TechForward Hackathon 2022: Cultivating Innovation, Empowering the Future

As part of the ActiFate Symposium 2022 experience, the TechForward Hackathon 2022 brought together some of Osun’s brightest young minds to tackle real-world challenges using technology — with a strong focus on Agritech and sustainability.

Held simultaneously at Opolo Innovation Hub, Osogbo, the hackathon gave participants 24 hours to ideate, prototype, and present solutions that could empower farmers, boost productivity, and enhance the agricultural value chain across Nigeria.

This year’s challenge theme, “Digitizing the Green Economy,” inspired participants to explore innovative approaches to improving local food systems, from smart farm management to digital produce tracking.

After intense brainstorming sessions, code sprints, and late-night collaborations, the winning project — AgroNova, founded by Chinedu Udochukwu — emerged as the standout innovation. AgroNova is a mobile-powered farm insight platform that connects small-scale farmers with data-driven weather forecasting and crop advisory, helping them make informed decisions to maximize yields.

Chinedu Udochukwu walked away with a ₦500,000 cash prize, alongside incubation support and mentorship opportunities courtesy of Tiwa Digi Haus.

The judging panel,  which composed of industry and tech ecosystem leaders, commended participants for their creativity, teamwork, and passion for problem-solving. They emphasized the importance of technology in addressing agricultural and environmental challenges, especially in regions like Osun where innovation is steadily rising.

In the words of Adetayo Ayorinde (CEO, Creative Goshen), one of the guest judges:

“What we’ve seen today proves that the next big ideas in agriculture won’t just come from farms; they’ll come from code, creativity, and collaboration.”

The hackathon closed with excitement and optimism as teams networked with mentors and partners from Bolt Nigeria, Fruitastic Edibles, Apex Digital Print Hub, and Uncle K Lounge; sponsors who continue to support the vision of youth empowerment through innovation.

With events like ActiFate Symposium and TechForward Hackathon, Osogbo continues to redefine what it means to be a creative and tech-driven city. The seeds of innovation have been planted; and the harvest, surely, will be transformational.