By Ayomide Otitoju
Zenith Bank Plc has awarded a total of ₦140 million to 10 African innovators at the fifth edition of its annual technology conference, Zenith Tech Fair, held on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at the Eko Convention Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Themed “Future Forward 5.0: Tech for Success – Innovate, Adapt, Accelerate,” this year’s fair introduced an expanded dual-competition format featuring a Hackathon and a Startup Pitch Competition. More than 2,000 participants across Africa competed in the “Zecathon,” with 10 finalists emerging after several rigorous rounds.
Two top winners received ₦30 million each. Trust Loop won the Hackathon for its digital Know-Your-Customer (KYC) and liveness-verification solution, while Cubbes Technologies Limited topped the Startup Pitch Competition with its AI-powered EdTech platform designed to enhance learning and career readiness.
The eight other finalists—Venille Ltd, Sowota, FLOW, InvoPay, Zenith Intelliscore, The Very Hacked Men, Konfam, and Zerax—received ₦10 million each in non-dilutive funding. All finalists will also undergo a six-week mentorship and incubation programme running from December 2025 to February 2026.
In her welcome address, Zenith Bank’s Group Managing Director/CEO, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON, credited the vision of Founder and Chairman Dr. Jim Ovia, CFR, for establishing the Tech Fair platform. She said the year’s theme underscored the accelerating pace of technological progress and the need for Africa’s innovators to lead future breakthroughs.
Dr. Ovia, in his goodwill message, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to nurturing African tech talent, expressing hope that future global technology leaders would emerge from the continent.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who also delivered a goodwill message, urged continuous investment in youth-focused digital empowerment. He noted that Africa will host half of the world’s youth population by 2050, with Nigeria—and particularly Lagos—playing a central role.
The fair featured keynote addresses from notable global technology figures, including Sitoyo Lopokoiyit of M-PESA Africa, Jonas Kjellberg, co-creator of Skype, and Dr. Shivagami Gugan of Amazon Web Services. Demonstrations highlighted emerging opportunities in Generative AI, Agentic AI, and cloud computing.
Global technology giants—McKinsey & Company, Huawei, Microsoft, and Check Point—also led specialised masterclasses on cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, and disruptive innovation.
Panel sessions hosted by CNN anchor Zain Asher brought together leading voices in Africa’s tech and innovation landscape, including industry executives, founders, and policymakers.
Zenith Bank reaffirmed its commitment to advancing technological innovation in Africa, noting that access to capital, mentorship, and technical resources is critical for building globally competitive startups.
The bank also highlighted its consistent recognition for excellence, including being named Nigeria’s Number One Bank by Tier-1 Capital for the 16th consecutive year, along with a string of local and global awards for digital innovation, corporate governance, sustainability, and financial performance.
