Blab Tech
NITDA and University of Port Harcourt Wrap Up Tech Stars 2026 Program for Nigerian Youth
In a whirlwind month of coding, robotics, and data, Nigeria’s newest tech prodigies emerged from Port Harcourt. The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Centre for Information and Telecommunication Engineering (CITE) at the University of Port Harcourt have just wrapped up the Tech Stars 2026 training program, a one‑month sprint designed for primary, junior, and senior secondary school students.
The curriculum delivered foundational skills in artificial intelligence, robotics, coding, and data science, equipping participants with the tools they need to thrive in the country’s rapidly expanding digital economy. At the closing ceremony, every student received a certificate, and those who stood out were handed laptops and tablets to keep the momentum going.
Tech Stars 2026 is part of a larger series of intensive ICT training programs held across five Nigerian states. The Port Harcourt session followed similar workshops that concluded last week in Kwara, Jigawa, Gombe, and Kano, underscoring the national push to nurture future technology innovators.
Delivered in partnership with CITE, a research and training hub at the University of Port Harcourt, the program featured hands‑on sessions that emphasized problem‑solving with emerging technologies. Vice‑Chancellor Prof. Chike Princewill Chike addressed the graduates, congratulating them and urging them to apply their new knowledge to tackle socio‑economic challenges while highlighting the role of creativity and digital skills in Nigeria’s ongoing transformation.
NITDA, the ICT policy‑implementing arm of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, has a mandate to develop initiatives that support the country’s technology agenda. Tech Stars 2026 aligns with NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0), which seeks to strengthen digital literacy and build a pipeline of technology talent from an early age.
The one‑month curriculum focused on practical problem‑solving and hands‑on experience with emerging technologies. Participants received certificates upon completion, and outstanding students were awarded laptops and tablets to support further learning. The initiative is part of a broader effort by NITDA to train 50 million Nigerians and raise the nation’s digital literacy level to 70 % by 2027, a target announced in other NITDA programs.
While the Port Harcourt program has concluded, it is part of an ongoing nationwide rollout of digital literacy training. No immediate follow‑up events have been announced, but the success of the program may inform future iterations and expansion of similar initiatives.
The Tech Stars 2026 program demonstrates Nigeria’s commitment to building a skilled workforce capable of driving innovation in artificial intelligence, robotics, coding, and data science. By engaging students at the primary and secondary levels, NITDA and the University of Port Harcourt are laying the groundwork for a new generation of technology innovators and entrepreneurs.
In summary, the Tech Stars 2026 training in Port Harcourt has successfully equipped thousands of young Nigerians with essential digital skills, recognized their achievements with certificates and prizes, and reinforced the country’s broader strategy to enhance digital literacy and foster technological talent.
The curriculum delivered foundational skills in artificial intelligence, robotics, coding, and data science, equipping participants with the tools they need to thrive in the country’s rapidly expanding digital economy. At the closing ceremony, every student received a certificate, and those who stood out were handed laptops and tablets to keep the momentum going.
Tech Stars 2026 is part of a larger series of intensive ICT training programs held across five Nigerian states. The Port Harcourt session followed similar workshops that concluded last week in Kwara, Jigawa, Gombe, and Kano, underscoring the national push to nurture future technology innovators.
Delivered in partnership with CITE, a research and training hub at the University of Port Harcourt, the program featured hands‑on sessions that emphasized problem‑solving with emerging technologies. Vice‑Chancellor Prof. Chike Princewill Chike addressed the graduates, congratulating them and urging them to apply their new knowledge to tackle socio‑economic challenges while highlighting the role of creativity and digital skills in Nigeria’s ongoing transformation.
NITDA, the ICT policy‑implementing arm of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, has a mandate to develop initiatives that support the country’s technology agenda. Tech Stars 2026 aligns with NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0), which seeks to strengthen digital literacy and build a pipeline of technology talent from an early age.
The one‑month curriculum focused on practical problem‑solving and hands‑on experience with emerging technologies. Participants received certificates upon completion, and outstanding students were awarded laptops and tablets to support further learning. The initiative is part of a broader effort by NITDA to train 50 million Nigerians and raise the nation’s digital literacy level to 70 % by 2027, a target announced in other NITDA programs.
While the Port Harcourt program has concluded, it is part of an ongoing nationwide rollout of digital literacy training. No immediate follow‑up events have been announced, but the success of the program may inform future iterations and expansion of similar initiatives.
The Tech Stars 2026 program demonstrates Nigeria’s commitment to building a skilled workforce capable of driving innovation in artificial intelligence, robotics, coding, and data science. By engaging students at the primary and secondary levels, NITDA and the University of Port Harcourt are laying the groundwork for a new generation of technology innovators and entrepreneurs.
In summary, the Tech Stars 2026 training in Port Harcourt has successfully equipped thousands of young Nigerians with essential digital skills, recognized their achievements with certificates and prizes, and reinforced the country’s broader strategy to enhance digital literacy and foster technological talent.
