What happens when young innovators are given the opportunity to think about one of the most important challenges facing their communities? With the 2026 Enugu Water Sustainability Summit (EWSS), the answer came through research, technology, creativity and fresh ideas. Under the theme “Water for All: Driving Innovation for Water Equality, Sustainability and Resilience”, the summit was organised by the Enugu State Ministry of Water Resources under the leadership of the Governor of Enugu State, H.E.
Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah and the Commissioner for Water Resources, Engr. Ben-Collins Ndu Jnr. , as a platform for exploring practical responses to the state’s water and sanitation challenges. The summit was supported by a range of partners, including UNICEF Nigeria as Development Partner, WaterAid, Blockchain Hub Africa as Technical Mentorship Partner and BlueAfric Media as Media, Publicity and Branding Partner.
A major part of the summit was its focus on youth participation through two competitions: the Hackathon Challenge and the Essay Competition.
The Hackathon called for young innovators to develop practical solutions around water access, conservation, distribution, monitoring and sanitation, while the Essay Competition invited participants to explore the topic “Water Inequality in Enugu: Can Innovation Bridge the Access Gap?” The response was significant, with over 100 hackathon applications and more than 130 essay applications from young people across Enugu State and beyond. Students, corps members and non-students participated, bringing different perspectives to the challenge.
The essay participants took part in the Green Tour at the Ministry of Water Resources Auditorium, where they presented their essays and the top 30 were selected. Meanwhile, hackathon teams pitched their projects at Demo Day, held at the physical hub of Blockchain Hub Africa on Okpara Avenue, Enugu. From the applicants, the top 10 teams advanced to the Grand Finale.