By Prince Osuagwu, Hi-Tech Editor

The General Manager at Cavista Technologies Nigeria, Mrs Oyebola Morakinyo, has pioneered the Cavista tech hackaton, a CSR tech event which discovers youths of tertiary schools with a lot of talent in the tech ecosystem.

In this interview, she speaks on the growing army of Nigerian youths seriously emerging as a driving force behind any national tech transformation.

She also highlights how her programme is empowering youths, creating jobs and transforming lives amid tech-driven opportunities.

You are highly regarded as a leader of thought in the Nigeria tech ecosystem, can you highlight the biggest challenges facing the tech industry.

Strong infrastructure is the backbone of effective delivery. Infrastructures such as reliable electricity, keep operations running smoothly and stable, as well as affordable internet, which enables seamless communication and innovation.

With good road networks, faster and more cost‑efficient logistics are not only achievable, but more cost efficient and far reaching. When these systems work well, businesses can make timely deliveries on quality, and at reduced costs. But when we fail at having good infrastructure, they cause delays and increase the cost of business. Ultimately, the strength of infrastructure directly determines how well we serve our communities and at what price.

You’re running a CSR initiative which discovers tech savvy youths from tertiary institutions. Why is the interest tech- specific?

Indeed, we believe that empowering the youth is part of our social responsibility and our target audience are young Nigerians who are in tertiary institutions. Our goal is to ensure that we tap into the greatest resource we have in Nigeria, which is our youth. We are passionate about empowering our youths to be able to utilize technology to solve real life problems and catch them young. Which is why we run the hackathon every year. It is one of our flagship events annually.

We believe you can’t achieve national technology revolution without tech savvy youths at the centre of it. So we are trying to produce as much numbers as we can.

How many editions have you had and what are the criteria for participation?

So far, we have held three editions. The fourth edition will come up on February 21 and 22, 2026 and the number one criterion is that you must be an undergraduate in any higher institution located in Lagos State and its immediate environs. We are expecting applications from students in Lagos State University, University of Lagos, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Covenant University and the Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos. So long as you have technology skills and attend any of these schools, you are eligible to apply.

How impactful has the initiative been, so far?

It has indeed been very impactful. The team that won last year in 2024 are currently working with us and have been growing their skills and performing excellently as software developers. We have provided quite a number of internship opportunities to past participants of our Hackathon so that they can understudy our engineers and learn from how we operate.

We are also extending invitations for partnerships which has led to requests from organizations and influencers on how we can collaborate to attract more talents and provide jobs for them. Working with some Ministries like the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and The Creative Economy, we are confident that it will lead to positive exposure of what we are doing with the youth of our country. For the 2026 event, we shall collaborate with tech experts like Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, the Co-Founder of Andela and Future Africa who will be on ground to address and mentor the young hackers.

Give us a little background of Cavista Tech?

Cavista Technologies is a global leader in technology solutions and development services. With a worldwide team of skilled engineers and industry experts, we deliver 24/7 support to help organizations streamline their operations and accelerate project delivery.

From healthcare and fintech to agriculture and hospitality, we empower our partners with tailor-made solutions that drive digital transformation and create lasting impact.

Cavista Technologies was founded with the strategic intent to build a company for global scale. Cavista Technologies Nigeria officially began operations in 2020 as a dynamic tech enterprise focused on delivering innovative solutions across industries.

Your expansion history?

Following its launch, Cavista Technologies expanded rapidly. Cavista Tech India and Cavista Tech, The Philippines (Davao) were inaugurated, positioning the company as a trusted multinational hub for global client success, while Cavista Technologies Botswana officially opened in Gaborone on September 10, 2024, further strengthening its presence across continents.

We will continue to drive transformation through cutting-edge technology, global collaboration, and a commitment to excellence.

Can you share your medium term, lets say five years plan?

In five years, we see our business strengthening its presence and diversifying its offering as we continue on our growth journey. We grow both locally and globally, establishing and solidifying partnerships and collaboration with like-minded organizations and government, becoming the go-to brand for industry knowledge and thought leadership.

But, we will continue to strengthen our core pillars of people, partners and solutions, being the trusted and respected global solutions provider