Zenith Bank Awards ₦190m To 13 Innovators At 6th Tech Fair, Attracts Over 3,000 Entries

Zenith Bank Awards ₦190m To 13 Innovators At 6th Tech Fair, Attracts Over 3,000 Entries

Zenith Bank Plc has rewarded 13 outstanding innovators with a combined ₦190 million prize at the sixth edition of its flagship technology event, Zenith Bank Tech Fair 2026, underscoring its commitment to advancing digital innovation and nurturing Africa’s next generation of technology leaders.

The event, tagged Future Forward 6.0, was held virtually for the first time on Thursday, November 5, 2026, under the theme, “AI: Embrace or Extinct.” It brought together global technology leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, policymakers and other stakeholders to examine the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on businesses, economies and society.

The ₦190 million prize pool, the largest in the history of the Tech Fair, was distributed across three competitions: the Hackathon, Startup Pitch Competition and the newly introduced Future Innovators Challenge. The competitions attracted more than 3,000 entries from developers, entrepreneurs and secondary school students.

In the Hackathon category, Team Solo emerged overall winner, receiving ₦35 million. 10x Brains came second with ₦20 million, while Rumour Hunters secured third position with ₦15 million. Òmìnira and Team Avera finished fourth and fifth, respectively, winning ₦10 million each.

For the Startup Pitch Competition, Cutstruct Technology Limited clinched the top prize of ₦35 million, followed by Sproutly with ₦20 million and PharmaRun with ₦15 million. AUI BRAND and ProDevs completed the top five, each receiving ₦10 million.

The Future Innovators Challenge, designed to promote technology-driven creativity and problem-solving among secondary school students, produced three winners. Caleb British International School emerged first with ₦5 million, Queen of the Rosary College, Onitsha, came second with ₦3 million, while Regina Pacis International School secured third place with ₦2 million.

Among the outstanding innovations recognised was Cutstruct Technology Limited’s LiveVend platform, which connects property developers and contractors with suppliers to simplify construction procurement. Sproutly provides technology-driven solutions for school fee payments, while PharmaRun improves access to authentic medications through its pharmacy network.

Caleb British International School’s ReLearn platform, which won the Future Innovators Challenge, offers a solution for redistributing used textbooks to students in underserved communities, making educational resources more affordable and accessible.

Beyond the cash rewards, the winners will participate in a six-week mentorship and incubation programme designed to provide expert guidance, strengthen their business models and prepare their innovations for wider adoption and commercial growth.

Speaking at the event, the Founder of Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia, CFR, reaffirmed his commitment to empowering young people through technology and developing innovators capable of achieving global recognition.

He said his vision was to nurture talents who could eventually make transformative contributions on the scale of global technology pioneers such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Jeff Bezos.

In her opening address, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank Plc, Dame Dr Adaora Umeoji, OON, stressed the importance of embracing Artificial Intelligence and adapting to the rapidly changing technological landscape.

She noted that the Bank’s commitment to innovation was demonstrated through its investments in digital infrastructure, products and services, including its Zenith Intelligent Virtual Assistant (ZIVA).

She also highlighted the contribution of the Bank’s fintech subsidiary, FinoPay, to the development of the SMART AfCFTA Portal, an initiative designed to facilitate intra-African trade.

Emphasising Africa’s potential in the global AI revolution, Umeoji declared: “The next generation of global AI champions can and should come from Africa.”

She urged participants not to view artificial intelligence as a threat but as an opportunity to develop practical and scalable solutions across different sectors.

“Do not fear AI. Embrace it. Whether you are developing a solution for a farm, clinic, classroom or factory, dare to think big, build ethically and create scalable solutions,” she advised.

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, commended Zenith Bank for its sustained contribution to technological advancement and the growth of the innovation ecosystem.

He described the financial institution as a strong driver of innovation, noting that its technology investments had continued to advance solutions and raise standards across the business community.

Sanwo-Olu also reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s commitment to supporting technology-driven enterprises, expanding opportunities for innovators and positioning Lagos at the forefront of technological development.

Similarly, the Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN, represented by the Director-General of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Professor Matthew Adepoju, praised the Bank’s investment in technology and youth empowerment.

He emphasised the importance of collaboration between government and the private sector in transforming innovative ideas into viable businesses and employment opportunities.

“When government and the private sector work in the same direction, ideas become products, products become businesses, and businesses create jobs for our people,” he said.

The event also featured an impressive line-up of global and local technology experts, with Zach Kass, former Head of Go-to-Market at OpenAI, delivering the keynote address.

Speaking on the evolution of artificial intelligence and the emergence of autonomous AI agents, Kass challenged participants to consider the importance of human judgement, values and responsibility in an increasingly automated world.

He observed that society must deliberately determine which aspects of human activity should remain under human control and which could be entrusted to technology.

Other distinguished speakers included Mike Ogbalu III, Managing Director/CEO of the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS); Deniz Oran, Head of Payment Partnerships at Google for EMEA; Jane Egerton-Idehen, Managing Director/CEO of Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT); Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA); and Chinwe Uzoho, Regional Managing Director, West Africa, Network International.

The sessions were moderated by CNN Correspondent Victoria Rubadiri and other industry experts.

Conceived by the Bank’s Founder, Jim Ovia, the Zenith Tech Fair has evolved into a major platform for connecting emerging innovators with funding, mentorship, industry expertise and opportunities to scale their businesses.

Previous beneficiaries of the initiative have gone on to develop practical solutions across various sectors. They include JumpnPass, which introduced a self-checkout solution for retail businesses; CreditChek, which leverages artificial intelligence and open banking to streamline credit verification; TrustLoop, winner of the 2025 Hackathon for its digital identity verification solution; and Cubbes Technologies Limited, winner of the 2025 Startup Pitch Competition with its AI-powered educational technology platform.

With the introduction of the Future Innovators Challenge, Zenith Bank is extending its innovation drive to secondary school students, recognising the importance of identifying and developing technology talent from an early age.

Through the annual Tech Fair and its broader digital transformation initiatives, the Bank continues to position itself as a key player in Africa’s technology ecosystem, providing innovators with the financial support, mentorship and exposure required to transform promising ideas into impactful solutions.