For five days, Delta State’s capital transformed into a gathering point for innovators, founders, tech enthusiasts, builders, and ecosystem players from across the South-South. What began as an ambitious idea ended as a defining moment, the clearest signal yet that Delta State is ready to position itself within Nigeria’s broader digital future.
From panel discussions to founder showcases, keynote sessions, exhibitions, workshops, and a high-energy pitchfest, Delta Tech Week delivered what many who attended described simply as “a total package.” And for those who have quietly watched Delta’s bubbling tech communities struggle for visibility, this event felt long overdue.
But perhaps the most significant outcome of this inaugural edition was not the sessions or the awards; it was the realisation that Delta State already has a tech ecosystem; it only needed a platform to bring everyone together.
A Gathering of Ambition, Experience, and Vision
The event kicked off with an atmosphere that surprised even the organisers. The hall was filled with developers, product designers, founders, creative technologists, fintech operators, students, policymakers, and digital entrepreneurs, an impressive turnout for a state many still mistakenly assume has little tech activity.
Conversations flowed easily. Panels explored the future of digital payments, the rise of tech-enabled commerce, cybersecurity, innovations in logistics, and the new opportunities emerging in the South-South. The room buzzed with ideas, arguments, strategies, and questions, the kind of healthy intellectual tension that marks a truly growing ecosystem.
It was a space where experienced players and newcomers sat side by side, aligned by one belief: Delta State’s digital economy has begun, and its future can no longer be ignored.
Keynotes, Panels, and a Pitchfest That Stole the Show
If Day 1 set the tone, Day 2 cemented DeltaTech Week’s reputation as a serious ecosystem event.
The sessions were vibrant, insightful, and diverse, from deep-dive keynotes by industry leaders to practical knowledge-sharing panels. In attendance were notable brands like Glo, represented by its regional manager, Nnamdi Honnah; Interswitch; OliliFood; VentAfrica; and a growing number of local startups.
One of the biggest highlights was the pitchfest, where young innovators showcased products spanning fintech, logistics, education, enterprise tools, and consumer apps. The quality of pitches surprised visiting investors and deeply impressed participants.
It became clear that Delta State is not short of talent; it simply needed visibility.
A Week That Validated Builders: Voices From the Winners
Awards presented during the event went to standout startups and contributors, and the reactions from founders revealed what this moment meant to the ecosystem.
Hizo Tech’s Perspective: “This proves our work matters.”
One of the companies recognised during Delta Tech Week was Hizo Tech, a rising player building digital solutions which help Nigerians spend Naira across African businesses. CTO Pere Hizo described the award as a powerful validation:
“This award means a great deal to us. It’s a recognition of the work we’ve been doing quietly for years building, scaling, and proving that innovation from Delta State can compete anywhere.
Going forward, this motivates us to do even more. Our goal is to become a leading pan-African tech company connecting businesses and consumers through seamless digital solutions.”
For Hizo Tech, the event did more than recognise past work; it renewed their commitment to building boldly, building locally, and scaling across the continent.
OliliFood’s CEO: “Quality innovation has no hiding place.”
Ikechukwu Nweze, CEO of OliliFood, one of Delta’s most successful digital brands, spoke passionately about what the award meant for the local ecosystem:
“This award shows that tech startups are finally being recognised in Delta State, and that when you build quality products, people notice there’s no hiding place.
For years, many believed tech innovation didn’t come from here, but that’s not true. We have founders, builders, and innovators doing incredible work. What we need now is more support, more funding, and more visibility.”
For OliliFood, the recognition was an encouragement to keep pushing boundaries and proving that world-class products can emerge from the South-South.
The Organisers’ Vision: “Delta Tech Week is now an annual festival.”
Perhaps the most revealing perspective came from Mr Emma Ukwadiachi, member of the organising committee of Delta Tech Week. He shared the original vision behind the event and the bigger direction for the future.
“Delta Tech Week was created to unify the tech ecosystem in the state. There are many innovators, founders, and developers doing great work here, but they often operate in isolation. We needed a platform where we could recognise each other, connect, collaborate, and showcase what’s happening in Delta.
This event wasn’t just a conference; it was a celebration of what is already happening and a reminder of what’s possible.”
He emphasised that what people saw this year was only the beginning.
“Next year will be even bigger not just a conference, but a full tech festival. We want exhibitions, networking sessions, founder showcases, workshops, and more. Planning will start early because Delta Tech Week is now an annual flagship event.”
His words signalled a turning point that tech in the ecosystem now has a home, an identity, and a recurring platform to strengthen its roots.
A Week of Discoveries: What Delta Tech Week Revealed
Across the sessions, conversations, and pitches, three key themes emerged:
1. There Is a Vibrant Tech Community in Delta, And It’s Growing Fast
From students learning to code to founders pitching investor-ready products, Delta Tech Week exposed a pipeline of talent that has been building quietly but consistently.
Many attendees spoke about how they had been looking for a central community for years, a place where ideas, mentorship, and collaboration could happen.
This event provided exactly that.
2. Local Startups Are Solving Real Problems
The startups showcased were not building fantasy products; they were building solutions for transportation, food delivery, payments, SME operations, logistics, healthcare, and digital access.
Delta’s innovators are grounded in reality. They understand their environment deeply. And because of that, their solutions are practical, scalable, and culturally relevant.
3. Delta State Is Ready to Enter Nigeria’s Big Tech Conversations
With other states dominating tech headlines, Delta is now stepping into the spotlight not as a competitor but as a contributor with its own strengths.
Delta Tech Week showed that the state has:
- a growing pool of tech talent
- active startups
- brands willing to support innovation
- an emerging investor presence
- and a community hungry for growth
The foundation exists, and with proper structure, Delta could become one of the most dynamic tech hubs in the South-South.
Looking Ahead
The organisers made one thing clear: this first edition is only the beginning. Plans for the next edition include:
- A state-wide tech festival
- Bigger exhibitions
- More startup showcases
- Stronger investor participation
- More partnerships with corporates
- Broader community involvement
- Workshops and upskilling sessions
- Dedicated programs for women in tech
- And a larger venue to accommodate growth
There is also a strong desire to amplify Delta State’s presence nationally and on the African tech map.
As Mr Emma noted:
“We want the world to know that something real is happening in Delta State. Next year, we want more founders, more investors, more innovators. This is an ecosystem worth watching.”
Delta Tech Week Was a Beginning, Not A Peak
For many who attended, Delta Tech Week felt like a “coming-of-age” moment, a collective realisation that the future of tech in the South-South will not be shaped by Lagos alone.
Delta has builders.
Delta has ideas.
Delta has ambition.
Delta has people who care enough to try.
What it needed was a platform.
Now it has one.
If the energy, conversations, and commitments made during the week are anything to go by, Delta Tech Week is set to become an annual milestone not just for the state but for the entire regional tech ecosystem.
And for those who missed this year’s experience?
The next edition is already loading bigger, louder, more intentional, and absolutely unmissable.
Read Also: https://techsudor.com/delta-tech-week-a-growing-ecosystem-finding-its-voice/
