At the just-concluded Zenith Bank Tech Fair 5.0, the Nigerian financial giant celebrated a new wave of technological talent, awarding ₦140 million to the winners of its hackathon and startup pitch competition. The event, held at Eko Convention Centre in Lagos, underscores the bank’s enduring commitment to innovation under the theme “Tech for Success: Innovate, Adapt, Accelerate.”
In a fierce competition among more than 2,000 participants, two standout teams claimed the top prizes: Trust Loop won ₦30 million for its seamless digital KYC and liveness-verification solution, while Cubbes Technologies Limited also earned ₦30 million for its AI-powered EdTech platform aimed at improving learning and career readiness.
The remaining eight finalists, including Venille Ltd, Sowota, FLOW, InvoPay, Zenith Intelliscore, The Very Hacked Men, Konfam, and Zerax, each received ₦10 million in non-dilutive funding, along with a six-week mentorship and incubation program set to run from December 2025 through February 2026.
During her opening remarks, Zenith Bank’s Group Managing Director/CEO, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, expressed gratitude to Founder & Chairman Dr Jim Ovia for envisioning the Tech Fair from the start. She emphasized the urgency of innovation, noting, “the next technological breakthrough … could come from any one of you in this room today. We are confident that this Tech Fair will produce innovators who will change the world, and we stand ready to support you to turn your ideas into reality.”
In his message, Dr Jim Ovia reiterated his mission “to continue to empower the youth through technology, with the hope that one day we will produce the likes of Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Jeff Bezos.”
“What I see happening here every year are things that we in leadership need to connect with,” said Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who urged for further technological empowerment to nurture Nigeria’s next-generation talent.
The fair featured eye-catching showcases on Generative AI, Agentic AI, and Cloud Computing, with keynote speakers including Sitoyo Lopokoiyit (M-PESA Africa), Jonas Kjellberg (co-creator of Skype), and Dr. Shivagami Gugan (AWS). Also present were industry heavyweights from McKinsey & Company, Huawei, Microsoft, and more, who led masterclasses on cybersecurity and advanced cloud solutions.
By backing innovators and providing incubation support, Zenith Bank is not just rewarding creativity; it is investing in future business models that may significantly contribute to Nigeria’s digital economy.
By injecting ₦140 million into Africa’s tech ecosystem, Zenith Bank is driving economic innovation, job creation, and scalable business development. This investment helps turn promising startups into growth engines, boosting the digital economy, encouraging foreign investment, and positioning Nigeria and Africa as competitive players in the global tech market.
