By Idowu Addison
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has widened the search for home-grown solutions to Nigeria’s maritime and blue economy challenges, scrapping the age restriction for its 2026 National Innovation Hackathon.
The initiative, organised under the NIMASA Blue Economy Accelerator Programme (NIMASA-BEAP), will now accommodate all Nigerians aged 18 and above, following widespread demands for broader participation.
NIMASA said the removal of the age barrier was aimed at giving more Nigerians the opportunity to contribute innovative ideas capable of unlocking opportunities and addressing challenges across the maritime sector.
The application portal, which opened Monday, is open to innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, developers, engineers, artisans, graduates and students, irrespective of gender, ethnicity, religion or educational background.
The agency urged interested Nigerians to take advantage of the opportunity and submit their applications free of charge.
The National Innovation Hackathon is scheduled for December 8–10, 2026, and is expected to identify practical and scalable solutions capable of driving innovation, investment and growth in Nigeria’s maritime and wider blue economy.
The Hackathon features 13 innovation tracks, covering areas including maritime technology and logistics; maritime safety, surveillance and security; green shipping and vessel decarbonisation; seafarer welfare; port digitisation; marine waste management; aquaculture and sustainable fisheries; coastal and artisanal fishing; ocean data and analytics; nature-based coastal defence; marine tourism; marine biotechnology; and deep seabed mining technologies and research.
Successful innovators will have the opportunity to progress into the 12-week NIMASA-BEAP Accelerator Programme, running from January to April 2027, where selected ventures will receive structured mentorship, industry exposure and venture-development support.
The programme will culminate in a National Demo Day in April 2027, providing opportunities for engagement with investors, industry partners, potential customers and other stakeholders.
