In a heartwarming display of commitment to Africa's digital future, Zenith Bank has concluded its fifth annual Zecathon innovation competition, distributing an impressive N140 million in prizes to some of Nigeria's most promising tech entrepreneurs. The event, held at the Zenith Tech Fair, brought together thousands of hopeful innovators and celebrated the power of homegrown ingenuity to solve real-world problems.

The gathering was graced by distinguished guests including Zenith Bank's visionary founder and chairman, Jim Ovia CFR, and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, whose presence underscored the growing government support for nurturing local talent and innovation. Their attendance sent a powerful message: Nigeria's tech ecosystem matters, and its young entrepreneurs deserve investment and recognition.

This year's edition introduced an exciting new Hackathon track, adding even more opportunities for developers and designers to showcase their skills. Twenty carefully selected teams participated in an intense three-day sprint, channeling their creativity and technical expertise into building solutions across critical sectors. The energy and dedication displayed by these young innovators was nothing short of inspiring.

Leading the Hackathon winners was TrustLoop, a seamless digital KYC and liveness verification solution that captured the top prize of N30 million. The team's innovative approach to solving identity verification challenges demonstrates the caliber of talent emerging from Nigeria's tech scene. Four other impressive finalists—Konfam, The Very Hacked Men, Zenith IntelliScore, and ZeraX—each received N10 million, ensuring multiple teams walk away with resources to bring their visions to life.

The Startup Pitch Competition proved equally thrilling, with early-stage founders presenting compelling innovations in fintech, edtech, and healthcare. Cubbes, an education technology venture, emerged victorious with a N30 million prize that will help transform learning experiences for countless students. Four outstanding runners-up—Venille, Sowota, Invopay, and Flow—each secured N10 million to accelerate their growth journeys.

Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON, Group MD/CEO of Zenith Bank, beautifully articulated the bank's mission: "Our goal is to empower innovators with the resources and support they need to build ventures that can solve real challenges and accelerate Africa's digital and economic growth. Zecathon continues to be the essential platform where bold ideas are transformed into market-ready solutions."

Her words capture the transformative potential of this initiative. By investing in young entrepreneurs today, Zenith Bank isn't just distributing prizes—they're planting seeds that will grow into thriving businesses, create jobs, and contribute to Nigeria's economic development.

Fikun Aluko, Head of Tech & Entrepreneurship Programs at Beyond Limits Global, praised the collaboration: "This edition proved the power of investing in platforms that bring visionary institutions and entrepreneurs together. The teams delivered solutions with real potential to advance digital transformation across the continent."

As Zecathon 5.0 concludes, the ripple effects of this investment will continue spreading throughout Nigeria's tech ecosystem. These winners represent more than just successful pitches—they embody the bright future of African innovation, proving that with the right support, local solutions can address continental challenges and compete on the global stage.