10/05/2025
The second day of the Enugu Tech Festival witnessed scenes of raw emotion and uncontainable joy as beneficiaries of the ongoing digital empowerment drive by the Enugu Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, were visibly moved upon receiving new tools for innovation. In a moment that left many in tears, the recipients openly wept and cheered as they were presented with brand new HP laptops and Zinox Zpad X9 Tablet Pros by the state’s Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Prince Lawrence Ezeh.
Ongoing at the expansive Enugu International Conference Centre, the festival — now in full swing — has become a powerful symbol of Enugu’s commitment to digital transformation. The event, which began on Wednesday, has already drawn crowds numbering over 22,000, with 15,000 attendees on the first day alone and more than 7,000 streaming in on Thursday.
For many young participants, the moment they were handed sleek new laptops and tablets was simply overwhelming. Some dropped to their knees in gratitude, others clutched the devices tightly, tears spilling down their cheeks. Amid the flash of cameras and murmurs of appreciation, a singular sentiment echoed: hope.
“I never thought I would own a laptop in my life,” said Emmanuel Daren, a final-year computer science student who had travelled from Nsukka to attend. “This is not just a gift; it’s a turning point.”
The Enugu Tech Festival, designed to promote technological literacy and foster entrepreneurial development, is part of a wider state government strategy to position Enugu as a innovation powerhouse. With hundreds more laptops and tablets set to be distributed during today’s final sessions, anticipation remains high.
Observers say the festival is already surpassing expectations — not just in turnout, but in substance. “It’s not about gadgets,” said Ngozi Agorum, a tech mentor. “It’s about planting the seeds of a tech ecosystem. This is how you build a digital economy — one young mind at a time.”
As the festival concludes today, Friday 9 May, Commissioner revealed that more than 100 participants are expected to walk away with new devices — a boost not just to morale, but to long-term capacity.
