By Eze Victor, Abakaliki
In a historic fusion of technology and patriotism, Codefest Nigeria Hackathon 2025 is making an official Guinness World Record attempt for the largest and longest virtual hackathon in West Africa, catapulting Nigeria’s tech innovation scene onto the global stage.
The week-long event, which commenced on October 1, 2025, coinciding with Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day, brought together over 100 software development teams and more than 20 industry mentors from across Nigeria and the diaspora. The hackathon was organized by Codefest International, a Nigeria-based organization focused on advancing STEM education, digital skills, and corporate innovation.
The hackathon challenged participants to design and prototype real-world solutions addressing 24 critical national problems across six sectors: Fintech, Agriculture, Health, Education, Climate Change, and Open Innovation.
With the unifying theme “Build for Nigeria”, Codefest 2025 transformed into more than a competition, because it became a tech festival and civic innovation movement, aimed at harnessing the power of young Nigerian minds to create scalable, impact-driven technologies.
“We didn’t just build software; we built a future. This was about purpose, about country,” said Moss Uromtah, President of Codefest Africa, during the emotional closing ceremony.
The festival kicked off with keynote speeches from prominent tech leaders including Dr. Adesina Adewale, Ernest Ogueri, and Dr. Adekunbi Omotoso, setting an inspirational tone.
Icebreakers and team-building activities fostered camaraderie, while live sessions and GitHub leaderboards added a competitive edge.
Participants engaged in hands-on workshops in AI, app prototyping, and software architecture, while mentors held fireside chats on topics like product sustainability and post-hackathon growth.
As the week progressed, initial ideas rapidly evolved into functional MVPs, showcasing the depth of talent among Nigerian youth.
GitHub commits surged. Teams presented prototypes tackling issues from access to healthcare in rural areas to climate-smart agricultural tools and inclusive fintech solutions.
“The creativity and technical execution we witnessed is simply world-class,” noted Dr. Omotoso, one of the lead mentors.
Global Recognition, Local Impact
Codefest’s attempt for the Guinness World Records underscores Nigeria’s growing influence in Africa’s digital economy. But organizers say the real victory lies in what comes next.
“The live hackathon may be over, but the journey is just beginning, with the public voting and media campaign now open” said Morgan Victor, Co-founder of Codefest.
“These prototypes are being developed into full products, with several now preparing for incubation, investment, and launch,” he further stated.
All eyes are now on the Awards and Innovation Expo scheduled for November 20, 2025, in Lagos, where the top teams will be unveiled after a hybrid jury and public voting process.
The event is expected to attract key stakeholders, investors, and government leaders to support promising solutions born from the hackathon.
Codefest Nigeria Hackathon 2025 has not only made history, but it has written a new chapter in the story of Nigerian innovation. From grassroots coding to global recognition, it stands as a bold testament to what’s possible when young minds are empowered to build for the nation.