The Ecobank InnovateX Challenge has empowered young Nigerians to transform their passions into scalable solutions for national development.
The competition, which was open to individuals aged 16 to 25 in the Creative and STEM sectors, attracted numerous applications and culminated in a grand finale held at the Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC) in Lagos.
A total of ₦20 million in prizes was awarded to the winners, with the top three winners in each category receiving ₦5 million, ₦2 million, and ₦1 million respectively.
In the creative category, ISIO, Leadforge, and Zulana emerged as the top winners, while Afrimetrics, Neighborly, and Feedipay claimed the top three prizes in the STEM category.
Kola Adeleke, Executive Director of Commercial and Consumer Banking at Ecobank Nigeria, emphasized the bank’s commitment to investing in the future of Nigerian youth. “At Ecobank, we are committed to investing in the future of our youth and shaping a brighter future for Nigeria,” he said.
The winners and participants praised Ecobank and Heave Ventures for the initiative, urging other corporate organizations to replicate such impactful programs.
Micah Erumaka, CEO of Afrimetrics and first-place winner in the STEM category, expressed gratitude to Ecobank, saying, “Ecobank has truly shown it cares about Nigerian youth. This fund will enable me to expand my business and create jobs.”
Ecobank continues to champion youth development through various initiatives, including a recent partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to train and support 16,000 Nigerian youths in agricultural wealth creation.
The bank has also collaborated with other organizations on multiple youth-focused programs.
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