PBAT Smart Nation (Youth In Tech Festival) 2026
Empowering Nigeria's Digital Generation. Innovation, Learning & Impact. Keynote sessions, tech exhibition, skills workshops, hackathon & innovation challenge, startup pitch competition, esports & gaming arena, awards & closing ceremony.
Presented By
PBAT Smart Nation Executive Secretariat
Organizing Host • Federal Republic of Nigeria
Empowering youth innovators across all 774 LGAs
Hon. Yusuf Bello
Director of Innovation & Strategy • PBAT Smart Nation
Coordinating civic-tech transformation
Festival Schedule & Agenda
The Tech Carpet Reception runs concurrently in the Foyer Media Hub alongside early main plenary items without displacing stage timelines. Guests and delegates are accredited smoothly while early media broadcasts proceed.
Arrival, Accreditation & Tech Carpet Reception
🎤 Digital Check-in Desk & Media Team
Badge collection, delegate pack distribution, and venue onboarding. Early seating open in main plenary hall.
Opening Protocol & National Anthem
🎤 Host / Convener & Special Guests
Official welcome remarks by Host/Convener; opening showcase video highlighting Nigeria's youth digital transformation milestones.
Opening Keynote Address: Smart Nation Agenda
🎤 Federal Ministry / Tech Leadership
"Smart Nation Agenda: Accelerating Youth Leadership in Africa’s Tech Ecosystem" (Federal Ministry / Tech Leadership address).
Executive Plenary Panel: Scaling Beyond Borders
🎤 4 Industry Leaders + Interactive Audience Q&A
"Scaling Beyond Borders: AI, Fintech, and Cross-Border Infrastructure" — 4 industry leaders + interactive 15-minute audience Q&A session.
Live Tech Demos: Batch 1
🎤 4 Vetted Nigerian Youth-Led Startups
Curated fast-paced product showcases and prototype demonstrations from 4 vetted Nigerian youth-led startups.
Lunch Break, Exhibition Tour & Partner Demos
🎤 Interactive Hardware & Software Partners
Grand lunch interval, exhibition hall networking tour, and exploration of interactive hardware/software partner demo booths.
Deep-Dive Masterclasses (3 Parallel Tracks)
🎤 Track Mentors & Technical Leads
Track A (Main Stage): Generative AI, Robotics & Practical Model Deployment.
Track B (Hall 1): Career Pathways, Global Remote Work & Talent Mobility.
Track C (Hall 2): Cybersecurity, Digital Identity & GovTech Systems.
Fireside Chat: From Hackathon to Series A
🎤 Two Breakout Young Nigerian Founders
"From Hackathon to Series A" — A candid conversation with two breakout young Nigerian founders on product-market fit, raising capital, and global expansion.
Youth Innovation Pitch Finale
🎤 Top 6 Finalist Teams, VC Panel & Fund Directors
Top 6 selected youth teams deliver live 5-minute pitches to an expert panel of VC investors and government innovation fund directors (3 mins Q&A per team).
Refreshment Pause & Scorecard Deliberation
🎤 Jury Evaluation Council
Afternoon recharge pause; jury finalizes scorecards and tallies winner rankings across seed prize categories.
Grants & Awards Presentation Ceremony
🎤 National Steering Council & Jury
Announcement of pitch champions, disbursement of equity-free seed grants, presentation of hackathon certificates, and ecosystem honors.
Closing Keynote & Vote of Thanks
🎤 Festival Leadership
Official closing address by festival leadership and presentation of the 2026–2027 Smart Nation Youth Digital Roadmap.
Sunset Networking Mixer & DJ Set
🎤 Curated DJ & Innovator Community
Curated DJ set, open networking with founders, mentors, investors, community group photographs, and media soundbite wrap-ups.
Venue Information
SHELL ZENITH BANK HALL, MUSON Centre, Lagos, Nigeria.
Get Directions on Google Maps →Registered users who intend to attend the event should fill in the accreditation form to complete their RSVP for .
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