Kola Adeleke, Executive Director of Commercial and Consumer Banking at Ecobank Nigeria, says the InnovateX Challenge was created to empower young Nigerians to transform their passions into scalable solutions that drive national development.
Newsonspot reports that at the grand finale of the competition, held at the Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC) in Lagos, Adeleke described InnovateX as a pivotal pan-African initiative designed to shape the next generation of changemakers and economic contributors.
“At Ecobank, we are committed to investing in the future of our youth and shaping a brighter future for Nigeria. InnovateX aligns perfectly with this vision,” he said, highlighting the bank’s digital solutions that make financial services accessible anytime, anywhere – especially via mobile, the preferred channel of young people.
A collaboration between Ecobank and Heave Ventures, InnovateX was launched to showcase bold and transformative ideas from Nigerians aged 16 to 25 in the Creative and STEM sectors.
Following weeks of applications, bootcamps, and public voting, 18 finalists pitched their ventures at the grand finale, competing for a share of ₦20 million in prizes alongside recognition and growth opportunities.
Winners – Creative Category:
ISIO – ₦5 million
Leadforge – ₦2 million
Zulana – ₦1 million
Winners – STEM Category:
Afrimetrics – ₦5 million
Neighborly – ₦2 million
Feedipay – ₦1 million
Other awards included ₦500,000 each to Stipple Care and Semita AI, and ₦300,000 each to 10 additional finalists.
Adeleke praised all participants for their resilience, urging the winners to use their prize funds strategically to scale their ventures and deepen their impact.
Abiodun Lawal, CEO of Heave Ventures, described the competition as more than just a contest:
“It’s a celebration of vision, courage, and the vibrant potential of Nigeria’s youth. Congratulations to all finalists and winners – your passion lit up the stage and will help shape the future.”
Participants expressed gratitude to Ecobank and Heave Ventures, with Micah Erumaka, CEO of Afrimetrics and STEM category winner, noting that the funds would help expand his business and create jobs.
Ecobank’s youth empowerment track record includes partnerships with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), EStars, NYSC, Code 14 Labs, Learntor, AFC, Soto Gallery, and others, impacting thousands of young Nigerians across diverse sectors.
