360° MAAAS Hub Presents
Kids & Teens
STEAM Innovate
Fest 2026
Imagine It · Create It · In a World of Possibilities
An 11-day bootcamp across coding, robotics & IoT, design thinking, AI exploration, VR, and idea development; capped by a Day 12 hackathon, pitchathon, and grand finale.
- Kaduna State University
- Ages 9 – 18
- 11-Day Bootcamp
- Day 12 Grand Finale
61 young innovators in Edition 1 · 100 seats for Edition 2
A Festival That Sparks Innovation at Every Level
Here's what makes the 360° MAAAS Hub Bootcamp & STEAM Innovate Festival unmissable:
Who Can Join?
Ages 9 – 18
Beginner and Intermediate levels for each track
Program Duration
11-Day Bootcamp + Day 12 Grand Finale
Intensive hands-on learning, hackathon, and pitchathon
Venue
Kaduna State University
Bootcamp on campus · Grand Finale at the 1000-seater auditorium
Participation Capacity
100 Seats
Selected through a 3-phase application process
Learning Tracks
7 Tracks
Coding · Robotics & IoT · Design Thinking · Tech-Enabled Creativity · Problem-Solving · VR · AI
Recognition & Awards
Cash, Kits & Scholarships
Medals, certificates, laptops, robotics kits, incubation support, partner scholarships
Building Africa's Future, One Young Innovator at a Time
The 360° MAAAS Hub Bootcamp and STEAM Innovate Festival equips young people with the skills, confidence, and vision to grow in technology and entrepreneurship.
Empower Young Minds
Practical skills in coding, robotics, design, and idea development.
Foster Collaboration
Team-based challenges, mentorship, and peer learning.
Showcase Talent
Pitch, present, and celebrate innovation at the Main Event.
Create Opportunities
Connections to scholarships, sponsors, and incubation pathways.
Inspire Lifelong Learning
Position Africa's youth as global contributors in tech.
Why Join the 360° MAAAS Hub Bootcamp & STEAM Innovate Festival?
Whether you're a student, a supportive parent, an inspired teacher, or a sponsor, this festival has something powerful for you
Students (Ages 9 – 18)
Participants gain hands-on experience in coding, robotics, design and idea development while building confidence through presentations and prototype development. The program offers global exposure through expert-judged competitions, with outstanding participants receiving awards, scholarships, and mentorship opportunities that open doors to future success.
Parents
Your child will learn in a safe, inclusive, and structured environment where they develop problem-solving skills that open doors to exciting career opportunities. The program culminates in a proud celebration moment as you watch them confidently take the spotlight at the Innovate Festival showcase, demonstrating their newfound abilities and achievements.
Schools & Educators
Educators gain valuable exposure to innovative STEAM teaching methods and resources while building meaningful connections with mentors, tech hubs, and innovation centers. This collaborative approach empowers you to make lasting community impact by shaping tomorrow's innovators directly within your classrooms and communities
Partners & Sponsors
Position your brand as a champion of innovation and youth empowerment while building valuable connections with Africa's next generation of tech leaders. This partnership opportunity allows you to amplify your corporate social responsibility efforts by making a meaningful investment in education and empowerment that creates lasting community impact.
11 Days of Immersive Learning
A high-intensity bootcamp for innovators aged 9 – 18, hosted at Kaduna State University in August 2026. Teams are built around real sector challenges in Education, Health, Agriculture, Safety, Environment, and Community Development.
7 Learning Tracks
Coding
Programming foundations and building real applications that solve sector problems.
Robotics & IoT/Drone
Sensors, automation, drones, and connected devices: design, build, and program.
Design Thinking
Empathy mapping, problem framing, UX basics, and visual storytelling.
Tech-Enabled Creativity
Digital art, animation, and creative storytelling that uses technology as the medium.
Problem-Solving & Idea Development
From raw idea to MVP: pitch deck mastery, market sizing, and competitive analysis.
Virtual Reality
Immersive experiences and spatial computing: a hands-on intro to building in VR.
AI Exploration
Track-based AI projects: where machine intelligence augments each discipline.
Daily Rhythm
4 – 6 hours per day across 11 days, building toward the Day 12 Grand Finale.
Morning
STEAM learning sessions, workshops, and technical deep-dives
Afternoon
Task development, prototyping, mentor office hours
Evening
Creativity labs: digital arts, storytelling, design
Built on 20+ Mentors
The quality of the program rises and falls on its mentorship. Three tiers, by design.
1: Many
Workshops
Experts deliver core content: a Senior Data Scientist teaching data analysis, a Product Lead running Product Management 101, a Designer walking through Design Thinking.
1: Few
Office Hours
Technical mentors float between teams to unblock builds: debugging code, assembling hardware, cleaning data sets: especially during the hackathon phase.
1: One
Mock Pitches
Communication coaches work individually with teams on storytelling, financial basics, and delivery: so the pitch lands as hard as the prototype.
Day 12: The Grand Finale
Eleven days of focused build, capped by a single day where teams present, pitch, and showcase their work to industry judges, partners, and peers; and step into internship pathways.
Grand Finale Agenda
Spark Up Keynotes
Industry voices, panel discussions, and a Kids Panel with experts.
Build Sprint
Teams finalize prototypes with 360° MAAAS technical mentors on standby for debugging, hardware assembly, and data work.
Hackathon
Live team presentations of the prototypes built across the 11-day bootcamp.
Pitchathon
Idea pitches in front of a judging panel of investors, CTOs, and academics.
Exhibition & Judging
Evaluation on Innovation, Technical Complexity, Business Viability, and Presentation.
Awards & Networking
Prize distribution for Winners, Runners-up, Best Concept, and Best Prototype.
Internship Placement Conclave
A dedicated networking session connecting top performers with hiring partners.
Cultural Performances
Artistic showcases celebrating creativity alongside the technical work.
Competitions & Prizes
At the heart of the 360 MAAAS Hub Bootcamp and STEAM Innovate Festival are competitions designed to challenge creativity, test problem-solving skills, and celebrate bold ideas. These contests give young innovators the platform to shine and inspire others.
Competition Categories
Hackathon
Team-based builds addressing real-world challenges. Prototype + demo to a judging panel of investors, CTOs, and academics.
Pitchathon
Teams pitch ideas and prototypes. Evaluated on innovation, technical complexity, business viability, and presentation.
Robotics & Drone Competition
Hardware and IoT builds across sensors, automation, and aerial systems: judged on engineering and ingenuity.
Creative Design Challenge
Digital art, animation, and storytelling challenges blending creativity with tech.
Awards & Recognition
🥇 Winners, Runners-up, Best Concept, Best Prototype
💰 Cash prizes from partners
💻 Laptops, tablets, and robotics kits
🚀 Incubation support for winning ideas
🎓 Scholarships from academic and corporate partners
📜 Medals, certificates, and trophies for all finalists
Competition Day: Day 12 Grand Finale · August 2026
The Key Differentiator
The Internship Placement Pathway
A direct link to professional experience. The Fest doesn't end on Day 12: top performers step straight into project-based and shadowing roles with our corporate partners.
Criteria
Placement isn't limited to winners. It's based on demonstrated skill growth, attitude, and reliability observed by mentors over the two weeks.
Profile Matching
Junior Web Developer Intern · Data Analytics Intern · Junior Product Associate: project-based and shadowing roles suitable for high-school students.
The Outcome
A line on the CV and a professional reference, setting students apart for university applications and future jobs.
How the Journey Unfolds
From registration to the showcase, here's what to expect.
Registration Opens
May 28, 2026
Apply for your spot.
Orientation
Meet your cohort and mentors.
Learning Sessions
Hands-on training across all tracks.
Project Development
Build your idea with team support.
Showcase Day
August 14, 2026
Demo your project on stage.
Awards
Celebrate the winners.
Last Year's Highlights
A look back at the energy, ideas, and breakthroughs from Edition 1.
Read the Edition 1 ReportEvent Memories
Relive the moments: from first builds to final pitches.
Edition 1 by the Numbers
Honest numbers from 2025: the foundation we're building on for Edition 2.
Gallery
Swipe through moments from across the program.
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Registration Now Open
Secure your spot and become part of Innovate Stress Here Edition 2.
Registration closes July 6, 2026
How to Apply / Selection Process
Application Steps
Step 1: Online Application: Submit the registration form with student info, chosen track, and parent/guardian details.
Step 2: Sample Work Submission: Share a GitHub link, design sketch, short video pitch, or prototype idea so we can see how you think.
Step 3: Shortlisting: Applications are reviewed on creativity, problem understanding, potential, and our diversity & inclusion goals.
Selection Criteria
Ages 9 – 18, with Beginner and Intermediate levels for each track
Demonstrated curiosity in science, technology, or creative arts
Willingness to learn and collaborate with peers
Commitment to attend the full 11-day Bootcamp and Day 12 Grand Finale
Open to individuals and team applications
Bootcamp Participant Selection Form
Theme: "Future Innovators: Young Minds, Big Ideas, Creating Tomorrow Today"
Step 1 of 8: Personal Details
Voices from Edition 1
Hear from students, parents, and educators who lived the program.
"The program completely changed how I think about technology. Building real projects was my favorite experience."
David James
Student · Future Leaders Academy
"I made new friends, learned new skills, and gained confidence in creating things."
Sarah Johnson
Student · Bright Stars College
"I built my first robot here. Seeing it actually move was the proudest moment I've ever had."
Michael Adams
Student · Government Secondary School
"The mentors made coding feel easy and fun. I left with the confidence to keep building on my own."
Aisha Muhammed
Student · Crystal Academy
Partners & Sponsors
We're proud to partner with organizations that share our vision of empowering young innovators.
Apply for STEAM Innovate Fest 2026
One festival, hundreds of young innovators, and a community that keeps building. Step in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Got questions? We've got answers. Find everything you need to know about the STEAM Innovate Fest.