LAGOS, NIGERIA – Zenith Bank Plc has concluded the fifth edition of its flagship innovation competition, Zecathon 5.0, deploying a staggering total of ₦140 millionin prize money to support Nigeria’s brightest tech innovators.
A Launchpad for Homegrown Ingenuity
The event, held as part of the Zenith Tech Fair, was a convergence of finance, technology, and governance, attended by founder Jim Ovia and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Governor Sanwo-Olu’s presence underlined the state government’s commitment to leveraging homegrown technological ingenuity for economic growth.
The event, held as part of the Zenith Tech Fair, was a convergence of finance, technology, and governance, attended by founder Jim Ovia and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Governor Sanwo-Olu’s presence underlined the state government’s commitment to leveraging homegrown technological ingenuity for economic growth.
Group MD/CEO of Zenith Bank, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, framed the initiative as a strategic imperative for the continent: “Our mission is to empower innovators with the resources… to build ventures that can solve real challenges and accelerate Africa’s digital and economic growth.”
The Champions and the Prizewinners
The competition featured two rigorous tracks: an intense three-day Hackathon sprint and a Startup Pitch Competition.
The competition featured two rigorous tracks: an intense three-day Hackathon sprint and a Startup Pitch Competition.
- Hackathon Winner (₦30M): TrustLoop, a seamless digital KYC and liveness verification solution.
- Runners-up (₦10M each): Konfam, The Very Hacked Men, Zenith IntelliScore, and ZeraX.
- Startup Pitch Winner (₦30M): Cubbes, an edtech venture.
- Runners-up (₦10M each): Venille, Sowota, Invopay, and Flow.
Fikun Aluko, Head of Tech Programs at Beyond Limits Global, praised the potential of the solutions to advance digital transformation across the continent. Zecathon 5.0 solidified its status as a critical startup launchpad, fostering accountability and innovation in Nigeria’s rapidly evolving tech ecosystem.