As part of the ActiFate Symposium 2023 themed “Break The Norm”, this year’s TechForward Hackathon spotlighted exceptional young minds tackling real-world problems through technology, creativity, and purpose-driven design.

Held between 10th – 15th July 2023, the hackathon challenged participants to create impactful digital solutions under the theme “User Experience Excellence” — emphasizing intuitive design, accessibility, and innovation that truly connects with users.

Judges and Evaluation

The 2023 judging panel featured some of the brightest names in technology and innovation:

• Ezekiel Olukunle Aboderin — Fintech innovator, data scientist, and mentor with vast experience shaping payment ecosystems across Africa, Europe, and the US. Recognized for his strategic insight and mentorship of high-growth startups, Ezekiel brought invaluable expertise to the judging process, helping identify the most user-centric and scalable ideas.

• Omoaladeiyanu “Pearl Nova” Olokuntoye — Founder of Pearl Nova Kouture and Hello Osogbo, a creative entrepreneur and digital innovator whose understanding of local markets and creative business models added unique perspective to the hackathon review process.

  

Together, these judges evaluated projects on innovation, user experience design, scalability, and impact potential.

Winning Project

fter an intense demo day and rigorous judging sessions, Team NexaFlow emerged as the winner of the TechForward Hackathon 2023, earning the grand prize of ₦500,000 for their innovative mobile platform that simplifies access to small business analytics for micro-entrepreneurs.

Their project stood out for its clarity of vision, seamless interface, and potential to empower everyday business owners to make data-driven decisions.

In a symbolic moment that captured the spirit of the event, Lead Judge Ezekiel Olukunle Aboderin personally presented the ₦500,000 prize to the winning team — commending their creativity, teamwork, and focus on practical impact. He encouraged them to continue refining their product and positioning it for real-world adoption, emphasizing that “innovation becomes meaningful only when it improves lives.”

Their project stood out for its clarity of vision, seamless interface, and potential to empower everyday business owners to make data-driven decisions.

A Step Toward Digital Empowerment

The TechForward Hackathon continues to serve as one of ActiFate’s most powerful platforms for nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship among Nigeria’s youth. By encouraging collaboration between creative thinkers and tech innovators, it reflects ActiFate’s broader mission — to break norms, empower skills, and build a future driven by knowledge and innovation.

As the echoes of this year’s event fade, one thing remains clear: the next generation of innovators is here — and they’re ready to shape the future.