Zenith Bank recently held its fourth annual Tech Fair in Lagos, showcasing the latest artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and financial technology innovations. The event, attended by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, featured a hackathon competition, expert panel discussions, and exhibitions. The hackathon saw over 1,700 contestants compete for a total prize pool of N77.5 million.
JumpnPass, a self-checkout technology solution for African retail, emerged as the winner, taking home N25 million and a six-week mentorship program. CreditChek, a credit and verification service provider, and Salad Africa, a startup offering seamless integration of credit products, won N20 million and N15 million, respectively, along with mentorship programs. During the event, Zenith Bank’s Group Managing Director/CEO, Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji thanked the bank’s Founder and Chairman, Dr.
Jim Ovia, for his vision in utilizing technology to revolutionize business and banking. She emphasized the importance of supporting young minds and fostering innovation to create employment opportunities for Nigeria’s youth. Governor Sanwo-Olu called for a global approach to business in the country, urging companies to enhance their products and services to compete in the world market.
Zenith Bank tech fair highlights innovation
He reassured attendees of the government’s readiness to provide an enabling environment for ideas and innovative solutions. The fair also featured the launch of Zenith Bank’s digital wallet, EazyByZenith, which aims to support the bank’s retail and financial inclusion strategy.
Presentations covered various aspects of technology, including AI, cybersecurity, risk management, compliance, financial intelligence, cloud computing, and communication technologies. Eminent IT practitioners from top global brands, such as Danilo McGarry, Jania Okwechime, and Rupert Nicolay, delivered presentations at the event. The panel session, hosted by Wole Odeyele from Microsoft Inc., featured six discussants from various organizations.
Zenith Bank also announced upgrading its core IT system to enhance customer experience and service delivery. The bank’s Managing Director, Adaora Umeoji, emphasized that the new system is designed to meet customers’ evolving needs and improve the bank’s technological capabilities. Umeoji expressed gratitude to customers for their patience during the transformation process and highlighted the importance of innovation in staying relevant.
She discussed the bank’s focus on embedded finance, collaboration with fintech companies, and the growing importance of cybersecurity in the digital age.
April Isaacs is a news contributor for DevX.com She is long-term, self-proclaimed nerd. She loves all things tech and computers and still has her first Dreamcast system. It is lovingly named Joni, after Joni Mitchell.
