Emmanuel Hyacinth is a dedicated tech educator and the Tech Lead of Techstars Hub, a non-profit organization committed to empowering the younger generation with technological skills in Lagos State, Nigeria. Born on October 27, 1991, in Anambra State, Emmanuel is the first born in a family of six, who faced early adversity with the loss of three siblings and his mother. Despite these challenges, his passion for technology was ignited at a young age when he assisted his aunt, a teacher, with tasks involving PowerPoint and MS Word, laying the foundation for his future in tech.
Initially pursuing a career as a teacher, Emmanuel's curiosity and drive led him to learn coding seven years ago. Recognizing the exponential growth of the tech industry and the scarcity of skilled manpower in his region (Nigeria), he founded Techstars Hub. This initiative aims to bridge the gap in tech education in underserved communities, particularly where access to technology is limited. Under his leadership, Techstars Hub has grown from a small group of five students to a thriving community that now impacts numerous young minds.
By leveraging open source tools and resources, Emmanuel has overcome significant barriers—such as limited access to laptops, unreliable electricity, and the challenge of balancing tech classes with regular schoolwork—to provide high-quality education in areas like cybersecurity, graphics designing, frontend and backend development, and more. His work not only makes tech education accessible but also aligns with the principles of open source: collaboration, accessibility, and community building.
In his presentation, Emmanuel will share his journey and the transformative power of open source in education, joined by some of his students who will testify to how these initiatives have shaped their aspirations and careers in tech. A married father of two, Emmanuel continues to be a beacon of hope and innovation, proving that with passion and perseverance, one can turn adversity into opportunity.