By Edith Tsokar
The Miraisha Foundation has trained no fewer than 100,000 youths in innovation, digital technology and problem-solving skills aimed at preparing young Nigerians for emerging global opportunities.
The Acting Director-General of the foundation, Bilyaminu Yunusa, disclosed this at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Hackathon on Friday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event themed: “Code, Create, Innovate: Building a Smarter Nigeria,” attracted participants from engineering and technology institutions across the country, both physically and virtually.
Yunusa described the Hackathon as a national platform designed to nurture creativity, technological skills and problem-solving abilities among young Nigerians.
“Seeing over 100,000 participants across all schools of engineering, both physically and virtually, tells us one thing, the hunger for innovation in the digital age.
“This is no longer just an event. It is a national movement. Success in the tech world is never a solo flight.
“We are building character, leadership and community.
“As an organisation, we remain firmly committed to empowering our people through technology, mentorship, entrepreneurship, student advocacy, capacity building programmes, leadership development initiatives, and strategic partnerships.”
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Glisten International Academy, Hajia Samira Jibir, said Nigeria’s education system must evolve to reflect the realities of a rapidly changing digital world.
Jibir, who is also the National President of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), stressed that education must move beyond traditional learning approaches.
According to her, students must be equipped with digital, analytical and problem-solving skills required for modern society.
“The world has changed significantly, and our children, and educating our children for a world that no longer exists, is unacceptable.
“Over time, we have witnessed the evolution of time, from traditional analogue methods of tracking to the use of digital clocks and smart technologies that guide our daily lives.
“We have also seen the evolution of money, from calories, coins to paper, cards to pennies, and now advanced financial systems such as online transactions and cryptocurrencies.
“Communication has equally progressed from handwritten letters to instant messaging and similar digital interaction, while navigation has evolved from digital map reading to smart voice-guided digital assistants.
“The education system is not catching up with me enough with the expectations of today’s world,” she said.
Jibir added that education must bridge existing learning gaps by promoting critical thinking, computational skills and practical learning linked to real-life applications.
Earlier, the Convener of the event, Abba Saidu, said the Abuja Hackathon was designed to transform students into creators capable of addressing Nigeria’s infrastructure and socio-technical challenges.
Saidu said more than 600 schools registered for the championship stage of the competition, with only the top 30 per cent advancing to the finals.
“We have registered over 600 schools for this championship and it will excite you to know that the top 30 per cent are in this room today.
” So, to our participating schools, you are of course the first 30 per cent that has made it to the finals. You are the reason we are here today.
“We believe that AI is coming to distrupt quite a lot of things.
“Our goal is to bridge the skills gap by helping young people become creators and problem-solvers who can address local challenges such as infrastructure and energy issues,” he said.
He noted that emerging technologies were reshaping global education and employment systems, making creativity, innovation and practical skills essential for future careers.
One of the participating students, Melvin Chukwunedu, called for more government and private sector support for young innovators.
Chukwunedu explained that his team’s project, “Building Naija,” used robotics to promote unity, peace, security and responsible use of natural resources.
“The game is all about building Naija where we bring some pieces like unity, peace, security and natural resources in one circle.
“We use our robots in pushing, lifting and making sure they all work together. The usage is to make government and people around us more better,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Funmilayo Adeyemi
