NIMASA removes age barriers for Blue Economy Hackathon

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has removed age restrictions for its National Innovation Hackathon 2026, part of the NIMASA Blue Economy Accelerator Programme (NIMASA-BEAP). The application portal, which opened on October 5, 2026, is now open to all Nigerians aged 18 and above, regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, or educational background.

The hackathon is scheduled for December 8–10, 2026, and aims to find solutions for Nigeria’s maritime and blue economy. It includes 13 innovation tracks such as maritime technology, green shipping, port digitisation, aquaculture, and marine biotechnology.

Successful participants can enter a 12-week accelerator programme from January to April 2027, receiving mentorship and industry exposure. The initiative will conclude with a National Demo Day in April 2027 to connect innovators with investors and industry stakeholders.