Technology-focused non-governmental organisation, TalentMakers Foundation has reaffirmed its commitment to youth empowerment and digital inclusion as it concludes TechSpark Conference 2026, which brought together secondary school students across Rivers State.
Held in Port Harcourt, it served as a platform to spark curiosity, build digital awareness, and expose young learners to emerging opportunities within the global technology ecosystem.
The event attracted key stakeholders from government, education, and the technology sector, reinforcing a shared commitment to preparing young people for participation in the digital economy.
Representing the Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area, Chidi Lloyd, the Chief of Staff, Peter Ugari, commended TalentMakers Foundation for prioritising technology education and youth development, particularly within underserved communities.
He reiterated the administration’s commitment to ensuring that students in rural communities are not excluded from critical conversations around technology and innovation. He further disclosed ongoing plans for collaboration between the Local Government Council and TalentMakers Foundation to provide ICT training opportunities for residents, aimed at strengthening digital literacy and employability.
In her address, the Executive Director of TalentMakers Foundation, Barr. Omotoyosi Edeboh, explained that the TechSpark initiative was born out of a desire to spark curiosity in young minds and inspire them to develop solutions tailored to challenges within their immediate environment.
She emphasised that the foundation’s broader mission is to ensure that young people in underserved communities are not left behind in the rapidly evolving digital economy.
According to her, “Innovation begins when young people are exposed to the right knowledge, encouragement, and opportunities to act on their ideas.”
Barr. Edeboh further urged members of the public, development partners, and stakeholders to look closely at the activities of the foundation, noting that TalentMakers Foundation will continue to roll out more programmes targeted at equipping young people with relevant digital skills and creating pathways for them to access opportunities within the digital economy.
Delivering the keynote address, Saifur-Rahman Yusuf, a Technical Project Manager, encouraged students to translate ideas into action, stressing that innovation is most impactful when ideas are implemented step by step rather than remaining theoretical.
He noted that meaningful change in society often begins with simple, consistent actions taken by individuals willing to solve problems within their immediate environment.
Other speakers at the conference include Sophia Nei, Founder of Females in Gaming Network (FIGN), who engaged students
through interactive sessions and encouraged them to embrace experiential learning as a pathway to growth and innovation; Barr. Ochibry Promise, a technology lawyer; Fatima Alhassan, Women Techmakers Ambassador and Community Manager at GDG Gwagwalada; and Qahharat Ibrahim, a Software Quality Assurance Engineer.
Across their various sessions, the speakers exposed participants to diverse opportunities within the technology ecosystem, while offering practical insights into career development, digital skills acquisition, and personal growth.
Students who participated in the conference described the experience as transformative, noting that it broadened their understanding of how technology can be used to address challenges within their communities. Many also expressed appreciation for the exposure to different career pathways in tech and the clarity it provided regarding their future aspirations.
