The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has removed the age restriction for its National Innovation Hackathon 2026, opening participation to more Nigerians seeking to develop solutions for the country’s maritime industry.
The agency announced the change following public requests from interested applicants. The hackathon is part of the NIMASA Blue Economy Accelerator Programme, which aims to support innovation and entrepreneurship across maritime related industries. In a statement, NIMASA said Nigerians aged 18 and above could apply regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion or educational background.
“NIMASA is therefore urging Nigerian innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, developers, engineers, artisans, graduates and students to take advantage of the opportunity and submit their applications on the portal at no cost,” the agency said.
The National Innovation Hackathon is scheduled for December 8 to 10, 2026. It will focus on practical solutions to challenges affecting Nigeria’s maritime sector and opportunities within the blue economy. The 13 innovation tracks cover maritime technology and logistics, safety and security, green shipping, seafarer welfare, port digitisation, marine waste management, aquaculture, sustainable fisheries, ocean data and analytics, coastal protection, marine tourism, marine biotechnology and deep seabed mining technologies.
The programme is expected to connect innovators with industry stakeholders and potential investors while supporting the development of commercially viable solutions. Following the hackathon, selected ventures are expected to participate in a 12 week accelerator programme in the first quarter of 2027. The process will culminate in a Demo Day in the second quarter of 2027, where participants can present their solutions to potential investors and partners.
The removal of the age restriction expands access to the programme, allowing experienced professionals, researchers and entrepreneurs to participate alongside younger innovators. Nigeria’s blue economy offers opportunities in shipping, fisheries, marine tourism and port services. However, unlocking its potential requires investment, stronger local businesses and technologies that address operational challenges.
NIMASA’s initiative seeks to encourage more Nigerians to develop solutions for these industries. Its impact will ultimately depend on whether the programme helps participating ventures secure funding, commercialise their ideas and deliver measurable improvements to the maritime sector.
