By Susan Olalere 
The fourth edition of the Zenith Tech Fair concluded on a high note in Lagos, rewarding innovation and entrepreneurship in Nigeria’s tech space. Themed “Future Forward 4.0: Embedded Finance, Cybersecurity & Growth Imperatives – The Impact of AI,” the event highlighted groundbreaking solutions and their potential to shape the nation’s digital economy.
Out of more than 1,700 participants in the hackathon, JumpnPass, a self-checkout technology solution, emerged as the overall winner. The startup clinched the grand prize of N25 million and secured a six-week mentorship and incubation program slated to run from December 2024 to February 2025.
Other Hackathon Winners
- CreditChek, leveraging AI and open banking for income and credit history verification, secured the first runner-up spot with a prize of N20 million and a mentorship program.
- Salad Africa, specializing in integrating credit products into digital platforms, won N15 million as the second runner-up.
- Finalists including Regxta, CashAfrica, Middleman, Messenger, Pocketfood, Famasi Africa, and Kitovu received N2.5 million each.
Building Nigeria’s Tech Future
In her opening remarks, the Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank Plc, Adaora Umeoji, commended the bank’s founder, Dr. Jim Ovia, for his visionary approach to integrating technology into banking and business.
“This annual event empowers young fertile minds and fosters innovation. Our goal is to nurture Nigeria’s future tech leaders—the likes of Bill Gates and Elon Musk—through platforms like this,” Umeoji said. She emphasized the importance of adapting to new technologies to build strong, enduring institutions.
Zenith Bank’s commitment to Nigeria’s youth was echoed in her reference to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics report, noting that 70% of the country’s population are youth—a valuable resource if harnessed effectively.
Keynote Address and Goodwill Messages
The event featured keynote speeches and presentations on cutting-edge topics like Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital transformation. A notable highlight was the keynote address by Lord Robin Speculand, a renowned Strategy and Digital Implementation Specialist, titled “Banking Transformation in a Digital World.”
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in his goodwill message, underscored the importance of thinking globally while acting locally. “We need to enhance our products and services to compete on a global scale. Platforms like the Zenith Tech Fair demonstrate how we can achieve this,” Sanwo-Olu stated, pledging government support for innovation and entrepreneurship.
The tech fair also unveiled Zenith Bank’s digital wallet, EazyByZenith, designed to boost financial inclusion and retail banking.
A Look Ahead
The event’s success not only celebrates innovative minds but also strengthens Nigeria’s position as a hub for technological advancement. This follows our earlier coverage, which informed the public about the promising opportunities at this year’s tech fair.
As the winners embark on their mentorship programs, expectations are high for scalable solutions that can transform industries and create jobs across Nigeria.
OpeOluwa Okudero
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