Edward Aziegbe, Reporter
Benin City—In a country where youth unemployment continues to rise and economic uncertainty pushes many toward survival-driven decisions, a different narrative is emerging from Benin City.
Blockchain UNIBEN Conference is not just hosting another tech event. It is engineering a mindset shift.
Founded in February 2022, Blockchain UNIBEN has grown into one of Nigeria’s most active campus-driven Web3 ecosystems. Now marking its 6th year anniversary, the community has empowered over 2,000 young Nigerians through Conferences 1.0 and 2.0, hosting more than 20 industry experts and producing tangible career and business outcomes across blockchain, DeFi, AI, and digital finance.
This year’s conference themed “Engineering Privacy-First Experiences,” taking place on February 28, 2026 in Benin City, further builds on that legacy with a sharper mission: shifting Africa from a consumer mindset to a creator economy.
The event convenes innovators, developers, founders, investors, policymakers, and global brands under one roof. It is a powerful convergence designed not around speculation, but around skill acquisition, infrastructure building, and global opportunity access.
Participants receive practical exposure to Web3 development, decentralized finance (DeFi), stablecoins, privacy systems, AI applications in business, and on-chain data innovation. Sessions also address how to secure remote Web3 jobs, access international grants, win hackathons, and plug into global ecosystems.
In a recent interview, Founder of Blockchain UNIBEN, Chinedu Hilary Azubuike, reflected on the measurable impact of previous editions:
“A young developer who attended last year’s summit is now a full-time Web3 engineer working remotely for an international protocol. An entrepreneur who sat in these seats has launched a blockchain-powered startup serving African users. A student who once approached crypto purely for airdrops now contributes to open-source projects and mentors others. These are not just attendees — they are builders.”
Beyond individual success stories, several startups, tech communities, and student-led initiatives have emerged directly from conference participation. What began as curiosity has matured into career pipelines.
The conference also strengthens ecosystem collaboration. Institutional and community partners include the Zano Africa, Stakeholders in Blockchain Association of Nigeria (SiBAN), Crypto Asset Buyers, Ibom Blockchain Experience (IBX), Women in DeFi, Google Developers Group, Magnitron, XRPL Africa, CryptoHills Academy and other industry stakeholders committed to advancing adoption and responsible innovation. These partnerships bridge local talent with international opportunities, ensuring participants are not isolated but globally connected.
At its core, Blockchain UNIBEN is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in advancing quality education, decent work and economic growth, industry innovation, and reduced inequalities. By equipping youths with digital and financial infrastructure skills, the initiative contributes to sustainable, self-driven employment rather than dependency.
The upcoming edition continues this trajectory. It is not positioned as hype. It is positioned as infrastructure.
As Africa’s Web3 narrative evolves, the question is no longer whether young people will participate—it is how they will participate. As consumers chasing short-term incentives, or as architects designing long-term systems?
Blockchain UNIBEN stands firmly on one side of that line.
This is where the consumer mindset ends.
This is where the creator economy begins.
It’s all about community empowerment.
About Blockchain UNIBEN
Blockchain UNIBEN, a blockchain club, is a community of crypto enthusiasts leveraging blockchain technology to create opportunities on campus at the University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.
Telegram: t.me/blockchainuniben1
Email: theblockchainuniben@gmail.com
Discover more from Crypto Asset Buyer
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
