Tech Is Not Lagos-Only: What I Saw at Osun Tech Festival 2026

Osun is ushering in a new age of tech.

Not in the “everybody come and clap” way. In the way that makes you pause and realize something important: people are building around the world, and we’re now seeing that same energy here in Nigeria, in real time.

So the question becomes personal.

If young people can show up in Osogbo with this much hunger for growth, skills, and opportunity… why aren’t you?

The scene in Osogbo

Day 1 of Osun Tech Festival 2026 held at the Women and Children Development Initiative Foundation (WOCDIF) Event Centre, Osogbo, carried a clear theme: Homegrown Talent, Global Impact.

And you could feel it.

I saw enthusiasm and willingness to learn. I heard young people speak with confidence. I saw accomplishments that the outside world rarely credits Osun for. The simplest word for it is: splendiferous.

Over 1,000 people showed up, and the energy wasn’t passive. It was serious. The kind of seriousness that says, “We’re not here to just attend. We’re here to become something.”

“Imole.” When the Governor arrived

When Governor Ademola Adeleke arrived, the presence was felt.

Imole.

There are moments at events like this when the room changes. That was one of them.

I asked the Governor a simple question about Osun’s attitude towards tech talents and startups.

The answer was short, but it carried weight:

“Come on down already. We’re ready for you.”

That statement is an invitation to builders, founders, partners, and anyone watching from the outside.

But it’s also a promise.

And ecosystems do not grow on promises alone. They grow when opportunity becomes accessible, repeatable, and measurable.

Beyond speeches: the ecosystem signals that mattered

One thing that stood out was how the festival wasn’t only driven by government visibility.

A number of startups and companies supported the event, and that matters more than people realize.

Some of the names present (and backing the ecosystem) included:

• Payaza
• Vesti
• Lodgr (Osun-based)
• Xinnox Technologies (Osun-based)
• Xara (which started from Osun)

When local builders and companies put money, brand, and time behind a community event, it is usually a sign of belief.

Belief that there is a market.

Belief that there is talent.

Belief that this place can produce outcomes.

The real conversation: talent (and the problem we must admit)

Across conversations, one theme kept returning: talent.

Not just “talent development,” but the tougher part: talent retention.

Train people, and many leave.

This is not unique to Osun. It is a Nigeria-wide pattern. But in emerging ecosystems, the effect is sharper. When trained people exit too fast, companies struggle to scale, continuity breaks, and the ecosystem keeps restarting from scratch.

Electricity also came up (because in Nigeria, electricity always comes up). And customer acquisition is still a constant battle for local builders.

So yes, Osun is growing.

But growth needs systems that keep talent in motion without losing them to the next city the moment they get good.

Why this festival matters (beyond Osun)

Osun Tech Festival represents something bigger than an event.

It represents movement.

And it forces us to ask a question many people avoid:

Is Nigeria finally waking up?

Because if the building energy we celebrate “abroad” is now showing up in places like Osogbo, then the old mental model is broken.

The new model is simple:

Tech is no longer a Lagos-only story.

What to watch on Day 2

Day 2 is where outcomes become clearer. The bigger things I’m watching next:

• Hackathon winners (proof of problem-solving under pressure)
• Panel sessions on education and youth development (because the pipeline is the real product)

One line that captured the entire day

“Osun state is growing. It’s best for youths to take advantage of the growth now.”

That is the opportunity.

And also the warning.

Because growth windows do not stay open forever.

If you’re young, building, learning, or looking for a reason to take your next step, let this be it:

Start where you are.

Build what you can.

And stop waiting for the perfect city to give you permission.