In Maiduguri, a Regional Summit Taps Youthful Energy to Reimagine Northeast Nigeria Through Innovation and Ideas
By Co-Development Hub Editorial Team
Maiduguri, Nigeria – 1st May, 2025
On a warm spring weekend in Maiduguri, hundreds of young innovators, creatives, and changemakers from across Nigeria’s northeast gathered under one roof—and many others across the city—to reignite a spirit that has long defined the region: innovation.
In commemoration of the World Creativity and Innovation Week 2025, the Northeast Creativity and Innovation Summit, hosted by Co-Development Hub, brought together a new generation of thinkers and doers for two days of hands-on workshops, strategic dialogue, and creative showcases. From across the six northeastern states, they came to ask—and answer—one bold question: What if the future of the Northeast is built not on what we lost, but on what we can imagine?
“We’re not just talking about creativity—we’re activating it,” declared Muhammad Bukar Umara, founder of Co-Development Hub, in his opening remarks.
A City-Wide Learning Ecosystem
Day One transformed Maiduguri into a living, breathing campus of creativity. A Business Innovation Pitch Competition launched the day at Co-Dev Hub, followed by eight carefully curated workshops and masterclasses held across six partner innovation centers: Splash Innovation Hub, Innotech, Rhino Innovation Lab, Bitako Technology, Development Hub, and Visual Voyage, along with virtual breakout rooms.
Participants explored some of the most in-demand topics of today’s digital and creative economy:
• Artificial Intelligence for Productivity and Career Development
• Remote Work and Positioning for Global Tech Opportunities
• Digital Storytelling and Filmmaking
• Creative Industry Trends and Emerging Opportunities
The decentralized format was intentional. “We wanted the whole city to feel like part of something bigger,” said one of the organizers. “It’s not just a summit. It’s a movement.”
Day Two: Big Ideas, Bold Visions
On Day Two, the summit reached a crescendo at the Muhammadu Indimi Hall, University of Maiduguri, where the conversations turned more strategic and high-level—but no less inspiring.
Delivering one of the standout keynotes, Prof. Mohammed Dauda, Director of the Abdulsamad Rabiu Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, reminded the audience that the region has always been a cradle of ingenuity.
“The Kanem-Bornu Empire was an innovative society long before the term even existed,” he said. “Our history tells us that creativity runs deep in the veins of this region. Our youth must channel that heritage to build the future.”
Another keynote was delivered by Mrs. Fatima Yerima Askira, Founder of BOWDI and Proprietress of Fayass Preparatory School, who spoke on “Reimagining the Northeast: Creativity and Innovation as the Catalyst for Recovery and Growth.” Her speech called on young people—especially women—to own the transformation they seek.
Global perspectives were also on display. Mr. Muyiwa Fasakin, a globally recognized creative intelligence expert and member of the International Advisory Board of World Creativity and Innovation Week, declared the Maiduguri summit as “the largest celebration of creativity and innovation on the continent in over three years.” He called the event a global case study in “what happens when grassroots passion meets institutional support.”
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri applauded Co-Dev Hub for its role in bridging education and innovation, promising institutional support for similar future engagements.
Government Endorsements and Policy Connections
A speech on behalf of the Vice President of Nigeria, delivered by Comrade Mahmud Muhammad, Special Assistant on Northeast Domestic Affairs, reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to youth-led innovation. He emphasized alignment with flagship programs like iDICE (Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises) and 3MTT (3 Million Technical Talent) as proof that innovation is now national policy.
“The Vice President is deeply encouraged by how this summit focuses on practical innovation—digital transformation, creative problem-solving, and tech for social impact,” said his representative.
Tech, Health, and Urban Futures: Multisectoral Panels
A standout panel brought together top government innovators:
• Dr. Mohammed Goje, Executive Secretary of Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (YOSEMA)
• Engr. Adam Bukar Bababe, Executive Secretary of Borno Geographic Information Service (BOGIS)
• Dr. Saleh Abba, Executive Secretary of the Borno Contributory Healthcare Management Agency
The trio offered deep insights into the practical use of tech and data systems in disaster response, urban development, and healthcare delivery. From geospatial innovation to digital health platforms, their conversation revealed how public sector transformation is possible—even in resource-constrained settings—when driven by innovation.
The Showcase: Products, Prototypes, and Performances
Throughout the day, dozens of local startups, artists, and makers shared their work through product demos, creative showcases, and a series of Innovation Awards. A startup from Adamawa showcased a locally-built mobile learning app. A digital artist from Bauchi animated Kanuri oral histories using AI. A filmmaker from Yobe screened a short film on healing and memory.
One judge captured the mood perfectly: “What we’ve seen here isn’t potential—it’s performance. These young people are already building the future we keep talking about.”
More Than a Summit—A Signal
As the curtain fell on the Northeast Creativity and Innovation Summit 2025, one sentiment echoed across conversations: this was not an event—it was a beginning.
“We are not waiting for opportunity to arrive,” Muhammad Bukar Umara said. “We are building it. Here. Now. With our own hands and our own stories.”
From the minds of digital dreamers to the hands of creative builders, Maiduguri became a launchpad not just for ideas, but for action. The Northeast is not just reimagining its future—it’s creating it.
