The Block Hive team and MTN have partnered to provide 5,000 free Internet routers to support techies, students, remote workers, entrepreneurs and digital creators in the South-East to accelerate tech-innovation.
The Block Hive is a co-working and tech hub in Nsukka, Enugu established by Ginakev Labs.
Speaking during a meeting with MTN officials on Wednesday in Enugu, the Founder of Ginakev Labs, Mr Kevin Okoye, said the initiative is expected to make the router devices available to young people without the usual upfront cost of purchase.
Kevin Chibuoyim (popularly known as Ezemmuo Blockchain), who is also the CEO of Ginakev Labs centred the discussion on the rapid growth of the technology ecosystem in the South-East and the need for greater private-sector support for young people building in technology.
During the engagement, Okoye shared some of the work being done through GIDA (Ginakev Digital Academy) and The Block Hive to support the region’s technology community and uplift young tech-innovators work in the region.
“GIDA, the education and skills-development arm of Ginakev Labs, has since 2020 trained over 10,000 youths in digital skills, AI (Artificial Intelligence) and blockchain technology with most even getting fully-funded scholarships to learn for free, supported by Ginakev Foundation”.
“While The Block Hive provides a physical environment where developers, entrepreneurs, students, creators and remote workers can learn, work and collaborate,” he said.
Okoye also stressed on some of the practical challenges young people face when trying to participate in the digital economy, particularly access to reliable electricity, workspace and internet infrastructure.
“The Block Hive was created in part to address these challenges by providing reliable power, internet connectivity, co-working facilities, training, event and co-living apartments infrastructure to the technology community,” he said.
He said that following the collaboration, the initiative would leverage The Block Hive’s existing tech community and Ginakev Labs’ network to reach young people across different locations in South-East.
“The Router access will be facilitated through The Block Hive and selected tech community activities such as the upcoming – Southeast Blockchain & Games Week 2026, which is being co-convened by me between Sept. 16 and Sept. 19, 2026.
“The Southeast Blockchain and Games Week is a further advancement on the ETH Enugu 2025 popup city, builder residency and Conference I organised in 2025, putting Enugu and the entire South-East in the spotlight asfirst Ethereum Conference in Nigeria“ he said.
Okoye appreciated MTN’s willingness to support the “South-East Blockchain & Games Week 2026” and the free router initiative as it would significantly benefit techies and prospective tech-innovative youths.
“If someone has a laptop, the skills and the ambition to work, the last thing we want is for the cost of getting a router to become the reason they cannot participate.
“Just like I advocated while speaking on a panel session at the Enugu Tech Festival (ETF 2026) on Web3 day, this kind of support can make a real difference,” he said.
Responding, MTN’s South-East Regional Representative, Mr Callima Inino, expressed the company’s willingness to support initiatives that create opportunities for youths and strengthen the technology ecosystem in the region.
Inino said that MTN would make selected router devices available to young people through an empowerment-focused approach, at no cost to the customers.
According to him, each router – from 4G to 5G router costs up to N60,000, but will be given free, and beneficiaries will only be required to subscribe to the applicable MTN data plan attached to their selected router packages.
“MTN representatives and agents will be present at the South-East Blockchain & Games Week 2026 event across all the build stations the event is setting up in all states of the South-East.
“We will be providing information about the available router options and facilitating access to eligible offers as well,” he noted.
Mr Samson Damian, the Facility Manager of The Block Hive, who was also present during the engagement with MTN, described the initiative as an example of how corporate resources can be connected directly to grassroots technology communities.
“Making the devices more accessible means more people can participate, lowering the entry barriers. I appreciate MTN,” he said.
MORE ABOUT GINAKEV LABS
Ginakev Labs is a technology and innovation company focused on building infrastructure, communities and initiatives that support digital education, entrepreneurship, technology and youth development. In addition, it runs a non-profit NGO arm called Ginakev Foundation.
Its ecosystem currently includes Ginakev Digital Academy (GIDA) and The Block Hive.:
ABOUT GIDA:
Ginakev Digital Academy (GIDA) is the education and skills-development arm of Ginakev Labs, focused on equipping young people with practical digital and emerging technology skills.
Since its establishment, GIDA has trained over 10,000 young people through digital skills, blockchain, technology and entrepreneurship programmes (with everyone getting fully-funded scholarships by Ginakev Foundation since 2020).
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Website: www.gida.academy | Email: officialgida1@gmail.com
ABOUT THE BLOCK HIVE:
The Block Hive is a co-working space and tech hub based in Nsukka, Enugu State, providing reliable power, internet connectivity, workspaces, training facilities and community infrastructure for developers, entrepreneurs, students, creators and remote workers.
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Website: www.theblockhive.org | Email: reachtheblockhive@gmail.com
About Ginakev Foundation:
Ginakev Foundation is the non-profit social impact arm of Ginakev Labs, dedicated to solving interconnected global challenges through human capacity development, digital innovation, climate action and sustainable systems.
We believe some of the most pressing challenges facing African communities today — particularly youth unemployment and the climate crisis — are deeply interconnected and therefore require solutions that address people, opportunity and the environment together.
Since 2020, the Foundation has pursued a systems-based approach to creating measurable social, economic and environmental impact, supporting communities through skills development, opportunity linkage, ecosystem growth, climate advocacy and the development of sustainable systems.
Our work operates across two interconnected ecosystems:
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Human Capacity Development: Through Ginakev Digital Academy (GIDA) and related initiatives, including The Block Hive, we give Tech scholarships equipping young people with practical digital skills, tools, infrastructure and opportunities to thrive in the digital economy.
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Climate Action & Regenerative Systems: Through OURCLIMA (Operation for Ultimate Regeneration & Climate Action), we drive climate literacy, tree planting, renewable energy advocacy and geospatial approaches to climate data and ecosystem restoration. In addition, through Ginakev Farms, we apply regenerative agroforestry as a practical model for food security, long-term carbon capture and ecological conservation.
Through its work across the technology and climate ecosystems, Ginakev Foundation continues to support solutions that empower people, strengthen communities and contribute to a more sustainable future.
Impact Report: Ginakev Labs/Foundation’s Impact 2020-2026
Email: ginakevlabs@gmail.com | X (Twitter): x.com/ginakevlabs