The 4th Edition of Zenith Bank’s Tech Fair, themed “Future Forward 4.0: Embedded Finance, Cybersecurity & Growth Imperatives – The Impact of AI”, culminated on November 21, 2024, with an exhilarating hackathon at the Eko Convention Centre, Lagos. The event saw a total prize pool of N77.5 million awarded to 10 finalists, with JumpnPass, a self-checkout retail solution, taking home the grand prize of N25 million.
- Grand Winner: JumpnPass
- Prize: N25 million and a six-week mentorship and incubation program (Dec 2024 – Feb 2025).
- First Runner-Up: CreditChek
- Prize: N20 million for its AI-driven credit verification platform.
- Second Runner-Up: Salad Africa
- Prize: N15 million for its integration of credit products into digital platforms.
- Other Finalists:
- Startups like Regxta, CashAfrica, Middleman, Messenger, Pocketfood, Famasi Africa, and Kitovu each received N2.5 million.
The hackathon drew over 1,700 participants, reflecting Zenith Bank’s commitment to fostering Nigeria’s tech ecosystem.
The Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank, Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji, OON, emphasized the importance of innovation in her address, saying:
“Innovation and embedded finance are crucial for creating sustainable institutions. This initiative empowers young, fertile minds, paving the way for global tech leaders to emerge from Nigeria.”
Keynotes, Innovations, and Panel Discussions
The event also launched EazyByZenith, a digital wallet aimed at enhancing financial inclusion. Keynote speaker Robin Speculand, a global digital transformation expert, presented on “Banking Transformation in a Digital World.”
Other notable participants included:
- Jim Ovia, CFR, Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank.
- Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State.
- Industry leaders like Funke Opeke (MainOne CEO) and Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi (NITDA DG).
Panel discussions explored topics like AI, Cybersecurity, Financial Intelligence, and Cloud Computing, aligning with the event’s theme of leveraging technology to drive growth.
Governor Sanwo-Olu urged Nigerian businesses to think globally, stating:
“We must enhance our products and services to compete on a global scale. Platforms like the Zenith Tech Fair provide the foundation for innovation to thrive.”
The Zenith Bank Tech Fair, alongside its startup pitch competition and incubation program, identifies and accelerates the growth of high-potential Nigerian startups across sectors such as Fintech, HealthTech, Agritech, and E-commerce.
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