Babcock presents ₦10 million hackathon and opens tech week to wider participation

Babcock University has announced a ₦10 million hackathon as the highlight of its second Babcock Tech Week (BTW), scheduled for March 22-28, 2026.

The week-long event, themed “Tethered — Connected Across Disciplines,” is organized by the Babcock University Computer Club in collaboration with the Finance Students Association, the Google Developer Groups on Campus, Babcock, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Babcock.

Unlike its first edition, organizers said this year’s program will welcome participants from outside the university community, positioning it as one of the most inclusive student-led innovation events in Nigeria.

At the heart of the event is the ‘Tethered Hackathon and Pitchathon’, a £10m competition designed to foster interdisciplinary innovation.

Speaking on the initiative, the coordinator, Dunmade Majuyi, said the hackathon had already attracted considerable interest before it began.

He revealed that the contest would award ₦4 million to the winning team, ₦2 million to the first place winner and ₦1 million to the second place winner, along with several category-based prizes.

Majuyi explained that participating teams will be required to include at least one member from outside the School of Computing, a measure aimed at encouraging collaboration across different fields.

According to him, “Each competing team must include at least one student from outside the School of Computing – a structural requirement that ensures that the competition rewards genuine interdisciplinary thinking, not just technical execution.”

As part of the programme, a job fair will be held on 24 March, offering students and external participants the opportunity to connect directly with employers and industry stakeholders.

Organizers noted that the fair would grant organizations access to Babcock’s talent pool, while also offering students internship and employment pathways.

Majuyi described the event’s theme as reflecting the growing need for collaboration across sectors.

He said: “The most important work happening at the intersection of technology, finance, health and society cannot be done by any single discipline alone.”

Furthermore, the Head of Partnerships and External Relations for BTW 2026, Obata Onyelukachukwu, said the event will act as a bridge between emerging talents and industry players.

“There’s a generation of builders in Babcock that the industry hasn’t fully met yet. That’s where the meeting happens, by the way,” he said.

Onyelukachukwu added that participating organizations will have early access to a pool of highly qualified and innovative students.

The event will also feature panel sessions focusing on Africa’s digital future, innovation financing, capital markets and venture capital ecosystems.

Confirmed speakers include Open Access Data Centers CEO Ayotunde Coker; CEO of Arravo, Ayo Adegboye; Technical Manager at Paystack, Ifeoluwa Sobogun; and President of CreditRegistry, Fatumata Coker.

Industry partners for the event include Arravo Technology, Open Access Data Centers, Blue Marina Asset Management, Access Holdings, CreditRegistry and Cordros Securities, among others.

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