Team Block X of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has emerged winner of Squad Hackathon 3.0, a technology innovation competition organised by HabariPay Limited, after outperforming hundreds of young innovators with an artificial intelligence-powered solution designed to transform Nigeria’s informal labour market.
The event attracted more than 1,600 applications from students across Nigerian universities and served as a platform for discovering and nurturing young technology talents while encouraging practical innovation driven by artificial intelligence.
Speaking at the grand finale, Group Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, Segun Agbaje, urged participants to see themselves as global innovators capable of competing internationally.
Agbaje described the hackathon as more than a coding competition, saying it reflected real-life situations that demand resilience, teamwork, and strategic thinking.
“You are the best of the best. The fact that you are here means you are already winners,” he said.
He encouraged contestants to remain adaptable and collaborative, stressing that innovation thrives when people work together to solve problems.
“You will face obstacles, you will change plans, and you will solve problems. Most importantly, you must work as a team,” Agbaje added.
The GTCO chief also advised participants to compete with integrity, insisting that lasting success can only be achieved through hard work and fairness.
Managing Director of HabariPay, Eduofon Japhet, said the initiative was created to bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry realities while helping to build Nigeria’s future technology workforce.
Japhet disclosed that over 600 applicants were shortlisted from the 1,600 entries received, while more than 500 students eventually participated in the competition.
According to her, the selection process involved assessing technical competence, team structure, and previous projects through applicants’ GitHub portfolios.
“We wanted the right talent and the right skills. So, we assessed not just applications but the practical work participants had done before now,” she said.
Japhet explained that this year’s edition focused strongly on artificial intelligence, fraud prevention, unemployment, smart systems, and digital security, with participants tasked with creating practical solutions to societal challenges.
“Students need opportunities to apply theory to real-life problems. We want them using AI beyond basic tasks and deploying it to solve meaningful challenges,” she stated.
She added that the hackathon goes beyond competition by serving as an entry point into HabariPay’s mentorship and talent development ecosystem.
According to Japhet, selected participants will undergo long-term training programmes lasting between two and three years, including mentorship, tuition support, and hands-on industry experience.
“The hackathon helps us identify talent. Beyond this stage, we mentor, train and prepare these young people for real careers and real impact,” she said.
At the end of the competition, Team Block X emerged overall champions with their innovation known as “Guild.”
The team comprised Treasure Uvietobore, Naheem Olaide, and Enoch Idowu.
Their AI-powered platform impressed judges for its potential to tackle unemployment and financial exclusion among artisans and informal workers.
The solution deploys a Nigerian-English voice assistant named “Tola” to connect informal workers with employment opportunities while integrating them into the formal financial system.
Through the platform, users can secure jobs, complete assignments, and receive payments seamlessly through Squad, HabariPay’s digital payment platform.
The innovation also creates verifiable financial identities for users by maintaining transaction records over a 90-day period, enabling workers to build financial histories that can support access to loans, banking services, and credit facilities.
Organisers said the project stood out for its combination of artificial intelligence, financial inclusion, and economic empowerment, which aligned with the core priorities of the competition.
The strong participation and quality of innovations showcased at Squad Hackathon 3.0 further underscored GTCO and HabariPay’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s digital ecosystem and empowering young innovators to develop scalable solutions for Africa’s future economy.
