The EDU Chain Semester 3 Hackathon x ETH Nigeria Roundtable took place on February 13, 2025, at 4 PM WAT via X Space. This session brought together key voices in Web3 and blockchain education to discuss the impact of EDU Chain, Semester 3 Hackathon opportunities, and developer growth in Africa. Featured speakers included Jake Hughes (Core Contributor, Open Campus), Chukwuemeka Enoch Mbaebie (Founder, ETH Nigeria), Etette Etok (Lead, ETH Abuja), Harry Zhang (Co-Founder, HackQuest), Wycliffe Osano Oyieko (Community Manager, HackQuest), Jon Okeke (Community Manager, HackQuest), and Manish Barnwal (Dev Rel, HackQuest). Co-hosted by HackQuest, Open Campus, and ETH Nigeria, the roundtable provided insights into building on EDU Chain, developer opportunities, and community-driven Web3 innovation.
Harry:
I wanted to kick-off using a question with Jake. Among all the initiatives Open Campus and EDU Chain are working on, one of them that’s really special is the hackathon. Can you tell us a little bit more about EDU Chain, what makes it unique, and also the reasoning behind hosting the Semester 3 Hackathon?
Jake:
To go over a little bit about what makes EDU Chain special—EDU Chain is the first blockchain for education. No one else has tackled this yet. We are the first network specifically designed for education. We are a general-purpose blockchain, which is a Layer 3 on Arbitrum.
And just quickly, why L3? We didn’t think we needed to compete on a tech level. I don’t think our space needs another L1 or another L2. So instead, we wanted to focus on what makes us special. We wanted to build a home for our unique distribution of edtech companies and students. We wanted a place for them to come, build, and have their own network to call home.
The vision for EDU Chain is quite simple, although it’s a big task, which is to bring education on-chain. And this is everything from students to educators to education finance, like student loans. We want to tokenize educational content as well and bring this all on-chain. So that’s the vision in one line, really.
EDU Chain was launched by Open Campus, which is the foundation behind EDU Chain. This is a community-led DAO foundation backed by Animoca Brands and Binance Labs. And this is essentially the on-chain education network behind EDU Chain. EDU Chain itself is a core pillar of this on-chain education network, along with other elements like the EDU token, which is a Binance-listed token, Open Campus ID, which is our reputation layer, and a bunch of other initiatives that maybe we’ll get some more time to talk about.
But the vision for EDU Chain is definitely a learn, own, and earn model. We want people to come on-chain to learn new skills, and that might be from engaging with educational content. It might also be by participating in the network. I fully believe that learning by doing is one of the best ways you can learn, and we’re going to facilitate that on our chain.
Once people have learned new skills, we want them to own those skills in the form of on-chain credentials, and that will be recorded on Open Campus ID. And after recording these new skills, we want them to use those skills to earn. We’re encouraging all developers to build on top of Open Campus ID to enable people to use their skills to unlock new earning opportunities. That could be job platforms, it could be bounties, or it could be a way to recruit new developers into projects where they can earn as well.
There’s really a lot of innovation possible, and what makes us unique as a project is a couple of things. As I’ve already mentioned, we are the first blockchain for education. We also have a large distribution of students ready to enter our ecosystem. Right now, we have about 20 million addressable learners within our network, and we have a clear way to actually onboard them through Open Campus ID.
Everyone who’s part of our network, especially those who’ve been through the accelerator program, is thinking about how they can integrate Open Campus ID into their education platforms, which already have thousands or even millions of students on them. These platforms are already revenue-generating, so it’s a real, structured onboarding method.
When someone completes a learning achievement on one of these platforms, they will mint an on-chain achievement, which will be recorded on their Open Campus ID. This brings them on-chain and allows them to explore the rest of the ecosystem. I think this unique onboarding journey is something special to us because many projects talk about onboarding new users into Web3, but they struggle with a structured method for doing so. We launched with this onboarding mechanism fully operational, and it’s already live.
Harry:
I want to pass the question over to Manish and Jon. Maybe you can tell me a little bit more about EDU Chain Semester 3 Hackathon—what makes it special, and what are some of the areas where we’re hosting initiatives?
Manish:
So this year, we’re mostly focusing on priority tracks like AI, and we’re also putting a lot more emphasis on IRL activities. Right now, we are working with multiple universities where we will be helping participants learn and build.
We are also hosting regional hackathons across the globe—right from India, Africa, and Southeast Asia. We have a lot of great plans lined up for this entire semester. This includes everything from learning, building, and showcasing projects.
Beyond the hackathons, we are introducing Build Stations across the world. These are not for beginners. They are for experienced developers who already know how to build. These are people who have either participated in previous semesters or have built strong hackathon projects before. Now, they will have a space to enhance, refine, and improve their existing projects.
The whole idea of Build Stations is to bring developers together in one place, where they can collaborate, get mentorship, engage in deep discussions, and pitch their projects. They’ll also get live feedback from mentors, co-workers, and fellow participants.
We have plenty of activities in the pipeline, so stay tuned. Make sure to check the timeline page on the hackathon website. We will be continuously posting updates on our platform, Twitter, and community channels.
Harry:
Jake, I wanted to go back to something you mentioned earlier—you touched on why you’re doing the hackathon in the first place, but could you expand on that?
Jake:
Now that EDU Chain Mainnet is live, we are actively looking to bring in more developer talent from around the world. And we know that Africa, especially Nigeria, has some of the strongest developers in the region. So we want to use this hackathon as an opportunity to connect with these developers, share the vision of EDU Chain, and explain why this is a great place to build.
We’re very happy to be working with HackQuest to put together a fantastic roadmap of events worldwide. This semester is bigger and better than any of our previous hackathons, and we’re making sure that we reach as many developers as possible.
That’s really the core of it—to get in front of the best developers globally and support them in building on EDU Chain.
Harry:
Jon, I know you wanted to add some details around specific dates and locations for the hackathon events, especially for Nigeria. Would you like to walk us through where these initiatives are happening?
Jon:
Yeah, like I mentioned earlier, we will be having regional hackathons and Build Stations across Nigeria. The regional hackathon will be hosted in Lagos from March 27th to 28th, running for 36 hours. We’ll be providing a space for builders to stay, hack, and develop their projects throughout the event.
In addition to that, we’ll have Build Stations in Jalingo (Taraba State) to cover the Northeast region and another in Kaduna State to cover the Northwest region. While the hackathon is running, we will also be hosting a Co-Learning Camp, which is a virtual boot camp that includes EDU Chain as one of its main tracks. This camp is specifically designed to help developers learn how to deploy on EDU Chain.
If you're new to building on EDU Chain but want to participate, this boot camp will teach you everything you need—from how to deploy smart contracts on EDU Chain to how to structure a full Web3 project. It’s a step-by-step program that ensures you are fully equipped to compete in the hackathon.
Harry:
That’s amazing. So just to summarize that for those listening, if you cannot attend in person, there is a Virtual Co-Learning Camp that will be running alongside the hackathon. Meanwhile, for those who can join IRL, we have multiple initiatives in Nigeria—including the main regional hackathon in Lagos and Build Stations in Kaduna and Jalingo.
On top of that, we also have regional hackathons happening in Kenya. We have university tours and community-led initiatives happening across multiple locations. So if you're based in Lagos, Kaduna, Jalingo, or Nairobi, make sure you follow EDU Chain, HackQuest, and Ethereum Nigeria on Twitter—we will be posting updates there.
With that, I wanted to come back to Enoch, Etette, and Jake. Why did you decide to focus on Africa? I know for Enoch and Etette, this is natural because you’ve been building in the region for years. But for Jake, you’ve been working in Web3 education for a long time and have been deeply involved in the global Ethereum ecosystem. What made you want to expand the hackathon to Africa for the first time?
Jake:
Personally, I see Africa as one of the biggest powerhouses in the Web3 space. There are so many users, an incredible number of developers, and some really high-quality projects coming out of the region. Just from our past hackathons, we already saw two of our first-place winners from Semester 1 and Semester 2 were from Nigeria specifically. And beyond that, many other winners have come from across the African continent.
We’re getting strong signals that there are exceptionally talented builders in Africa who can ship high-quality projects within the tight timeframe of a hackathon. Some of these projects are so impressive that they don’t just end after the hackathon—they continue building, improving, and growing.
That’s what got us thinking: How do we do even more in this region?This semester, we are being very intentional about our presence in Africa. We are not just running an online hackathon and hoping developers join. We are actively building a network in Africa and strengthening our presence for the long term.
If we look into the future, it’s obvious that Africa’s Web3 developer community will only continue to grow. More developers are discovering Web3 every day. More builders are seeing the opportunity to leverage blockchain for real-world solutions. We want EDU Chain to be the best place for them to build, and that’s why we’re doubling down on Africa this semester.
Enoch:
Web3 has given me a platform, and one of the most beautiful things about this space is that as we rise, we also lift others up. That’s what keeps this ecosystem strong.
If you look at the latest reports from Consensys and other Web3 research groups, it’s clear that Nigeria and West Africa have become strategic hubs for Web3 adoption. We are seeing real-world blockchain applications being built here—not just experimental projects, but actual usable products that solve real problems.
When you look at human capital and the age demographics in Africa, the potential is massive. The youth population in Nigeria is deeply passionate about technology. If you’re an investor looking at long-term growth, it makes complete sense to invest in African talent.
And it’s not just about developers. If you look at the leaders driving community initiatives, DevRel programs, and blockchain education, a huge number of them are based in Africa. We have builders working across different protocols, leading some of the biggest community-driven initiatives in the space.
We recently wrapped up the Africa Hackathon just last Sunday, and in that three-day event, we saw so many incredible products being shipped. The next unicorn startup could very well be coming out of Nigeria, and that’s why we are so committed to this.
Harry:
That’s a great perspective, Enoch. It really aligns with what we’ve been seeing—Nigeria is truly leading the charge in Web3 development. Etette, I know you do a lot of on-the-ground work in Nigeria, especially with Ethereum Nigeria. Would you like to share your perspective on why this region is so important?
Etette:
For me, one of the things I care deeply about is helping African developers compete at a global level. It’s always been my vision to see more Nigerians and Africans recognized in the global Web3 space.
A few years ago, there was a huge knowledge gap in blockchain. There were only a few people who had access to resources to help them grow. But that has completely changed. Today, Nigeria has one of the largest youth populations in the world, and blockchain adoption is exploding.
I’ve been pushing blockchain education and adoption for years, and we’re finally seeing it pay off. There are so many dApps being built and actively used in Nigeria right now. And it’s not just about trading cryptocurrencies—we’re seeing actual Web3 applications being used daily.
At Ethereum Nigeria, our mission is simple: We want to bring everyone on-chain. And that doesn’t just mean developers. It means educators, designers, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in Web3.
We run programs specifically designed to onboard people who aren’t necessarily technical—helping them understand how blockchain works, how they can use Web3 tools, and how they can navigate this ecosystem. We want people to feel empowered to use this technology in their daily lives.
Opportunities like the EDU Chain Hackathon allow us to expand that mission. This isn’t just a competition—it’s an entry point for thousands of new builders. It’s a way for them to test their skills, showcase their ideas, and take their projects to the next level.
We have so many developers in Nigeria who are hungry for opportunities like this. They want to build, innovate, and contribute. And with platforms like HackQuest and EDU Chain, they now have the infrastructure to do that. That’s why we’re so excited about this hackathon.
Harry:
Thank you, Etette. I really appreciate that perspective. I think the passion from all of you really shows how important this initiative is for Africa and how much potential is waiting to be unlocked.
I’d love to shift the conversation now to how developers can get started—what kind of resources, workshops, and support are available for builders who want to participate in the EDU Chain Hackathon?
Jake:
Absolutely, Harry. I’ll go over some of the key things developers should know when getting started. First, let’s talk about the kind of support developers will receive when participating in this hackathon.
One of the biggest things that has helped developers in past hackathons has been the workshops. We host five to six workshops throughout the six to eight weeks of the hackathon, covering a broad range of topics. Some sessions focus on technical tooling—helping developers understand how to build on EDU Chain. Others are about marketing and storytelling, where we teach builders how to craft a compelling narrative around their project.
These workshops are interactive. Developers have the chance to ask questions, get direct feedback on their ideas, and engage with mentors. Many past winners have said that these workshops helped them refine their projects and ultimately win the hackathon.
Another major resource is the developer documentation. We’ve been improving our docs with each hackathon, and while it’s not perfect yet, it’s getting better every week. If you go to educhain.xyz, you’ll find a direct link to the developer docs, which should help you get started.
For those who still have questions after going through the documentation, I highly recommend joining the EDU Chain Discord. There, you can connect with previous hackathon winners, other developers in the ecosystem, and the EDU Chain team. If you’re unsure about what to build or how to implement something, our community is very responsive and happy to help.
One of the best ways to get started is through the EDU Chain learning module, which HackQuest has built out. This is a specific module designed for EDU Chain, guiding developers through how to build on the network and what they need to know about the ecosystem.
Manish, I’ll pass it over to you to share more details on the learning module and any specifics around the workshops and dates for this semester.
Manish:
Thanks, Jake. Yeah, just to build on what you said, we already have our learning modules live on HackQuest. You can find courses on EDU Chain and Open Campus ID.
If you’re someone who is completely new to Web3 development, don’t worry—these courses are designed to take you from zero to building real projects. You can go through them step by step, even if you don’t have any prior experience.
For developers who are already comfortable with Web3 development, I’d highly recommend checking out the OCID course. Even if you don’t go through the entire course, just skimming through the documentation will help you better understand the ecosystem and how to integrate Open Campus ID into your projects.
In addition to the documentation, we’ve linked EDU Chain’s official GitHub repositories directly on our hackathon page. These repositories contain sample code and example smart contracts. If you’re looking for templates to get started quickly, you can copy-paste these examples and modify them to fit your own project.
For beginners who prefer structured learning with peer support, we’re also hosting Co-Learning Camps. These are happening in Nigeria, Indonesia, and Kenya. Co-Learning Camps are completely beginner-friendly and allow you to learn alongside other developers. Instead of going through the learning track alone, you’ll have a group of peers working on the same material. This helps with motivation, accountability, and networking.
Each Co-Learning Camp covers four to five hands-on projects. So by the time you finish, you’ll have already built multiple mini-projects, giving you the confidence to enter the hackathon. If you’re interested, just head to hackquest.io and check out the Co-Learning Camp section. You can also find details on our main hackathon page under EDU Chain Hackathon Semester 3.
Aside from online materials, we’re also planning IRL activities. We’re currently working on a playbook that will contain all the steps and resources needed to build a project on EDU Chain. This playbook will cover everything from deploying a smart contract to understanding the key features of EDU Chain.
We also have University Tours happening in Nigeria, Kenya, and India, where we’ll be doing in-person sessions. Everything will be posted on the hackathon timeline, and we’ll keep updating our Twitter, Telegram, and Discord with more information. If you ever have questions about what to build, don’t hesitate to ask in our community channels. Our mentors are always available to help guide you in the right direction.
Harry:
I have a final question for Jake: What opportunities are available for participants after the hackathon to further develop their projects? What happens next?
Jake:
That’s a great question, Harry. There are two main things that happen after the hackathon.
First, all the winners—and even some projects that don’t necessarily place but show strong potential—get invited to the EDU Chain Incubator. This is a 12-week program where we continue supporting builders beyond the hackathon.
In the incubator, you’ll be paired with industry mentors who will help you refine your product. You’ll have access to exclusive workshops, connections with investors, and guidance on how to take your project from a prototype to a real business. At the end of the incubator, projects get the chance to pitch for additional funding. The Open Campus Foundation provides up to $100,000 in grants, and we also connect projects with VC firms that may want to invest.
The second opportunity is the Yuzu Points Program. This is for any dApp that deploys on EDU Chain Mainnet. Similar to Blast-style points, projects that launch on EDU Chain receive an allocation of Yuzu Points. These points can be distributed to users as incentives to help drive adoption.
Although Yuzu Points don’t have a direct monetary value, they can be used to buy EDU Chain nodes. Right now, holders of EDU Land NFTs are earning $200 per month, so this is a great way to incentivize early adopters and bootstrap your project’s user base.
If you build something on EDU Chain and deploy it to mainnet, we want to support you. Whether it’s through funding, mentorship, or user acquisition programs, we’re committed to helping you grow.
Harry:
That’s huge. I think hearing that should get everyone excited to not just build for the hackathon but also think about what comes next.
I want to wrap up with one final question—maybe the most alpha-packed question of the night. What tips can you give to participants who want to stand out in this hackathon? How do you actually win?
Enoch:
Yeah, for everyone hacking, the first thing I’d say is focus on solving real-world problems. There are so many pain points within our communities that blockchain can help solve, and those are the kinds of projects that stand out. Remember, this is a new product, a new ecosystem, an emerging chain, so think about what’s missing and how you can build something that makes a real impact.
One mistake I see developers make is jumping into development without understanding the users’ needs. Take a step back and think about who will actually use your product. What problem are you solving for them? If you don’t understand your users, you risk building something that looks good but doesn’t actually get used.
Also, don’t hack alone. Join the community. We have regional hackathons, Co-Learning Camps, Build Stations—these are opportunities to collaborate and learn from others. Surround yourself with people who will push you to build better.
Security is another key thing. Make sure your project is secure. Judges are going to be looking at that. You don’t want to build something that works but is full of vulnerabilities.
And finally, think long-term. Hackathons are great for getting started, but the real success happens after the hackathon. Position yourself for investors, incubators, and partnerships. Look at the grants and opportunities available. This hackathon is just the beginning—if you do it right, it could be the start of something much bigger.
Etette:
Yeah, I completely agree with what Enoch just said. Having participated in many hackathons myself—winning some, losing many—I’ve learned a few things the hard way.
The first thing I’d say is keep your solution simple. A lot of teams overcomplicate their MVP because they’re trying to build something too complex in a short amount of time. The judges are not looking for what could be—they’re looking for what actually works.
Your project should be functional and easy to demo. If your UI is confusing or your smart contract isn’t properly deployed, the judges will move on. Even if your idea is great, they need to see it working.
Another thing that makes a difference is having a strong team. Everyone in your team should have a role. You need a developer, but you also need a good technical writer to handle documentation, a designer to make your UI look professional, and someone who can pitch your project well. A well-rounded team always performs better.
And one last piece of advice—engage with the community. Join the Telegram and Discord groups, ask questions, participate in discussions. The more active you are, the more feedback you’ll get, and that will help you refine your project.
Wycliffe:
Yeah, I really love the energy here. I just want to say, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If you’re listening to this, don’t take it lightly. There are so many opportunities available, and all you have to do is show up and participate.
For example, in Kenya, we’re seeing big moves in blockchain adoption. Just last month, the government was discussing legalizing blockchain as a legal tender. That tells you where things are headed. Africa is no longer just watching the blockchain movement—we are leading it.
And that’s why this hackathon is so important. It’s about more than just winning prizes—it’s about being part of something bigger. It’s about positioning yourself in the space. If you want to be part of this movement, get involved. Join a Co-Learning Camp, participate in an IRL event, meet other builders, and start working on something real.
Jon:
Yeah, I just dropped the dates and registration links for all the regional hackathons and Build Stations in the chat. If you’re in Nigeria, Kenya, or anywhere nearby, check it out and sign up.
And even if we’re not coming to your city, find a way to get involved. You can join the virtual Co-Learning Camps, follow along with the workshops, or even travel to one of the regional events if possible. Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you—go and grab them.
Manish:
I want to share a few things that can help you stand out.
First, prioritize usability. Your project should be easy to understand. Judges don’t have hours to go through your code and figure out what’s happening. They will judge your project based on the demo—so make sure it’s clear and polished.
One thing that makes a huge difference is UI/UX design. Even if your project is technically strong, if it looks bad or is hard to use, it won’t score well. Having a clean, professional UI can make a big impact.
Another tip is building a social presence. I’ve seen two projects with similar technical quality, but the one that actively engaged on social media, shared progress updates, and built a community was the one that got more funding. Judges and investors don’t just look at how well you code—they also look at how well you can market your idea.
And finally, collaborate with the community. Join the HackQuest Discord, talk to other developers, get feedback. If you’re solving a real problem and your project has strong potential, people will notice.
Harry:
That’s some valuable advice. And now, Jake, I’ll let you close this out. What’s your final advice for participants who want to stand out?
Jake:
First, build a diverse team. If you can, find someone who can pitch your project well, someone who can design a great UI, and of course, strong developers who can build and deploy the smart contract.
Second, make sure your product actually works. Judges will always test your submission, and if they find bugs, incomplete features, or security flaws, that’s going to hurt your chances. Keep your MVP simple but functional.
Third, look at what’s missing in the ecosystem. What does EDU Chain need that doesn’t exist yet? Maybe it’s a better lending protocol, maybe it’s a new AI-powered education tool. If you can fill a gap in the ecosystem, your project will stand out.
And finally, have a strong long-term vision. Even if your MVP is simple, you should be able to explain where you see this project going in the future. Investors and incubators want to support big ideas—so don’t just think about the hackathon, think about how your project could grow into something much bigger.
Harry:
That was incredible. I think we’ve covered everything.
If you’re listening, take this advice seriously. Join a Co-Learning Camp, attend the workshops, start brainstorming your ideas, and most importantly, start building.
And one final alpha for those still here—stay tuned for upcoming workshops featuring past hackathon winners. We’re bringing in successful builders from past EDU Chain hackathons to share exactly what they did to win. They’ll be breaking down their projects, explaining what worked, what mistakes they avoided, and how they continued to build even after the hackathon.
If you want to learn directly from past winners, keep an eye onHackQuest, EDU Chain, Open Campus and Ethereum Nigeria ‘s Twitter pages. We’ll be announcing those workshops very soon.
With that, thank you, everyone, for joining. We’ll have more sessions like this in the next two months, so stay tuned. Happy hacking, and we’ll see you in the hackathon!
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