Blockchain Club Univeristy of Nigeria, Nsukka (Blockchain UNN) has successfully concluded its annual conference themed "Blockathon", marking an incredible week of innovation, collaboration, and skill development in Nigeria’s rapidly growing blockchain space.
From Oct 28th - Nov 2nd, BlockchainUNN welcomed over a thousand participants from diverse backgrounds—students, developers, designers, project managers and blockchain enthusiasts—at Enugu’s Lion Science Park, showcasing the region’s potential as a blockchain powerhouse.
The week-long event kicked off with a virtual hackathon designed to prime participants for blockchain innovation. Day 1 featured a deep dive into blockchain scalability led by Kevin Chibuoyim from Arbitrum, who captivated the audience with insights into Layer 2 solutions and their impact on the future of blockchain. This session opened doors for participants to imagine blockchain beyond traditional finance, envisioning solutions to major African challenges such as access to digital identity and transparent governance.
On Day 2, Lisk’s Juju Boy took the virtual stage, guiding participants through building accessible blockchain applications on the Lisk platform. His interactive session encouraged attendees to bridge the gap between technical and non-technical blockchain applications, emphasizing user-friendly interfaces as a key to mainstream blockchain adoption in Africa. These virtual hackathon days set the stage for the in-person segment of the event.
Days 3 through 5 transformed the University of Nigeria Nsukka's Lion Science Park into a bustling hub of innovation as hackathon teams collaborated on real-world blockchain solutions. Teams worked intensively on projects aimed at solving challenges in financial inclusion, social impact, and data privacy, harnessing blockchain technology to address regional and global issues. On Project Presentation Day, teams showcased their work, impressing judges with ideas ranging from decentralized finance applications to innovative identity management systems.
Three teams emerged victorious, securing a prize pool of $2,000 (₦3.4 million), further reinforcing BlockchainUNN’s commitment to fostering local talent. The event reached its climax on Day 6; , the Conference Day, where participants gathered for a full-day of immersive sessions. With the theme
Themed “Learn, Build, Innovate,” the conference featured inspiring keynotes & insightful breakout sessions. Attendees explored topics such as blockchain’s role in African economic transformation and the potential of decentralized finance (DeFi) to address systemic financial inequality.
Networking sessions provided a platform for collaboration, with industry leaders and rising blockchain talent discussing Africa’s future on the global blockchain stage.
In line with its vision to nurture blockchain expertise, BlockchainUNN announced two new bootcamps: the Web2 & Web3 Developers Bootcamp, a 10-16 week program focused on dApp development, and the Content & Marketing Bootcamp, tailored for writers and marketers looking to specialize in blockchain. These bootcamps aim to expand Nigeria’s blockchain talent pool, equipping participants with practical skills and industry-ready expertise.
With partners like Arbitrum and Lisk and over a thousand attendees, BlockchainUNN Conference 3.0 concluded as a defining event for Southeast Nigeria’s blockchain community, setting new standards for innovation and collaboration in Africa.
