Zenith Bank Gives ₦190 Million to Innovators at 2026 Tech Fair

Zenith Bank Gives ₦190 Million to Innovators at 2026 Tech Fair

Zenith Bank has awarded ₦190 million to 13 winners at its 2026 Tech Fair, giving Nigerian and African innovators a financial boost to develop their technology ideas into practical solutions. The award, announced at the sixth edition of the event, is the largest prize pool in the history of the bank’s technology fair.

The event, tagged Zenith Bank Tech Fair 2026: Future Forward 6.0, was held virtually on November 5, 2026, under the theme “AI: Embrace or Extinct.” It attracted more than 3,000 submissions from developers, entrepreneurs and secondary school students interested in showcasing their innovations.

According to a report by Premium Times, the competition featured three categories: the Hackathon, Startup Pitch Competition and the newly introduced Future Innovators Challenge.

Three Competitions, 13 Winners

The Hackathon brought together developers and technology enthusiasts to present solutions to different problems. Team Solo emerged as the overall winner, receiving ₦35 million. 10x Brains came second with ₦20 million, while Rumour Hunters secured third place with ₦15 million. Òmìnira and Team Avera received ₦10 million each for finishing fourth and fifth.

In the Startup Pitch Competition, Cutstruct Technology Limited took first place with ₦35 million. Sproutly came second, receiving ₦20 million, while PharmaRun secured third place with ₦15 million. AUI BRAND and ProDevs completed the top five, receiving ₦10 million each.

The third category, Future Innovators Challenge, was introduced to encourage secondary school students to explore technology and develop creative solutions to everyday problems.

Caleb British International School emerged as the winner, receiving ₦5 million for its ReLearn platform. Queen of the Rosary College, Onitsha, came second with ₦3 million, while Regina Pacis International School received ₦2 million for third place.

What the Winning Innovations Offer

Beyond the financial awards, some of the winning projects stood out for their practical applications.

Cutstruct Technology Limited developed LiveVend, a platform designed to connect property developers and contractors with suppliers of building materials. Sproutly uses financial technology to simplify school payments, while PharmaRun helps people access authentic medications through its network of pharmacies.

Meanwhile, Caleb British International School’s ReLearn platform focuses on redistributing used textbooks to students in underserved communities, helping make learning materials more affordable and accessible.

The winners will also participate in a six-week mentorship and incubation programme. This will provide expert guidance and practical support to improve their products, strengthen their business models and prepare their innovations for growth.

Why This Matters for Young Innovators in Nigeria

The ₦190 million award represents more than prize money. It highlights the opportunities available to young people who are willing to explore technology, identify problems and develop solutions.

For many young Nigerian developers and aspiring entrepreneurs, access to funding can be a major challenge. Having a promising idea is one thing, but turning it into a working product often requires financial resources, technical support and guidance from experienced professionals.

Initiatives like the Zenith Bank Tech Fair provide a platform where innovators can showcase their ideas, gain recognition and access resources that could help them move forward.

The introduction of the Future Innovators Challenge is also significant because it creates opportunities for secondary school students to develop their problem-solving skills before entering higher education or the workforce.

As artificial intelligence and other digital technologies continue to influence different industries, encouraging young Nigerians to participate in technology development is increasingly important.

The 2026 Tech Fair demonstrates how financial support, mentorship and opportunities to showcase ideas can help emerging innovators take their first steps towards building solutions with wider impact.