Hi-Tech Wins FCMB’s 60-Team Hackathon Challenge

The inaugural FCMB Hackathon Challenge saw Team Hi-Tech, led by Afolabi Ayanfe and Sophia Ezeh, win the top prize of N3 million for the creation of the digital financial solution, Padi4Life. A partnership with Ingressive For Good (I4G), the hackathon launched a new cohort of techies and fostered innovation and creative problem-solving. 

With over 2,900 entries and 60 competing teams participating in a 72-hour hackathon, Team Hi-Tech’s Padi4Life made the final shortlist. It stood out for its peer-to-peer lending, asset tokenisation, and blockchain-based investment and engagement features. 

Afolabi Ayanfe, the Team Lead of Hi-Tech, expressed gratitude to FCMB, saying, “Padi4Life is designed to build a community of trusted financial partners, meeting the needs of Nigerians.”

Divisional Head of Transaction Banking at FCMB, Rolayo Akhigbe, stressed the bank’s commitment to innovation through Open Banking. She urged FinTechs, developers, and start-ups to utilise First City Monument Bank’s Application Programming Interface (API) to develop inclusive and sustainable solutions.

Group Head of Corporate Affairs at FCMB, Diran Olojo encouraged winners and participants to collaborate with the bank, saying that Open Banking is the future. “The future is connected, and open banking is key to unlocking this potential.