Meet the Nigerian students who won ₦50m at Wema Bank’s Hackaholics 4.0

The journey to this extraordinary finale finally came to an end last week Friday, when ten finalists from universities across Nigeria fought for the grand award prize at the Hackaholics 4.0 event.

The competition promised over N50 million in cash prizes distributed across five categories. The grand prize of N15 million went to the winner of Hackaholics, N10 million was awarded to the first runner-up, and N7 million was granted to the second runner-up.

To promote female participation in the tech sector, N5 million was specifically reserved for any female-led team. Furthermore, a substantial N22 million was allocated to university STEM endowments, reflecting a dedication to fostering the next generation of tech trailblazers.

Out of a staggering 3,000 applicants, these finalists showcased their compelling ideas across ten diverse facets of human life: education, climate, gov tech, health, gender-based violence, financial inclusion, entertainment, fintech, insurance, and civic-tech.

Femi Awoniyi, Startup Fund Manager at Google, couldn’t help but express admiration for the ingenious solutions presented by the contestants. He acknowledged that the Hackaholics summit, besides providing vital capital to the victors, serves as a catalyst for inspiring others to step forward with their groundbreaking innovations.

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Meet the winners at Hackaholics 4.0

Jane Agbaohwo, a medical student and the founder of Ireti, an innovative health-tech startup, emerged as the winner of Wema Bank’s Hackaholics 4.0 competition. Her groundbreaking solution, designed to detect breast cancer in its early stages, earned her the N15 million cash prize among nine other startups.

Speaking on it, Jane Agbaohwo said,

Going forward we will be able to reach out to women in urban communities and also women in rural communities because we are partnering with NGOs.

We are reaching out to them; helping them to create awareness about breast cancer – it kills, but you stand a chance to live if you detect it early and start treatment on time.

Nelson Atuonwu, representing the startup, Team Grip, secured the honourable first runner-up position and was awarded a N10 million cash prize. Meanwhile, Oluwatimilehin Ogunme, representing Team Trakka, stood as the second runner-up, walking away with a commendable N7 million prize.

The event wasn’t solely about individual accomplishments; it also celebrated collective endeavours. Tochukwu Ifeanyi, CEO of Team Outsidee, was recognized for her victory in the women-led initiative, receiving a well-deserved N5 million cash award.

Other awards were given in various categories to honour exceptional contributions. Bonojo Adedayo of Pup Industries won the climate tech award, while Damilare Ololade of University X received the Edutech award.

Ifeanyichukwu Henry from Raptor won the Energy Tech award, and David Campbell of Team Naija Box secured the energy award. Olukayode Fadairo of Team MumAlive, and Gift Akobundu of Team Chao, were also awarded.

About Hackaholics 4.0

Hackaholics is a Wema Bank youth and start-up initiative that began in 2019 with the goal of providing a platform for young entrepreneurs with game-changing, tech-driven product ideas to bring their imaginations into reality, refine their skills, and acquire an edge over the competition in the global technology and digital space.

As the competition unfolded, Olugbenga Agboola, Founder/CEO of Flutterwave, took a moment to commend Wema Bank for their consistent support in empowering FinTechs and small businesses.

He underscored their pivotal role in driving innovation within the tech ecosystem. Solomon Ayodele, Wema Bank’s Head of Innovation, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing Hackaholics as the linchpin in reshaping Africa’s technological future.

Wema Bank’s unwavering commitment to nurturing tech talents through platforms like Hackaholics is undeniably forging the path toward Africa’s technological transformation. The impressive solutions unveiled at the event offer a compelling glimpse into the continent’s bright future of tech innovation.