Zenith Bank awards ₦140m to hackathon winners at Tech Fair 5.0

Zenith Bank has rewarded ten African innovators with a total of ₦140 million at the Fifth Edition of its Zenith Tech Fair, themed “Future Forward 5.0: Tech for Success – Innovate, Adapt, Accelerate”.

The event took place on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at the Eko Convention Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The 2025 edition featured a dual-competition format, including a Hackathon for product development and a Startup Pitch Competition for early-stage ventures, drawing thousands of developers, entrepreneurs, and tech enthusiasts across Africa.

The ten finalists emerged from over 2,000 contestants, with the top prize of ₦30 million each awarded to Hackathon winner Trust Loop, which provides digital KYC and liveness verification solutions, and Startup Pitch winner Cubbes Technologies Limited, whose AI-powered EdTech platform enhances learning and career readiness.

The remaining eight finalists received ₦10 million each in non-dilutive funding.

All ten winners will participate in a six-week mentorship and incubation programme from December 2025 to February 2026 to help scale their solutions.

Speaking at the event, Zenith Bank CEO Dame Dr Adaora Umeoji praised the fair’s role in fostering innovation, noting, “The next technological breakthrough could emerge sooner than we expect and could come from any one of you here today.

We are confident this Tech Fair will produce innovators who will change the world.” Founder and Chairman Dr Jim Ovia said the fair demonstrates Zenith Bank’s commitment to empowering youth through technology.

The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, highlighted the importance of technological empowerment for Africa’s growing youth population, calling for initiatives that provide opportunities for innovation and skill development.

The fair also featured keynote addresses from global technology leaders, including Sitoyo Lopokoiyit of M-PESA Africa, Jonas Kjellberg, co-creator of Skype, and Dr Shivagami Gugan of AWS, alongside masterclasses by McKinsey & Company, Huawei, Check Point, and Microsoft on topics from cloud solutions to cybersecurity.

Panel discussions were moderated by CNN anchor Zain Asher and featured leading tech entrepreneurs and executives.

Zenith Bank has long championed innovation and talent development, complementing its continued excellence in banking.

The institution has consistently earned recognition as Nigeria’s top bank, receiving multiple awards for corporate governance, digital solutions, retail banking, and sustainability.

Through the Zenith Tech Fair, the bank continues to foster an ecosystem for African innovators, equipping them with the capital, mentorship, and resources needed to scale globally.