Zenith Bank Reinforces Commitment to African Tech, Awards N140M to 10 Innovators at ‘Future Forward 5.0’ Fair

Zenith Bank successfully hosted the fifth edition of its highly anticipated Tech Fair on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos, where it powerfully reinforced its strategic commitment to empowering technology-driven solutions and fostering deep-seated innovation across the African continent. The event, held under the compelling theme “Future Forward 5.0: Tech for Success – Innovate, Adapt, Accelerate,” attracted an impressive gathering of over 2,000 active participants, including a large contingent of developers, ambitious entrepreneurs, and leading startup founders traveling from various African nations. The bank’s commitment was highlighted by the distribution of a total of N140 million to ten deserving African innovators, providing crucial financial fuel for their ventures. The fair utilized a dual-competition structure designed to encourage comprehensive innovation. This included a rigorous Hackathon aimed at product development and a structured Startup Pitch Competition for promising early-stage ventures. Two key innovators emerged as the top winners, each securing a substantial N30 million award for their groundbreaking work: Trust Loop for developing a seamless digital platform focused on essential KYC (Know Your Customer) and liveness verification, and Cubbes Technologies Limited for its innovative AI-powered EdTech solution designed to significantly enhance learning outcomes and career readiness for students. Additionally, eight other promising finalists, recognized across both competitive tracks, were each granted N10 million in non-dilutive funding. Crucially, all ten awardees earned a place in an intensive six-week mentorship and incubation programme, providing them with the necessary expertise and resources to strategically scale their businesses for maximum impact. The event served as a dynamic showcase for the transformative potential of advanced technologies, featuring deep-dive sessions into concepts like Generative AI, Agentic AI, and Cloud Computing, illustrating their profound roles in accelerating continental economic growth and digital development. Keynote speakers, including the Managing Director of M-PESA Africa, the co-creator of Skype, and the Chief Technologist for AWS covering a wide geography spanning Africa, the Middle East, and Turkey, shared invaluable, high-level insights on the complexities of scaling businesses, effectively leveraging disruptive technologies, and generating sustainable continental impact. The fair also provided profound educational opportunities through specialized masterclasses. These sessions were led by thought leaders from global consulting and technology powerhouses such as McKinsey, Huawei, Check Point, and Microsoft. Participants received world-class knowledge and practical skills training on critical subjects like advanced cybersecurity practices, effective cloud solutions, and the implementation of disruptive technologies, equipping them to develop products that are truly globally competitive. Panel discussions, expertly moderated by renowned CNN anchor Zain Asher, further engaged innovators and influential business leaders from across Africa, delivering actionable advice on mastering entrepreneurship, scaling startups responsibly, and the long-term work required to build robust digital ecosystems. Zenith Bank’s leadership strongly reiterated that the Tech Fair’s central mission is twofold: to not only financially reward innovation but also to create enabling environments that allow African innovators to translate their ambitious ideas into scalable, impactful, and profitable solutions. The Lagos State Governor praised the initiative as a vital bridge between local innovators and international investors, highlighting the essential need to create opportunities for Africa’s rapidly growing youth talent pool to thrive and drive the continent’s socio-economic transformation.