The Fourth Edition of the Zenith Tech Fair, themed “Future Forward 4.0: Embedded Finance, Cybersecurity & Growth Imperatives – The Impact of AI”, concluded on November 21, 2024, at the Eko Convention Centre, Lagos, with startups winning a total of N77.5 million in prize money during a keenly contested hackathon session.
Out of over 1,700 contestants, JumpnPass, a self-checkout technology solution reshaping retail in Africa, emerged as the overall winner, securing the grand prize of N25 million. The first runner-up, CreditChek, a credit verification service leveraging AI, won N20 million, while the second runner-up, Salad Africa, offering seamless integration of credit products for digital platforms, took home N15 million. Seven other finalists, including Regxta, CashAfrica, Middleman, Messenger, Pocketfood, Famasi Africa, and Kitovu, received N2.5 million each. All winners will also participate in a six-week mentorship and incubation program from December 2024 to February 2025.
Driving Innovation Through Technology
The fair was inaugurated with a welcome address by Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji, OON, Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank Plc, who praised Jim Ovia, CFR, Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank, for initiating the Tech Fair five years ago. She emphasized the importance of innovation in sustaining strong institutions and fostering youth development.
“This event empowers young fertile minds to build solutions for today and tomorrow. With 70% of Nigeria’s population comprising youths, this economic asset must be harnessed to foster innovation, create employment, and ensure growth,” she stated.
A Vision for Global Competitiveness
Delivering a goodwill message, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State called for a global perspective in business, emphasizing the need for innovation to cater to international markets. “We need to enhance our products and services to compete globally. Platforms like the Zenith Tech Fair provide an enabling environment for innovative ideas,” he said.
Highlighting Technological Innovation
The event also featured the launch of EazyByZenith, a digital wallet aimed at supporting the bank’s retail and financial inclusion strategy. Keynote speaker Robin Speculand, a globally renowned strategy and digital transformation expert, delivered a presentation titled “Banking Transformation in a Digital World.”
Other notable speakers included:
- Danilo McGarry, Global Expert on Digital Transformation and AI
- Jania Okwechime, Partner, Africa, AI & Data Leader, Deloitte
- Rupert Nicolay, Director, Microsoft Worldwide Financial Services
The panel discussion, moderated by Wole Odeyele, featured prominent industry leaders such as:
- Funke Opeke, Founder and CEO, MainOne
- Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director General, NITDA
- Engr. Bisoye Coker-Odusote, CEO, NIMC
Empowering Nigerian Startups
The Zenith Bank startup pitch competition and incubation program identifies and accelerates the growth of high-potential Nigerian startups in sectors such as Embedded Finance, Cybersecurity, Fintech, HealthTech, Agritech, and E-commerce. Participants gain access to resources, mentorship, and exposure to scale their businesses effectively.
