Team Block X from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has emerged as the winner of the HabariPay Squad Hackathon 3.0, held at the GT Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos, over the weekend. The team received a grand prize of N5 million for their outstanding performance.
Hackathon Overview
The 'Take on Squad' Hackathon 3.0 reaffirmed HabariPay's commitment to fostering innovation, empowering talent, and supporting the development of technology-driven solutions that address real-world challenges across Africa. Now in its third edition, the hackathon brought together developers, designers, and entrepreneurs from across the nation in a collaborative environment to build practical solutions in key sectors, including financial services, healthcare, commerce, and digital inclusion.
Theme and Challenge
Themed 'Smart systems: The intelligent economy,' participants were challenged to design and build intelligent, data-driven solutions that transform how communities engage with money. The event aimed to encourage creativity and problem-solving among emerging tech talents.
Participation and Selection
Managing Director of HabariPay, Eduophon Japhet, revealed that the application process was open to undergraduates from any Nigerian university. Over 1,600 submissions were received, from which more than 600 teams were selected. On the event day, over 500 teams were able to attend. Japhet expressed her impression with the turnout.
Statements from Leadership
Japhet emphasized the importance of continuous innovation in today's dynamic, digitally driven world. She stated, 'We are deliberately investing in the ideas and talent that will define the future. Our objective is not simply to encourage innovation, but to enable its translation into scalable solutions that deliver real and measurable impact.' She added that the social coding event remains a cornerstone of HabariPay's mission to foster creativity and problem-solving among emerging tech talents.
Group Chief Executive Officer of GTCO Plc, Segun Agbaje, praised the participants, saying, 'You are not just among the brightest minds in Nigeria; you are among the finest talents anywhere in the world. If this hackathon were held in any country, your skills, ideas, and determination would still earn you a place here. This hackathon is a platform for those quiet but brilliant minds to show the world what they are capable of.'
Impact and Future
The hackathon provided a platform for participants to leverage Squad's advanced APIs to create scalable digital tools addressing everyday challenges faced by businesses and individuals. The event reflects GTCO's role as a financial services platform that connects capital, capability, and creativity to drive sustainable progress.
