The Telecommunication and Technology Sustainability Working Group (TTSWG) has officially announced the second edition of its flagship event, the Innovators Makers Challenge (IMC) Conference and Innovation Exhibition. Scheduled to take place on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at the prestigious Balmoral Convention Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, the conference represents a major milestone in Nigeria’s technology and sustainability landscape.

The high-profile event is sponsored by IHS Nigeria, a leading telecommunications infrastructure provider, alongside a powerful coalition of institutional partners including Hydrogen, the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre (NCIC), the Lagos Business School Sustainability Centre (LBSSC), and MTN Nigeria. By convening policymakers, industry captains, global investors, development partners, financial institutions, and pioneering innovators, IMC 2.0 aims to unlock transformative opportunities within the nation’s burgeoning technology and telecommunications ecosystem, placing environmental and social sustainability at the core of national development.

Background Context and the Evolution of the IMC Platform

The Innovators Makers Challenge was conceptualized to address a critical gap in Nigeria’s innovation pipeline: the lack of structured support for tech-enabled solutions addressing grassroots and enterprise-level sustainability challenges. The maiden edition, launched in 2023, established a high benchmark for impact-driven tech events in the region. It attracted nearly 800 registered participants, drew over 300 in-person attendees, and served as a launchpad for 17 groundbreaking innovations.

Three years after its inaugural success, the return of the event as IMC 2.0 reflects an urgent need to scale up interventions in the face of shifting global economic realities and escalating climate challenges. While the first edition laid the groundwork for sustainability-driven entrepreneurship, IMC 2.0 arrives with a significantly expanded scope and a mandate to identify, support, and accelerate ventures that not only demonstrate market viability but also possess measurable environmental and socio-economic impact.

Chronology and Timeline of IMC 2.0

The journey to the September 24 conference involves a rigorous, multi-stage selection and capacity-building process designed to filter and refine the most promising entrepreneurial talent across Nigeria:

• Call for Applications & Registration (Mid-2026): Open to young Nigerian innovators, entrepreneurs aged 18 to 35, growth-stage startups, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and dedicated tech-sustainability ventures.
• The 3-Day IMC Bootcamp (Pre-Conference): A rigorous mentorship and capacity-building program focusing on essential business pillars, including business development, financial management, strategic team building, and professional pitch preparation.
• The IMC Quest Pitch Competition (September 24, 2026): The culmination of the bootcamp process, where the top five growth-stage startups pitch their business models live to an esteemed panel of judges during the main conference.
• The Innovation Exhibition and Business Clinics (September 24, 2026): Running concurrently with the conference sessions, featuring over 20 exhibiting startups, research projects, and development agencies alongside specialized legal and business consulting booths.
• Post-Competition Incubation Program (Late 2026 to Mid-2027): A structured, six-month incubation journey tailored for winning startups to guarantee accountability, optimize capital deployment, and secure long-term business sustainability.

Expanding Horizons: Sectors and Strategic Mandates

A defining characteristic of IMC 2.0 is its vastly broadened sector coverage. While the inaugural edition concentrated heavily on core telecommunications and localized environmental solutions, the 2026 edition encompasses a comprehensive suite of industries critical to national competitiveness and sustainable development.

The expanded sectors include AgriTech, EnergyTech, HealthTech, FinTech, Water Solution Technology, Waste & ClimateTech, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Emerging Technologies, Manufacturing & Industrial Innovation, Education, Infrastructure & Smart Cities, Creative Industries, Digital Governance & Civic Technology, and Logistics & Mobility.

Elaborating on this expansive vision, Bankole Oloruntoba, Lead Consultant at the TTSWG Secretariat, emphasized the strategic shift of the organization. "TTSWG is not only building on the success of the 2023 edition; we are scaling up significantly this year," Oloruntoba stated. "We have expanded IMC 2.0’s mandate to accelerate solutions across HealthTech, FinTech, AgriTech, ClimateTech, AI, Manufacturing, Education, Infrastructure, Creative Industries, Digital Governance, and other technology-enabled sectors with proven market validation and measurable economic, social, and environmental impact."

Financial Incentives and the IMC Quest Pitch Competition

To move beyond mere rhetoric and provide tangible backing to early-stage enterprises, IMC 2.0 has committed a total of ₦9,200,000 in non-dilutive seed capital to be distributed among the top three winners of the IMC Quest Pitch Competition.

Following intensive scrutiny during the pre-conference bootcamp, the top five growth-stage startups will step onto the main stage in Lagos to present their enterprises. The financial breakdown for the podium finishers is structured as follows:

• Winner: ₦7,000,000
• First Runner-up: ₦1,200,000
• Second Runner-up: ₦1,000,000

Crucially, the organizers have integrated safeguards to ensure that these financial injections translate into sustainable corporate milestones. Bankole noted that all winning startups will be enrolled directly into a structured six-month post-competition incubation program. This safeguard is designed to maximize investment outcomes, foster rigorous corporate governance, and support long-term commercial scaling.

Comprehensive Event Components and Strategic Highlights

In addition to the high-stakes pitch competition, IMC 2.0 features multiple specialized tracks designed to address the multifaceted needs of Nigeria’s tech ecosystem:

1. The Go-to-Talent Competition: Aimed at discovering exceptional young minds and emerging enterprises, offering them visibility before a global network of investors and corporate partners.
2. The Innovation Exhibition: A curated showcase hosting over 20 innovative entities, including tech firms, academic research initiatives, and international development organizations presenting breakthrough technologies for sustainable development.
3. Business Clinics: Dedicated advisory hubs providing participants and attendees with direct access to professional legal and business consulting experts to navigate regulatory, tax, and compliance frameworks.
4. The Launch of TATCAR 2023–2026: A cornerstone regulatory and social highlight of the conference will be the official unveiling of the Telecommunication and Technology Citizenship Awareness Roadmap (TATCAR) covering the 2023–2026 period. This roadmap captures critical updates, policy frameworks, and industry best practices designed to drive responsible, community-conscious growth across the technology sector.

Economic Implications and Broader Industry Impact

The timing of IMC 2.0 is particularly strategic for Nigeria. As the country navigates macroeconomic headwinds, structural reforms, and the urgent imperative to transition toward a green economy, the technology and telecommunications sectors remain primary drivers of job creation, digital inclusion, and GDP growth.

By fostering cross-sectoral collaboration between traditional industrial giants—such as IHS Nigeria and MTN—and nimble, tech-driven startups, the initiative bridges the historical gap between capital-rich enterprises and agile innovators. Furthermore, the inclusion of critical public sector stakeholders and policymakers ensures that grassroots innovations find a welcoming regulatory environment rather than running aground on bureaucratic hurdles.

The emphasis on Artificial Intelligence, ClimateTech, and digital governance demonstrates an alignment with global technological trends. As international carbon markets mature and sustainable investing becomes a prerequisite for foreign direct investment (FDI), platforms like the IMC position Nigerian startups to attract global venture capital looking for verified environmental, social, and governance (ESG) compliance.

Participation and Registration Details

With preparations reaching advanced stages, organizers have opened registration channels for all interested stakeholders. Startups seeking exhibition booths, entrepreneurs preparing for the pitch competitions, corporate bodies, investors, and development partners can secure their attendance free of charge.

Stakeholders are encouraged to register and review participation guidelines by visiting the official registration portal via the AccessPal Innovation Makers Challenge Link.

As September 24 approaches, the Nigerian technology ecosystem turns its attention to Lagos, anticipating an event that promises not only to showcase ingenuity but to actively finance and incubate the next generation of sustainable economic leaders.