Six Nigerian innovators have emerged as top winners in Ecobank Nigeria Limited’s InnovateX Competition, collectively taking home ₦20 million in cash prizes.

At the grand finale, held at the Ecobank Pan African Centre, Lagos, winners were recognised in two categories: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and Creative.

In the STEM category:

  • Bukola Luka of Afrimetrics – ₦3 million

  • Neighborly – ₦2 million

  • Feedipay – ₦1 million

In the Creative category:

  • ISIO – ₦3 million

  • Leadforge – ₦2 million

  • Zulana – ₦1 million

The winners were selected from a pool of 20 finalists who pitched their innovations before a panel of judges.

Driving Innovation Across Africa

In his opening remarks, Kola Adeleke, Executive Director, Commercial and Consumer Banking at Ecobank Nigeria, said the InnovateX challenge reflects the bank’s commitment to shaping the future of African enterprise.

“By equipping young creators and innovators with practical tools and opportunities, we empower them to transform their passion into scalable impact.
It is more than just a competition; it is a comprehensive development platform offering hybrid bootcamps, expert-led pitching and business workshops, mentorship, international exposure, and the chance to pitch to key stakeholders,” Adeleke said.

He expressed gratitude to the bank’s partner, Heave Ventures, for aligning with Ecobank’s vision, and congratulated all participants for their dedication and creativity.

Youth-Led Innovation Takes the Stage

Abiodun Lawal, CEO of Heave Ventures, described the competition as a showcase of the transformative potential of youth-led innovation.

“Innovation is not only about technology; it is about people. On International Youth Day, we witnessed the true power of youth-driven innovation at the InnovateX 2025 Grand Finale in Lagos. From mobile applications addressing real challenges to art and fashion brands, every idea on stage affirmed our mission: to provide young talent with the platform, resources, and belief necessary to shape the future,” Lawal said.

The InnovateX initiative is designed to foster creativity, entrepreneurship, and problem-solving among young Africans, with winners gaining not only financial rewards but also mentorship, business development support, and international exposure.