The New Stage of web3 in Nigeria

🚀 1. Stronger Local Development & Talent Growth
Nigeria has become one of Africa’s fastest-growing Web3 hubs, contributing an estimated ~4 % of new global Web3 developers — one of the highest shares on the continent — and steadily growing a developer base year-on-year. �
CoinGeek +1
Local communities — from Lagos to northern regions like Arewa — are building grassroots movements to educate, onboard, and empower Nigerians around blockchain, crypto, and decentralised finance (DeFi). �
Arewa Crypto Community
📚 2. Education & Skills Training Scaling Up
Web3 education initiatives are expanding, including university workshops and blockchain curriculums (e.g., MEXC Foundation at Yobe State University) and Telegram-based training programs for young Nigerians. �
GlobeNewswire +1
These efforts are helping bridge skills gaps and prepare a new generation of builders, traders, developers, and entrepreneurs.
📅 3. Major Web3 Events & Conferences
Nigeria is hosting more and larger Web3-focused events, signalling ecosystem maturity:
Stellar West Africa Conference — focused on practical blockchain use cases and cross-chain collaboration. �
Stellar
Confluence 2025 (Ogbomoso) — a growing flagship Web3 meetup with workshops, hackathons, and community engagement beyond major cities. �
Coin Gabbar
Nigeria Blockchain & AI Week — interacts with broader tech sectors, showing how Web3 intersects with AI and innovation. �
Nigeria Blockchain and AI Week
Blockf3st Africa 2026 — a continent-level festival slated for Lagos, expanding Web3 reach across Africa. �
Blockfest Africa
These events help attract international speakers, investors, founders, and builders, pushing local projects into global conversations.
💰 4. Capital, Startup Activity & Market Dynamics
Nigerian Web3 startups have cumulatively raised over $130 million, particularly in stablecoin and cross-border payment solutions — a sign of increasing investor interest despite a wider funding pullback across Africa. �
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However, funding remains relatively under-sized compared to adoption, meaning many local builders still struggle to scale. �
TechCabal
🧠 5. Regulatory Shifts & Institutional Response
Nigeria recently updated its Investments and Securities Act (2025) to formally recognise digital assets as securities, potentially clarifying the legal landscape for crypto and Web3 products. �
TechCabal
Broader coordination efforts, such as the Blockchain Industry Coordinating Committee of Nigeria (BICCoN), aim to balance opportunity with consumer protection. �
BICCON
💡 6. Community Economic Impact & Real-World Use Cases
Homegrown Web3 communities like Superteam Nigeria have generated over $1 million in member earnings through bounties, grants, and remote work, showing that local engagement can translate directly into economic opportunity. �
Techpoint Africa
Web3 is also being increasingly tied to practical financial tools such as stablecoins, digital wallets, and merchant payments — making blockchain more tangible for everyday users. �
Dabafinance
📌 What This New Stage Looks Like
In summary, Nigeria’s Web3 ecosystem is shifting from early adoption and speculation toward:
✔️ talent and skills development
✔️ real community-driven innovation
✔️ more structured events and industry collaboration
✔️ ongoing regulatory clarification
✔️ growth in real economic activity and startup funding
This new stage is about moving past crypto buzz to building sustainable products, infrastructure, and human capital — positioning Nigeria as one of Africa’s Web3 leaders in the coming years. �