By Seun Ibiyemi
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has removed the age restriction for its National Innovation Hackathon 2026, opening participation to all Nigerians aged 18 and above as it intensifies efforts to attract innovative solutions to challenges in the maritime and blue economy sectors.
The agency announced the change following widespread demand from Nigerians seeking to participate in the initiative under the NIMASA Blue Economy Accelerator Programme (NIMASA-BEAP).
In a statement issued on Thursday, October 8, 2026, NIMASA said the application portal, which opened on October 5, was now accessible to eligible Nigerians regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion or educational background.
The agency urged innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, developers, engineers, artisans, graduates and students to take advantage of the opportunity to develop solutions capable of transforming Nigeria’s maritime industry.
Applications are free, with interested participants required to submit their entries through the official portal before the November 13, 2026 deadline.
The National Innovation Hackathon, scheduled for December 8 to 10, 2026, is designed to identify and promote practical solutions to challenges and emerging opportunities across Nigeria’s maritime and blue economy.
The programme features 13 innovation tracks covering maritime technology and logistics, maritime safety and security, green shipping, vessel decarbonisation, seafarer welfare, port digitisation and marine waste management.
Other focus areas include aquaculture and sustainable fisheries, coastal and artisanal fishing, ocean data and analytics, nature-based coastal defence, marine tourism, marine biotechnology, and deep seabed mining technologies and research.
The broad range of categories is intended to attract ideas spanning technology, environmental sustainability, maritime operations, marine science and commercial development.
By removing the age restriction, NIMASA said it was widening access to the programme and creating opportunities for more Nigerians with relevant ideas and technical skills to participate.
Beyond the hackathon, successful innovators will have the opportunity to progress into the 12-week NIMASA-BEAP Accelerator Programme, scheduled to run from January to April 2027.
Selected ventures will receive structured mentorship, industry exposure and venture-development support to help turn their ideas into commercially viable solutions.
The programme will culminate in a National Demo Day in April 2027, where participating innovators will have opportunities to engage with investors, industry partners, prospective customers and other stakeholders.
The agency said the initiative was designed to go beyond a conventional competition by establishing a pipeline through which promising Nigerian innovations could be developed, commercialised and connected to opportunities in the marine and blue economy.
READ ALSO:FG woos investors for power sector expansion
The expansion of eligibility comes as Nigeria seeks to harness its maritime resources to support economic diversification, entrepreneurship and private-sector investment.
The blue economy encompasses economic activities linked to oceans, seas, inland waterways and marine resources, including shipping, fisheries, aquaculture, marine tourism and offshore-related services.
NIMASA-BEAP is intended to encourage the development of local solutions that can address operational challenges, improve maritime safety, support environmental sustainability and create new business opportunities.
The agency called on Nigerians with innovative ideas and solutions to apply before the closing date.
Application deadline: Friday, November 13, 2026.
Application portal: https://nbeap.nimasa.gov.ng/
