu State Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, has announced the launch of a fully sponsored Cybersecurity and Data Science training initiative branded “Code Your Defence.”

The programme is designed to equip young Africans with practical, industry-relevant skills aligned with global standards.

Participants will be trained through a structured curriculum that blends foundational knowledge with hands-on learning and real-world application, ensuring they are not only trained but also job ready.

Speaking on the initiative, Fridel Makun, head of Marketing at TD Africa, emphasised the organisation’s commitment to building digital capacity and creating real opportunities for young people.

“At TD Africa, we believe Africa’s digital future will be shaped by people who are equipped, not just inspired. ‘Code Your Defence’ is our way of expanding access to the kind of training that builds confidence, competence, and career readiness. By investing in cybersecurity and data science, we are helping young Africans develop skills that are globally relevant and urgently needed across industries,” he said.

Selected participants will benefit from free professional training, an industry-standard curriculum delivered by experienced instructors, globally recognised certification, and access to pathways for job placements, internships, and career advancement.

The programme is open to students and recent graduates, early-career professionals seeking to upskill, and individuals looking to pivot into Cybersecurity or Data Science. No advanced prior experience is required, only a strong willingness to learn.

Training commences on January 19, 2026, and interested applicants are encouraged to register early, as slots are limited.

This initiative reflects a shared commitment to closing Africa’s digital skills gap and building a future-ready workforce capable of securing systems, unlocking the value of data, and supporting sustainable development across the continent.

This transformation was powerfully underscored at the Enugu Tech Festival, a landmark event organized by the Enugu State Government through the Ministry of Science and Technology under the leadership of Commissioner Dr. Prince Lawrence Ezeh.

Themed “From Coal to Code,” the festival marked a bold shift from legacy industries to a future powered by innovation.

The event featured a constellation of industry leaders including Dr. Peter Mbah, the Executive Governor of Enugu State; Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy; Mr. Ayodele Olawande, Minister of Youth Development; Prof. Bart Nnaji, Founder/Chairman Geometric Power; Dr. Kingsley Eze, CEO Tenece Holdings; Dr. Obinna Iyiegbu, Chairman Cubana Group; Tomi Davies, CiC at TVC Labs, among others.

Among the luminaries who graced the event was Africa’s celebrated digital disruptor, Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman of Zinox Group.

His presence alone electrified the audience, but it was his electrifying speech that sealed the moment.

Drawing from his over three decades journey of pioneering success in Africa’s tech ecosystem, Dr. Ekeh captivated the audience with hard truths and inspirational insights on entrepreneurship, resilience, and the boundless potential of technology when deployed ethically.

“Hope is not a strategy in the 21st century,” he told the captivated audience. It was a sharp reminder that while optimism is valuable, it must be matched by concrete skills and bold execution. In a world dominated by algorithms, artificial intelligence, and disruptive innovation, he said success belongs to those who dare to act and build decisively.

The ovation that followed his address revealed the fire he had lit in the hearts of young tech enthusiasts present.

He charged them to use technology not just to make a living but to change lives. “Tech,” he declared, “has the power to redefine Enugu, Nigeria, and Africa — but only if we approach it with purpose.”

Everyone who spoke before and after echoed the same rallying cry: tomorrow begins now. The Minister for Youth Development, Mr. Olawande, characterized the event as the largest youth gathering for a technology-focused program.

He further praised the organizers and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to youth empowerment.

In his speech, the executive governor of Enugu state stated that his government has set a bold target of growing its economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion in eight years through a 27% annual growth rate.

Initiatives like this tech festival are strategic steps toward that vision, positioning Enugu as a hub for business tourism, innovation, and inclusive prosperity.

But for this dream to materialize, all stakeholders must act. Our future will match our imagination, only if we dare to build it.

The Nigeria we want will depend not on hope, but on action.

Tijani said the Tech Festival, which attracted thousands of youths from within and outside the state, was a major leap for Nigeria’s determination to build a robust digital economy, noting that Enugu State under Governor Peter Mbah, had moved from policy to progress to lead the tech revolution in Nigeria.

This was even as Governor Peter Mbah urged the youths to embrace technology, insisting that the future is technology.

Speaking, the Minister said that the Tech Festival, tagged Coal to Code, fitted into the agenda and activities of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, having recognised that the future of digital economy in Nigeria would not only be built in Abuja, but would instead be co-created across all states.

“Enugu is showing how this should and will be done. I have never, never been to a conference on technology in Nigeria that is this big. I founded the first technology hub in Nigeria, the very first in Nigeria. So, I know a thing or two when technology people gather. I can assure you that today, you are part of history because we have never seen anything this big in Nigeria before.

“There is something powerful about your state: the energy, the ambition, the possibilities. Just two years ago, only a few people could imagine this kind of tech momentum. But today, Enugu has not just imagined, Enugu is building it. Under two years, we have seen investment in digital infrastructure, and the innovation ecosystem of the state.

“What is happening today in Enugu is part of something bigger. We are now witnessing a generational rise, not one where people complain and protest, but one where creativity is used to shape the future. Not just with passion, but with precision,” he stated.

While commending the participants for rising to “create the kind of Nigeria the world will pay attention to,” Tijani called for collaboration, commitment, and hard work by all stakeholders to make it happen.

“Progress is not automatic, but needs all of us. It needs the government to continue to be brave. It needs the private sector to invest deeper. It needs mentors, builders, teachers, and it needs leaders,” he concluded.

Speaking, Governor Mbah, while highlighting how his administration had invested in technology to dramatically revolutionise security, land administration, education, among others, noted that the Enugu Tech Festival was part of his government’s wider efforts to build the youth of the state into wealth creators and highly sought-after workforce of tomorrow’s workplace.

“The power of technology and innovation and what we can accomplish is something that I want the youths to be mindful of. If you look at the way things are being done in the world today, we are now talking about an era where people just sit down with great ideas, create platforms where they begin to essentially benefit from that platform.

“An example is the Uber that came and disrupted the city taxi without owning a key. Today, they provide by far the largest traffic just by creating a platform. You can extend that to Airbnb. Without owning a key, these guys have disrupted the business of those who own several brick and mortar houses. You can also extend that to Tesla. That is the power of technology. This shows essentially that technology is where the future is,” he emphasised.

In his remark, Dr. Lawrence Ezeh, the commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, said the Enugu Tech Festival, which would now become an annual event, underscored a paradigm shift from the old Enugu known for coal to one that has become a rising force in Nigeria’s tech-driven future, a beacon of innovation, intellectual capital, digital enterprise, and endless possibilities.

“For decades, our identity was built on coal, a resource that powered Nigeria’s industrial rise. But today, we stand in a different kind of power—the power of knowledge, innovation, and technology,” he stated.

Also at the Enugu Tech Festival 2025 were the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande; Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Uchenna Ugwu; former Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Barth Nnaji; Chairman of Zinox Technical, Leo Stan Ejeh;  and  the Group Managing Director, Afrinvest, Dr. Ike Chioke, among a host of others.