'Nigeria's youth population critical for driving national technology revolution'

Our purpose is to empower organisations by delivering world-class, customised technology solutions that drive innovation, efficiency, and transformative growth. We believe in an open, collaborative work environment that inspires excellence and innovation. We provide the right work tools, ensuring our team can excel professionally, while fulfilling personal and family responsibilities. Our open-door policies reflect inclusive culture, empowering Cavistans to share ideas openly. Guided by the mantra, “May the best idea win,” we value every voice to cultivate a workplace where creativity and collaboration thrive. Our greatest resource is our youth, and we have a goal to upskill and upscale their talent, with plans to grow across the continent in the next five years. We want to create jobs and even more jobs!

As a follow-up, can you briefly touch on specific areas your operation covers?

Our operations cover various industries both locally and globally. Locally, we provide technology support and development to our portfolio businesses which cut across various industries such as Agriculture, Fintech and hospitality. For the Federal Government of Nigeria, we signed an MoU with the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and The Creative Economy for project Destination Nigeria 2030 (D-30). This collaboration focuses on developing Destination Nigeria 2030 (D-30), a national digital database infrastructure project. This platform is designed to map, organise, and visualise Nigeria's creative, cultural, and tourism ecosystems across all 36 states and the FCT, providing a comprehensive resource for the sector.

On the global front, we deliver cutting-edge software development, IT solutions, and engineering expertise to build and sustain Axxess's advanced home healthcare technology platforms. Axxess is a global leader in home healthcare technology based in Dallas Texas, in the United State of America.

What is the motive behind Cavista Tech Hackathon?

The driving force for Cavista Technologies is empowering youths and creating jobs. We want to transform lives and create opportunities. Our main reason is to help the youth grow their skills and we are always looking for top talent. One of the things that drive Cavista Technologies is that we are always looking out for top talent to hire, so at this event we will be looking out for the ones who stand out. Even after the hackathon is done, there will be opportunities to engage many of the students and support them to be the best they can be.

Some of the students are return participants as they have competed in previous editions but did not win. We want to empower them and give them opportunities to grow, while we create job opportunities. We also want people to understand the impact that Cavista Technologies is bringing to our communities and our country. Today, Nigeria's massive, youthful population, with a median age of 18.1 and over 50% under 30, is a critical, untapped asset for driving a national technology revolution. By investing in digital literacy, STEM education, and infrastructure, the country can leverage 3.5 million new annual workforce entrants to boost the ICT sector, which already contributes ~20% of GDP growth

If it's a CSR initiative, can you shed light on the target audience?

Indeed, we believe that empowering the youth is part of our social responsibility and our target audience are young Nigerians who are in tertiary institutions. Our goal is to ensure that we tap into the greatest resource we have in Nigeria, which is our youth. We are passionate about empowering our youths to be able to utilise technology to solve real life problems and catch them young. Which is why we run the hackathon every year. It is one of our flagship events annually.

How many editions have you had and what are the criteria for participation?

So far, we have held three editions. The fourth edition will come up on February 21 and 22, 2026 and the number one criterion is that you must be an undergraduate in any higher institution located in Lagos State and its immediate environs. We are expecting applications from students in Lagos State University, University of Lagos, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Covenant University and the Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos. So long as you have technology skills and attend any of these schools, you are eligible to apply.

Would you say the initiative is impacting and achieving its aims?

Yes, indeed it is. The team that won last year in 2024 are currently working with us and have been growing their skills and performing excellently as software developers. We have provided quite a number of internship opportunities to past participants of our Hackathon so that they can understudy our engineers and learn from how we operate.

We are also extending invitations for partnerships which have led to requests from organizations and influencers on how we can collaborate to attract more talents and provide jobs for them. Working with some Ministries like the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and The Creative Economy, we are confident that it will lead to positive exposure of what we are doing with the youth of our country. For the 2026 event, we shall collaborate with tech experts like Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, the Co-Founder of Andela and Future Africa who will be on ground to address and mentor the young hackers.

Beyond Cavista Tech, what are the biggest challenges facing the tech industry in this part of the world and how do you think it could be addressed?

Strong infrastructure is the backbone of effective delivery. Infrastructures such as reliable electricity, keep operations running smoothly and stable, as well as affordable internet, which enables seamless communication and innovation. With good road networks, faster and more cost‑efficient logistics are not only achievable, but more cost efficient and far reaching. When these systems work well, businesses can make timely deliveries on quality, and at reduced costs. But when we fail at having good infrastructure, they cause delays and increase the cost of business.

Ultimately, the strength of infrastructure directly determines how well we serve our communities and at what price.

Where do you see Cavista Tech in five years, and what steps do you think the management could take to get there?

In five years, we see our business strengthening its presence and diversifying its offering as we continue on our growth journey. We grow both locally and globally, establishing and solidifying partnerships and collaboration with like-minded organisations and government, becoming the go-to brand for industry knowledge and thought leadership. As for the role of management, we will continue to strengthen our core pillars of people, partners and solutions, being the trusted and respected global solutions provider.

As the leader of Cavista Tech Nigeria operations, can you please share with us a few background about your experience in the country's tech environment?

As a leader at Cavista Tech Nigeria, my experience within Nigeria's tech environment has been shaped by continuous growth, innovation, and collaboration. Nigeria's tech ecosystem is dynamic and fast-growing, driven by a strong pool of talent, increasing digital adoption and a growing entrepreneurial mindset.

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work closely with diverse teams, engage with local and global stakeholders, and navigate both the opportunities and challenges unique to the Nigerian market. This includes building scalable solutions, fostering a culture of excellence, and aligning global technology standards with local realities. Leading in this environment has reinforced the importance of adaptability, people development, and sustainable innovation. It has also highlighted the immense potential of Nigeria's tech talent to deliver world-class solutions when empowered with the right tools, leadership and vision.