PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria – June 2 — Over 500 delegates are expected to gather in Port Harcourt later this month for the Niger Delta Digital Summit, a regional forum aimed at steering Nigeria’s oil-rich south toward a future built on technology and innovation.
The summit, scheduled for June 25 at the EUI Centre in Rivers State, seeks to tackle youth unemployment, cybercrime, and infrastructure gaps by positioning the Niger Delta as a hub for digital transformation.
Organised by Mathesis Events and a coalition of regional partners, the gathering will draw tech entrepreneurs, government officials, investors, creatives, and youth leaders. Participants will explore how the region—long dependent on oil—can pivot to a knowledge-based economy driven by broadband access, clean energy, fintech, agritech, and skills development.
Themed “Beyond Oil: Shaping a Digital Future for the Niger Delta,” the summit comes at a time when local and global attention is shifting toward sustainability, digital economies, and human capital. For a region often associated with pipeline explosions and environmental degradation, organisers say this is a chance to showcase a new narrative.
One of the summit’s focal points is redirecting the ambitions of young people. With internet fraud—popularly called “Yahoo Yahoo”—still a major issue in the region, speakers and panellists will present ethical alternatives through digital careers, entrepreneurship, and platforms like YouTube, Upwork, and other gig economy portals.
The programme includes keynote addresses, breakout sessions on remote work and tech startups, and a fireside chat with a local innovator who has defied odds to build a global digital footprint. Other discussions will centre on broadband infrastructure, green tech, investor policy frameworks, and how public-private partnerships can unlock the region’s potential.
Organisers hope the summit will serve as a launchpad for concrete action: attracting tech investments, inspiring youth-led ventures, and building a foundation for a sustainable, digital economy in the Niger Delta.
