Our cities are growing faster than our systems can handle. Here’s how a 2-day event in July 2026 could change everything.
Every year, millions of Nigerians move into cities that were never designed for them. Lagos roads buckle under traffic that no planner anticipated. Abuja estates sit half-finished as project timelines spiral out of control. Bridges age without inspection. Buildings rise without proper documentation. And somewhere in the middle of all this, thousands of architects, engineers, and construction professionals are still doing their most critical work with outdated tools — or none at all.
The Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry is one of the most important sectors in any growing economy. Yet it remains one of the least digitized. While healthcare adopted telemedicine, finance embraced fintech, and logistics optimised with AI routing, construction largely stayed behind. That gap is now dangerous.
The good news? The tools to close that gap finally exist. And a community of forward-thinking professionals is gathering this July to figure out how to use them.
Introducing the COSTECH Annual SmartCity Hackathon & Workshop 2026
COSTECH — one of Nigeria’s leading technology and innovation-driven organisations — is hosting its Annual SmartCity Hackathon & Workshop, and the 2026 edition is shaping up to be the most important one yet.
- Date: July 22nd – 23rd, 2026
- Format: 2-day in-person hackathon and workshop
- Theme: AI Shaping the Next Era of AEC — Beyond BIM
- Register: www.costechcomputers.com.ng/smartcity
This is not a regular conference. This is a career-changing, hands-on, problem-solving experience built for professionals who want to be on the right side of the AI revolution in construction and urban development.
Why “Beyond BIM” Matters Right Now
Building Information Modelling (BIM) was the last great leap forward for the AEC industry. It moved construction from 2D drawings to intelligent 3D models that could simulate, coordinate, and document an entire building lifecycle. That was transformative.
But BIM alone is no longer enough.
Today, artificial intelligence is doing things that BIM never could:
- Predicting structural failures before they happen using real-time sensor data
- Automating code compliance checks that used to take weeks of manual review
- Generating design options in seconds based on site constraints and client briefs
- Optimising material procurement across complex supply chains
- Monitoring construction progress using drone footage and computer vision
The firms and professionals who learn to work with these tools now will define the next generation of African cities. Those who don’t risk being left behind entirely.
The theme Beyond BIM is not a slogan. It is a challenge — and an invitation.
What to Expect Over 2 Days
Day 1 – The Hackathon
This is where ideas become solutions.
Teams will be challenged to design, prototype, and pitch AI-powered solutions for specific problems in Nigeria’s built environment. The hackathon format rewards creativity, collaboration, and execution under pressure — skills that matter enormously in real-world AEC projects.
Whether you come with a team or as an individual, the SmartCity Hackathon is structured to help you find your people, solve real problems, and leave with something to show for it.
Day 2 – Workshops and Skill-Building Sessions
The second day is designed to bring participants up to speed on the most relevant AI tools reshaping the AEC space. Whether you are an architect who has never touched a machine learning tool, or an engineer already experimenting with computational design, there will be sessions calibrated to your level.
Expect deep dives into practical applications: AI-assisted design workflows, smart building systems, data-driven project management, and the role of digital twins in urban planning. These are not abstract lectures — they are practical sessions with real tools.
Who Should Attend?
This event is built for:
- Architects and urban designers looking to integrate AI into their practice
- Civil and structural engineers exploring computational tools and smart infrastructure
- Construction project managers who want to leverage data for better outcomes
- BIM coordinators and technologists ready to go beyond what current tools offer
- Tech professionals interested in applying their skills to the built environment
- Students and early-career professionals who want to build their network and accelerate their growth
If you work at the intersection of cities, technology, and the future — this event is for you.
Why This Event Is Different
There are plenty of conferences in Nigeria where people sit in rows, watch slideshows, and collect certificates. The COSTECH SmartCity Hackathon & Workshop is deliberately not that.
It is an active, immersive, career-enhancing experience. Over two days, participants don’t just learn about what AI can do — they use it. They collaborate across disciplines. They compete. They build real things.
Previous editions have produced connections that turned into job offers, project partnerships, and new businesses. The 2026 edition, with its sharper focus on AI and its direct application to Nigeria’s growing cities, promises to be the most impactful yet.
The Bigger Picture: Why Smart Cities in Nigeria Cannot Wait
Nigeria will add more than 100 million people to its cities by 2050. That means hundreds of thousands of new buildings, roads, bridges, water systems, and energy grids need to be planned, designed, and built. The stakes are enormous.
Getting this right requires a new generation of AEC professionals who are fluent in both the technical language of construction and the emerging language of AI. It requires tools that can process complexity at scale. It requires communities of practice where ideas are tested and shared.
The COSTECH SmartCity Hackathon & Workshop exists to build exactly that community — one cohort at a time.
How to Register
Registration is currently open. Spots are limited, and this event fills quickly.
Register here: www.costechcomputers.com.ng/smartcity
You can also join the Zoom information session at: https://s.zoom.us/m/bPlTTMwr5
The cities Nigerians will live in 20 years from now are being designed today — by people making decisions with the tools and knowledge they currently have. The question is not whether AI will reshape the AEC industry. It already is. The question is whether Nigeria’s built environment professionals will be the ones leading that transformation, or simply watching it happen.
Two days in July could make a real difference in which side of that line you land on.
Plan to be present.
The COSTECH Annual SmartCity Hackathon & Workshop takes place on July 22nd – 23rd, 2026. Register at www.costechcomputers.com.ng/smartcity.