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.

The Young Techies Festival (YTF) organised by Code Ambassadors , now in its fourth edition, is set to transform the city of Port Harcourt into a hub of innovation, creativity, and limitless possibilities on Saturday, July 19th, 2025, at the Celebr8 Event Centre, Olu-Obasanjo, Port Harcourt.

This year’s theme, “LIMITLESS: Explore, Create, and Lead,” is designed to empower kids and teens aged 8–17 with the tools, inspiration, and opportunities to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital world.

“Our kids are not backward because of our colour but because they lack exposure and platforms to express their creativity and ingenuity,” says Somkenechukwu Mamah, founder of Code Ambassadors and Convener of the Young Techies Festival.

What to Expect at YTF 4.0

Inspiring Speakers & Sessions

• Lucas Bruce (Founder, Olotu Square): Limitless with AI – How to use AI to create opportunities, not fear job loss.
  
• Angela George (Senior Systems Engineer, Unity): Game Development – Turning passion for gaming into a career.
  
• Mr. Ashford: From Watching Cartoons to Creating Animations—and Earning from It.
  
• Segun Adekola, a 17-year-old mobile app developer: My Tech Journey
  

Hands-On Tech Experiences

• Live 3D Printing Demonstrations
• Immersive Virtual Reality
• Hackathon Pitch: 10 young innovators pitch solutions to real-world problems

Big Wins Await

• Hackathon Prizes: 3 Laptops, Routers, and 3 Months of Data (courtesy of CESA)
• Coding Scholarships for 10 participants (sponsored by Market Square)
• Raffle Draw with exciting prizes: Smartwatches, VR Headsets, Juicers, MiFi Devices, and more!

Health & Parenting Corner

• Free Eye and Dental Check-Ups for the first 100 children (powered by Lotag Eye Clinic & Snow Dental Care)
• Parents’ Corner: A panel session on Parenting in the Digital Age: Finding the Balance Between Boundaries, Freedom & Tech
  

Powered by Amazing Sponsors

A huge thank you to RIO Foundation, CESA, Market Square, and Eleme Local Government Council for making YTF 4.0 possible. The event is also supported by Techeconomy.

Event Details

Venue: Celebr8 Event Centre, Olu-Obasanjo, Port Harcourt
Date: Saturday, July 19, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM Prompt
FREE Registration is here.

Don’t let your child miss this chance to explore the future of technology. REGISTER NOW and secure their spot for a transformative experience!

Hosted by Code Ambassadors, the festival is the largest and most impactful technology experience for children and teens aged 8–17 in Nigeria’s South-South region.

This year’s theme, “LIMITLESS: Explore. Create. Lead.”, sets the stage for an immersive celebration of innovation, imagination, and empowerment.

YTF 2025 will spotlight the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence, Animation, and Gaming, with hands-on workshops, live demos, tech exhibitions, fireside chats, and a youth-led innovation showcase.

“Young Techies Festival is largely more than an event — it’s a movement,” says Somkenechukwu Mamah,  Founder, of Code Ambassadors. “We are unlocking opportunities creating visibility platforms and inspiring the next generation to use technology to solve Africa’s problems.”

Track Record & Impact

Since its inception, the Young Techies Festival has impacted:

• 1,700+ kids
  
• 100+ schools
  
• 20+ coding scholarships awarded
  
• 10+ laptops and gadgets won
  

The core objectives of the festival are to:

• Expose young minds between ages 8–17 to emerging technology,
• Inspire them to become creative problem solvers, and
• Connect them to relevant tech resources and future opportunities.

This year’s edition is expected to host 1,000+ participants, offering even more engagement through pitch competitions, raffle draws, games, dance, and fun challenges alongside tech-focused activities.

YTF 2025 also features a special AI Hackathon Challenge, where participants can submit tech-based solution proposals addressing any of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Winners will receive laptops, routers, internet subscriptions, and more.

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, July 19, 2025
Venue: Celebr8 Event Center, Olu Obasanjo Road, Port Harcourt (Hybrid Event)
Audience: Kids & teens (8–17), parents, educators
Register for FREE here.