Ecobank rewards young innovators with N22m at InnovateX Hackathon grand finale
L-R; Chief Information Officer, Ecobank Nigeria, Adebanke Oladejo; Team Vhorde, the overall winning team of Ecobank InnovateX 2026 Grand Finale - Derick Ogbosa Osarobo; Richard Enegbuma; Henry Uti; and the Head, Products and Analytics, Ecobank Nigeria, Victor Yalokwu at the Ecobank InnovateX 2026 Grand Finale held in Lagos on Friday
Nike Popoola
Ecobank Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to youth empowerment, innovation and entrepreneurship by rewarding young innovators with N22 million at the grand finale of its InnovateX Hackathon, powered by Blaze by Ecobank in partnership with Heave Ventures and Verve.
Held in Lagos on Friday, the competition brought together some of Nigeria’s brightest undergraduate innovators, with Team Vhorde emerging as the overall winner. Other top-performing teams were E-Nation (first runner-up), Konvoy (second runner-up), Kredo (third runner-up) and Aselabs (fourth runner-up).
All 20 finalist teams received cash prizes in recognition of their innovation and performance. Team Vhorde won N5 million, while the first and second runners-up received N4 million and N3.5 million respectively. The team placed 20th also received N500,000, reflecting Ecobank’s commitment to encouraging innovation at every level.
In total, the bank distributed N22 million in prize money to the finalists.
The grand finale marked the culmination of an innovation journey that attracted 168 teams comprising 672 students from 90 universities across Nigeria.
Following a competitive selection process, 20 finalist teams from Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja advanced to the final stage, where they presented innovative solutions addressing challenges across multiple sectors.
Speaking at the event, Kola Adeleke, Executive Director, Commercial and Consumer Banking, Ecobank Nigeria, said the InnovateX Hackathon was established to provide young Nigerians with a platform to transform ideas into practical solutions to real-world challenges.
“InnovateX was created to give young Nigerians a platform to transform ideas into practical solutions to real-world challenges across banking, technology, business and society. The diversity of ideas emerging in areas such as financial technology, artificial intelligence, sustainability, digital services, education and enterprise solutions demonstrates the breadth of innovation taking place among our young people,” he said.
According to Adeleke, the initiative goes beyond identifying winners, as it seeks to nurture ideas, develop entrepreneurial capabilities and connect promising innovators with the resources, mentorship and networks they need to succeed.
He added that Ecobank recognises young people as innovators, entrepreneurs and contributors to economic growth, stressing that digital transformation and innovation are essential to expanding opportunities, improving access to financial services and creating sustainable economic value.
Also speaking, Victor Yalokwu, Head, Products and Analytics, Ecobank Nigeria, described InnovateX as an extension of Blaze by Ecobank’s commitment to empowering young Nigerians.
He said the hackathon was driven by Blaze, the bank’s dedicated youth proposition designed to provide opportunities for young people to showcase their talents, ideas and abilities to drive economic growth.
Yalokwu highlighted other youth-focused initiatives under Blaze, including the Campus Ambassadors Programme, which provides students with stipends and opportunities to develop leadership and entrepreneurial skills while serving as brand ambassadors on their campuses.
He noted that all 20 finalist teams were rewarded for their creativity, resilience and innovation, with the N22 million prize pool aimed at supporting participants and encouraging the development of their ideas.
Speaking on behalf of the winning team, Henry Uti of Team Vhorde expressed appreciation to Ecobank and its partners for creating the opportunity.
He described the victory as an honour and motivation for the team, adding that the platform had demonstrated the capacity of young Nigerians to develop solutions capable of transforming industries and improving lives.
The InnovateX Hackathon forms part of Ecobank’s broader strategy to support innovation, entrepreneurship and digital transformation by providing young Nigerians with access to funding, mentorship, industry exposure and growth opportunities.
