More than 5,000 techies, students, entrepreneurs, creators, remote workers and digital innovators across 8 states in Nigeria have received and activated free MTN routers through an ongoing partnership between MTN Nigeria and The Block Hive, as the initiative enters its final phase.
The programme, which was launched early September to reduce internet-access barriers for young people participating in the digital economy, has attracted more than 7,500 applications from across the Nation.
The rollout has so far reached beneficiaries across eight states and 16 locations, with router distributions and activations taking place mainly through The Block Hive’s tech community network, selected community locations and activities in Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Delta, Rivers and Benue states connected to the Southeast Blockchain & Games Week (SEBGW) 2026.
The initiative was designed around a simple challenge: while many young people have the skills, devices and ambition to participate in technology and remote work, the cost and reliability of internet access can still prevent them from fully taking advantage of those opportunities.
Through the partnership, all beneficiaries have received MTN 4G and 5G router devices at no upfront cost, with beneficiaries required only to subscribe to the applicable MTN data plans attached to their respective router packages.
From an Initiative to a Regional Rollout
The programme began following an engagement between MTN’s South-East team and The Block Hive, a technology and coworking hub established by Ginakev Labs in Nsukka, Enugu State.
At the time the partnership was announced by Kevin Chibuoyim (popularly known as Ezemmuo Blockchain), the CEO of Ginakev Labs, The Block Hive and MTN set out to make up to 5,000 router devices available to young people across the region.
The response has since gone beyond the initial target for the beneficiary pipeline, with more than 7,500 applications received and over 5,000 people already reached through the distribution and activation process.
The rollout has also provided a practical demonstration of how corporate resources can be channelled through existing grassroots technology communities to reach people who may otherwise be difficult to reach through conventional programmes.
The Block Hive has served as the central coordination points for the initiative, leveraging its existing community, partnerships and physical infrastructure to connect applicants with MTN’s distribution and activation network.
Building Beyond Internet Access
For The Block Hive, the MTN free router initiative is part of a broader ecosystem approach to digital inclusion rather than an isolated connectivity programme.
The Block Hive is a coworking space and tech hub designed to provide developers, entrepreneurs, students, creators and remote workers with access to reliable power, internet connectivity, workspaces, training infrastructure, events and community.
The hub operates as part of the wider Ginakev Labs ecosystem, which focuses on building technology infrastructure, communities and initiatives around digital education, entrepreneurship, innovation and youth development.
One of its major programmes is Ginakev Digital Academy (GIDA)™, the education and skills-development arm of Ginakev Labs.
Since 2020, GIDA has trained more than 10,000 young people through programmes covering digital skills, technology, blockchain, entrepreneurship and related areas, with its scholarship programmes supported by the Ginakev Foundation.
The Academy’s model goes beyond training by connecting learners to practical opportunities, communities and infrastructure needed to continue building after completing their programmes.
With the MTN router programme now reaching thousands of young people, The Block Hive and GIDA are also preparing to connect members of the growing community to its upcoming digital-skills bootcamp, with fully funded scholarship opportunities.
The goal is to ensure that increased access to connectivity can translate into increased access to skills, employment, entrepreneurship and participation in the digital economy.
Ginakev Labs’ Broader Social Impact Ecosystem
The initiative also forms part of the wider work of Ginakev Labs and the Ginakev Foundation, which operate across technology, human-capacity development and climate-focused initiatives.
Through its human-capacity development ecosystem, the Ginakev Foundation has since 2020 supported digital skills development, scholarships, tech communities and infrastructure for young people through GIDA.
Its work also extends into climate action and regenerative systems through initiatives such as OURCLIMA (Operation for Ultimate Regeneration & Climate Action) and Ginakev Farms, which focus on climate literacy, renewable energy advocacy, tree planting, regenerative agriculture, food security and ecosystem restoration.
The broader approach is built around the idea that youth opportunity, technology infrastructure, education and sustainable development are interconnected challenges that require practical, community-level interventions.
More Than a Router
For the thousands of people who have already received the devices, the significance of the initiative goes beyond the physical router.
Reliable internet access can mean the ability to attend an online class, apply for a job, work remotely, participate in a hackathon, build a software product, access global opportunities, run a digital business or simply remain connected to communities and resources that would otherwise be difficult to reach.
That is the larger opportunity The Block Hive says it hopes to continue building around the programme.
Routers Distributed Alongside Southeast Blockchain & Games Week
One of the major channels through which the initiative reached beneficiaries was the Southeast Blockchain & Games Week 2026, a multi-city tech, blockchain and gaming event held across the nation and convened by Kevin Chibuoyim Okoye.
SEBGW 2026 brought together developers, technology communities, entrepreneurs, students, gamers, ecosystem builders and other participants through activities across South-East Nigeria, culminating in a major finale in Enugu.
It was a further advancement on the ETH Enugu 2025 popup city, builder residency and Conference organised in 2025 by by Kevin Chibuoyim (Ezemmuo Blockchain), putting Enugu and the entire Nation in the spotlight as first Ethereum Conference in Nigeria.
A significant number of applicants were able to access and activate their routers during the event activities, including the Enugu finale, making the initiative one of the practical infrastructure components attached to the broader effort to strengthen participation in the region’s digital economy.
The router programme builds on The Block Hive’s wider approach of combining physical infrastructure, internet access, community, learning and opportunity for people building careers and businesses in technology.
Final Collection Phase Underway
With more than 5,000 beneficiaries already reached, The Block Hive and MTN are now working to identify applicants who are still yet to collect their devices.
Applicants who have not received their routers and are within the participating rollout locations are being directed to dedicated state WhatsApp groups, where outstanding beneficiaries can indicate their details for the final phase of distribution and activation.
The remaining lists are being compiled for submission to MTN ahead of another round of distribution and activation.
The programme, however, was limited to eight states and 16 designated locations. Applicants who registered from outside the participating locations may therefore not have been covered by this particular rollout, although The Block Hive says it hopes to facilitate broader access through future opportunities and additional capacity.
MORE ABOUT GINAKEV LABS
Ginakev Labs is a technology and innovation company focused on building infrastructure, communities and initiatives that support digital education, entrepreneurship, technology and youth development. In addition, it runs a non-profit NGO arm called Ginakev Foundation.
Its ecosystem currently includes Ginakev Digital Academy (GIDA) and The Block Hive.
About GIDA:
Ginakev Digital Academy (GIDA) is the education and skills-development arm of Ginakev Labs, focused on equipping young people with practical digital and emerging technology skills.
Since its establishment, GIDA has trained over 10,000 young people through digital skills, blockchain, technology and entrepreneurship programmes (with everyone getting fully-funded scholarships by Ginakev Foundation since 2020).
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Website: www.gida.academy | Email: officialgida1@gmail.com
About The Block Hive:
The Block Hive is a co-working space and tech hub based in Nsukka, Enugu State, providing reliable power, internet connectivity, workspaces, training facilities and community infrastructure for developers, entrepreneurs, students, creators and remote workers.
Follow on Socials: X (Twitter) | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | WhatsApp | Youtube | Tiktok
Website: www.theblockhive.org | Email: reachtheblockhive@gmail.com
About Ginakev Foundation:
Ginakev Foundation is the non-profit social impact arm of Ginakev Labs, dedicated to solving interconnected global challenges through human capacity development, digital innovation, climate action and sustainable systems.
We believe some of the most pressing challenges facing African communities today — particularly youth unemployment and the climate crisis — are deeply interconnected and therefore require solutions that address people, opportunity and the environment together.
Since 2020, the Foundation has pursued a systems-based approach to creating measurable social, economic and environmental impact, supporting communities through skills development, opportunity linkage, ecosystem growth, climate advocacy and the development of sustainable systems.
Our work operates across two interconnected ecosystems:
- Human Capacity Development: Through Ginakev Digital Academy (GIDA) and related initiatives, including The Block Hive, we give Tech scholarships equipping young people with practical digital skills, tools, infrastructure and opportunities to thrive in the digital economy.
- Climate Action & Regenerative Systems: Through OURCLIMA (Operation for Ultimate Regeneration & Climate Action), we drive climate literacy, tree planting, renewable energy advocacy and geospatial approaches to climate data and ecosystem restoration. In addition, through Ginakev Farms, we apply regenerative agroforestry as a practical model for food security, long-term carbon capture and ecological conservation.
Through its work across the technology and climate ecosystems, Ginakev Foundation continues to support solutions that empower people, strengthen communities and contribute to a more sustainable future.
Impact Report: Ginakev Labs/Foundation’s Impact 2020-2026
Email: ginakevlabs@gmail.com | X (Twitter): x.com/ginakevlabs
