The PBAT Smart Nation Initiative has announced the inaugural edition of the PBAT Smart Nation Youth in Tech Festival, scheduled for Wednesday, December 16, 2026, at the Shell Zenith Bank Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos.
Themed “The Making of Nigeria – Africa’s Truly First Smart Nation: Innovation in Driving Sustainable National Prosperity,” the one-day summit will bring together over 10,000 emerging software engineers, artificial intelligence innovators, tech startup founders, digital creators and public-sector leaders to advance Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.
The event will spotlight critical frontiers including artificial intelligence, digital public infrastructure, fintech resilience, cybersecurity and smart city governance, with a focus on public-sector digital infrastructure, enterprise investment and smart governance frameworks.
Speaking on the vision for the gathering, Amb. Joshua Omeiza Emmanuel, Lead Convener of the PBAT Smart Nation Initiative, stressed the role of youth-led innovation in the country’s development.
“Nigeria’s journey toward becoming Africa’s truly first smart nation hinges on the audacity, skill, and resourcefulness of our youth. The PBAT Smart Nation Youth in Tech Festival is not just another conference; it is an economic accelerator and a national platform where our brightest technical minds will directly intersect with policy, venture capital, and real-world implementation. By anchoring this at the Muson Centre, we are signaling a clear commitment to excellence, scale, and actionable outcomes for our youth demographic,” he said.
The festival is designed as an action-oriented platform to bridge grassroots technical talent with sector leaders, with Nigeria’s digital economy expanding rapidly.
The programme will feature high-impact keynote addresses by prominent industry figures, forward-looking panel discussions, live developer showcases and policy dialogues. It will also include dedicated networking corridors, institutional investor meetups and direct talent-matching hubs for participating delegates.
Registration
Registration for delegates, developer communities and ecosystem stakeholders opens officially this week via the event portal at https://pbatsmartnation.org.ng/event.php?id=3.
Corporate organisations, technology brands and public-sector institutions seeking strategic partnerships, exhibition spaces or sponsorship opportunities are invited to engage the Secretariat directly.
About PBAT Smart Nation Initiative
The PBAT Smart Nation Initiative is a forward-thinking policy, technology advocacy and human capital development platform dedicated to mainstreaming smart infrastructure, digital inclusion and youth empowerment across Nigeria. Through targeted stakeholder engagements, technical frameworks and nationwide innovation summits, the initiative champions the digital industrialisation of Nigeria and seeks to standardise the country’s position as the primary technology capital of Africa.
Media Inquiries & Executive Secretariat:
Directorate of Media & Strategic Communications, PBAT Smart Nation Initiative
Lagos • Abuja, Nigeria
Phone/WhatsApp: +2349130920837
Email: info@pbatsmartnation.org.ng
Social Media: @pbatsmartnation on Instagram
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