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Enugu State Government has hailed youths in Enugu State for coming out en mass and contributing to the huge success of the just-concluded Enugu Tech Festival (ETF 2025).
The Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Lawrence Ezeh, gave the appreciation while giving a preliminary report on the just-concluded ETF 2025 on Thursday in Enugu.
The just concluded three-day tech-innovative festival, which is tagged: “Coal to Code”, was held between May 7 and May 9, 2025.
The festival featured federal ministers, tech-innovative moguls, entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, exhibitors and government functionaries at all levels speaking and encouraging the youths to stick to tech-innovation.
According to Ezeh, I have to give thumbs up to youths in Enugu State as they have proven quite well that they are highly interested in tech and innovation.
He said that the festival had 15,000 youths duly registered, adding that they paid for their transport to the venue, stayed put till closing time and listened attentively to all presentations made to gain knowledge and insight.
The commissioner said that the ministry was able to manage the surge in number of participants by 250 youths’ volunteers and 90 ETF brand ambassadors, who worked seriously hard and free-of-charge, for the three days.
“For the first day, we recorded an overwhelming 15,000 youths converging at the venue, which put some level of strains on resources at the centre.
“The second day, we had over 6,000; and same number on the third day. They remained patient and attentively throughout the duration of the festival,” he said.
The commissioner said that the organization was superb and every aspect including power supply and medicals well taken care of.
He said that there was a standby ambulance and para-medics on ground.
Ezeh noted that throughout the festival, the ministry saw the youths’ hunger for learning and being path of the tech and innovation movement devoid of any immediate inducement.
He said, “Previously, you only see youths going to places to have fun and join in a musical jamborees and other places where freebies and political largesse are shared.
“But we have seen the reverse; and this is a good development for the state and entire country as our youths’ orientation is now on positive engagement and focusing on the real deal.
“We assured them training, which we have started to link them up to.
“They will be attached them to tech and innovative mentors while the festival provided the opportunities for them to network and connect with youths with same progressive mind and passion.”
