About this opportunity
Build Nigeria 2026 gives student teams six weeks to build a hardware product that someone will actually pay for. The competition is explicitly not looking for the cleverest project, but for the one most likely to be bought, and 25 of the 100 marks go to evidence that a named buyer wants what the team built.
The programme is framed around an import gap the organisers set out from customs records: Nigeria imported at least $2. 3bn of electrical and electronic goods in 2024, while exporting countries report $4.
3bn, and almost all of it arrived finished. Assembly, enclosures, integration, customisation and repair, in their reading, are already within reach of a student with ₦25,000 of parts and six weeks.
Winning work is presented at a livestreamed Grand Final on 19 December 2026.
What you receive
- Six weeks and a structured programme to build a hardware product
- Assessment weighted toward commercial demand, with 25 of the 100 marks for evidence a named buyer wants the product
- A place at a livestreamed Grand Final where winning work is presented
Who can apply
- Teams of one to four students
- Any Nigerian university, polytechnic or college of education
- A final-year class project can be entered as the team's entry
How to apply
- Register a team of one to four students on the Build Nigeria page
- Build the hardware product over the six-week window
- Complete registration before it closes on 11 October 2026
Selection process
- Entries are scored out of 100, of which 25 marks are for evidence that a named buyer wants what was built
- Winning work is presented at the Grand Final, livestreamed on 19 December 2026
Sources and verification
- Official source , Discovered by the opportunity automation module.
Questions applicants ask
Can we enter with our final-year project?
Yes. A final-year class project can be entered as the team's entry.
What is the registration deadline?
Registration closes on 11 October 2026; the Grand Final is livestreamed on 19 December 2026.
Important disclaimer
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